AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) – The NCAA Division I Council approved changes to the transfer portal windows in all sports, limiting players to a 45-day window to enter their name into the portal.
Each sport will have 45 total days, but it will be divided differently by sport. The transfer portal windows for football will now open 30 days after the conclusion of the season, as well as an additional 15 days, April 15 to April 30, in the spring. Previously the portal opened for 45 days following the season and opened again for another 45 days in the spring.
“Some of the behaviors that really raise questions about tampering, the use of NIL, those seem to happen, not exclusively, but later as that portal drags on,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “And the observation from our coaches is, ‘Can we reduce those windows?’ I think there’s a need to engage.”
The change comes after coaches called for shorter windows, as it became apparent that most players were acting quickly so they could switch schools and join their new teams in time for the winter/spring semester.
“If a guy’s going to transfer, he knows he’s transferring by the end of spring practice. He doesn’t need the whole month of May to figure it out,” said South Carolina head coach Shame Beamer. “The fact that the window was shorter it gave players time to go through spring practice, kind of see where they are and if there’s better opportunities for them elsewhere they can explore it.”
The transfer portal window for men’s and women’s basketball will be shrunk from 60 days to 45 days. Coaches argued for 30 days but athletes advocated for 45 and their position was supported by NCAA President Charlie Baker.
The council’s actions are not final until a meeting concludes later today.
