College football step closer to single January transfer portal window after oversight committee vote

College football is one major step closer to moving to a single transfer portal window in January, a significant change in the massive player movement that has developed in recent years.

The Division I Football Oversight Committee on Thursday voted to approve a 10-day January window, which would run from Jan.

2-11.

That would be a significant change from the current portal, which is 20 days in December and 10 more in April.

The NCAAs administrative committee must still support the change.

That vote will happen before Oct.

1.

The immediate 30-day portal window for players with a head coaching change will still apply as it does now.

Last January, the American Football Coaches Association gathered dozens of FBS head coaches at its annual convention, producing a unanimous vote to pitch and support a 10-day January window.

That was then picked up by various NCAA committees.

At SEC meetings in May, Georgia coach Kirby Smart called it the biggest decision that has to be made in college football right now, by far, to me.

The January date would, in theory, allow most schools to finish the season with their full team, a response to rising numbers of opt-outs from bowl games and even College Football Playoff teams losing players off their roster.

It would also help set teams in place heading into spring practice, especially as rosters begin to shrink with the House settlement roster limits.

In 2021, NCAA committees approved a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility in football and basketball.

When players began entering the portal during the season, coaches asked for windows to restrict such movement.

Fall and spring sports got two windows, while winter sports like basketball got one because they take place over two semesters.

In response to movement and timing, those windows have shrunk each year, from 60 to 45 to 30 to what will likely now be 10 for football.

Windows are only a period when players can enter the portal.

They do not have to choose a new school in the window.

But the start of spring semesters in January will, by its nature, create a short period of time for players to make visits and enroll in a new school.

The Power 4 conferences have discussed the change for months.

The support had been 3-1 in favor of January for a single portal, with the Big Ten preferring a spring portal, according to people briefed on the conversations.

I want January, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire told The Athletic earlier this year.

I want to get my team, and I want to roll and get ready for winter conditioning, spring football, and take that team into the fall.

Ohio States Ryan Day expressed concern with a January portal because of what it would mean for schools deep in the College Football Playoff.

Smart said he had similar concerns, but also felt a January window would be best for most of the sport.

One player agent, granted anonymity to discuss his work with players, told The Athletic he preferred January and told his clients to avoid the spring portal anyway unless theyre an elite athlete.

The agent was concerned that a later portal could cause kids to check out and create a limbo period, or that it would open up even more opportunities for springtime tampering.

Kids are going to know theyre leaving before they even talk with their coaches, the agent said.

With January, kids are home for the holidays, talk it over with your circle, people you trust, and if you leave, you can find a school and enroll in time for class.

If its spring-only, you may have kids fall into a mental ditch.

Other athlete advocacy groups have pushed back on moving to a single portal window.

A single portal window likely reduces players leverage by limiting transfer timing options, said Darren Heitner, a lawyer who represents numerous players.

Two windows allow more negotiation flexibility.

One could rush decisions, especially for non-stars.

Some also question whether portal windows matter.

There is nothing to stop players from unenrolling at one school and enrolling at another like a normal student.

In January, former Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas, represented by Heitner, enrolled at Miami after Lucas said Wisconsin refused to let him in the portal.

Wisconsin alleged Miami had impermissible contact with Lucas because he hadnt gone in the portal and that hed signed a two-year name, image and likeness deal with the school based on the pending House settlement.

Wisconsin and its collective sued Miami, and that legal fight is ongoing.

Still, the coaches and administrators have wanted to change what has become an unwieldy December between the transfer portal, coaching changes and national signing day for recruits, along with postseason play.

The NCAAs House Implementation Committee has also discussed potential changes to signing day and more around the football calendar.

Specific to the portal, people around the sport havent liked the look of limited rosters in bowl games, and they havent liked two negotiation windows with players in a single year.

The hope is that a single January window will separate and simplify some of the change.

Do I think its better for a player? Not necessarily, said a second player agent.

But it makes logical sense for the sport..

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