NCAA Approves Motion to Shrink Transfer Portal Window

The NCAA announced Wednesday that their Division I Council approved changes to the length of the transfer portal window in all sports. The window for players to enter their names in the transfer portal has shortened from 60 days to 45 days and will take effect next season. The 45-day window will be distributed differently depending on the sport, but it will most affect football throughout the nation.

The NCAA Has Minimized The Transfer Portal Window To 45 Days For All Collegiate Sports#GoCFB #CollegeFootball #TransferPortal pic.twitter.com/aJxKIHx7TD

— CFB Nation 🏈 (@TheCFBNation) October 4, 2023

The Importance of the Portal

The transfer portal has become a major source of talent for collegiate sports programs, recently. With players gaining immediate eligibility after transferring, these players are able to make an instant impact. Major NCAA stars such as Shadeur Sanders and Sam Hartman have instantly brought their teams into the spotlight.

Once players enter their names into the transfer portal, they are able to speak with other teams and coaches about a potential transfer. For football specifically, the 45-day period will be split into 30 days after the college football playoffs are announced, and 15 in the spring. This shortening will benefit the coaches because they will be able to have an idea of their roster for the upcoming season earlier. Roster decisions will be made quicker and allow for a more cohesive environment.

It should also benefit some of the players, as well. Players who will lose their spots to future transfers will be informed quicker and be able to plan accordingly. They will have time to decided whether they will want to fight for their spot or transfer to a new program.

That being said, it is overall a shorter period for transfers. Teams may not be able to attract as many prospects as they did previously. Only due to lack of time, coaches may have to prioritize some points. Teams were able to bring in absurd amounts of transfers through this past season. Colorado’s football team was revamped with 51 incoming and 57 outgoing transfers. With the shortened window, it is expected that this number may decrease by a significant amount.

How prevalent are transfer QBs in CFB? Here's how many projected starting QBs are transfers by P5 conference:

ACC: 7 of 14
Big 12: 9 of 14
Big Ten: 8 of 14
Pac-12: 11 of 12
SEC: 7 of 14https://t.co/nxyaoSP814

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) August 9, 2023

Florida’s Transfer Portal History

The Gators have been active on the transfer portal as of late. Florida football brought in 12 transfers in the last window including quarterback Graham Mertz. Mertz has started each of the first five games of the Gators’ season so far and has played well.

Gators basketball also brought in six transfers in preparation for the upcoming season. Forward EJ Jarvis is one notable transfer brought in by Todd Golden this season. Jarvis is expected to start in the upcoming season and should have a major impact on Florida’s success.

NEWS: Yale graduate transfer EJ Jarvis has committed to Florida, he tells @On3sports.

Averaged 11.3 PPG and 5.5 RPG. Shot 55% from the field and 40.6% from three.

Story: https://t.co/kbyAj4wAmt pic.twitter.com/t7p6sTbxh2

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 31, 2023

The Gators will continue to have a pull in the transfer portal due to their SEC membership. Transfers will still come through the door regularly, but it will be interesting to see exactly how the shortened window affects the future of transfers.