A proposal to eliminate the spring transfer portal window in football is advancing through the NCAA legislative process.
The NCAA Football Oversight Committee, a group of school administrators controlling football-related policy, recommended the proposal this week to the Division I Council, sources tell Yahoo Sports. If the council adopts the legislation, it would take effect this cycle, eliminating the 15-day portal window in April. The DI Council meets via video conference next month and in-person in October. It is unusual, but not unprecedented, for the council to reject a recommendation from the oversight committee.
The four power conferences, as well as the American Football Coaches Association, are supportive of the move, several sources with knowledge of the situation told Yahoo Sports. In February, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey openly expressed support for a single football portal window.
The change would be significant. Under the proposal, football players could only enter the portal during a 30-day window that begins after the completion of conference championship games, which, this year, is Dec. 9-Jan. 7. Under the current transfer policy, players can also enter the portal from April 16-30.
The proposal would eliminate the April window. If players enter the portal outside of the established windows, they are not eligible to play immediately at their next school barring the granting of an NCAA waiver. The change would come on the heels of another alteration in the portal windows, limiting the window from 45 to 30 days.
The reduction in days and the possible elimination of the spring window are attempts to stabilize rosters at a time of high player movement. The management of rosters has grown considerably more difficult as the NCAA and its members have loosened transfer restrictions, many of those changes triggered by antitrust lawsuits.
In fact, the settlement of one of those cases, House v. NCAA, could have an impact on the proposal to eliminate the spring window.
Part of the settlement is an athlete revenue-sharing model with new roster limits — 105 in football — that necessitates the cutting of players. Most power conference rosters are at or above 120 players.
In preparation for the implementation of the model — on July 1, 2025 — those cuts are expected to come next spring and into the summer. The elimination of the spring portal window may adversely impact players cut from teams, leaving them with no ability to transfer and immediately play.
At meetings over the next few weeks, the DI Council is expected to review the recommendation and the potential issues with the elimination of the spring window.
