- The transfer portal is a tool/database that facilitates player transfers. Other teams are allowed to contact players seeking to transfer.
- College football players in the College Football Playoff or late bowl games receive an additional five-day transfer portal window.
- Players on college football teams with a departing head coach receive a 30-day transfer window period.
With the rise of the transfer portal and NIL, we’re seeing ample player movement in college football, which will single-handedly impact teams’ football odds of winning each week.
The Ohio State Buckeyes, the 2024-25 national champions, saw their college football odds dramatically rise throughout the season, and a big part of that is the talent they accumulated in the transfer portal.
Below, I’ll explain the transfer portal, when it closes, and what happens when a player isn’t picked up.
What Is the NCAA Transfer Portal?
The transfer portal is a database, tool, and application that facilitates the process of players seeking to change teams.
Here’s how it works: The player lets the school know they intend to transfer. From there, the school has two days to put them into the online database.
Once the player is there, other schools can contact the athlete and inquire about them visiting the campus and potentially offering a scholarship.
What Happens if You Enter the Transfer Portal and Don’t Get Picked Up?
If a player enters the portal and isn’t picked up by another team, there are a few options.
First, the player can still seek to transfer, but it could be as a walk-on player.
Second, the player could withdraw and remain with their current school, but they risk losing their scholarship partially or completely.
When Does the Transfer Portal Close?
The transfer portal closes at different times depending on when a sport is played.
With college football, there are various windows. Let’s look back at the 2024-25 season, as these dates could change.
- Dec. 9, 2024, to Dec. 28, 2024.
- Apr. 16, 2025, to Apr. 25, 2025.
- There’s a 30-day transfer window for players on teams with a departing head coach.
- Players on teams in the new 12-team College Football Playoff or in later bowl games earn an additional five-day window in January.
Here are some other transfer portal dates:
- Winter sports: 60-day window after championships. This includes sports like ice hockey and basketball.
- Spring sports: The window opens at the beginning of December (Dec. 1 to Dec. 15) and a 45-day window after championships. This includes sports like baseball.
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