Gus Malzahn's departure opens 30-day transfer portal for UCF

UCF head coach Gus Malzahn is leaving Orlando and taking the Florida State offensive coordinator job. The former Auburn head coach will take over play-calling duties for the Seminoles after two consecutive losing seasons with the Knights.

With Malzahn’s exit, the 30-day transfer portal will open for UCF players just nine days before the official college football transfer portal opens for business. The December window is shorter than it was a year ago, down to 20 days, meaning UCF players will get a jump start.

NCAA rules allow athletes on a team with a coaching change to enter the portal the day after the change. In this case, UCF athletes can enter starting Sunday. Roster retention will be a 1B to finding a successor to Malzahn.

UCF’s regular season ended Friday night with an embarrassing 28-14 loss at home. The Knights finish the season 4-8 and are not bowl eligible. UCF has already lost a handful of top recruits on Saturday night, but the next step will be trying to retain a roster that is ripe to be poached ahead of college football’s free agency.

With the one-time transfer rule, athletes can play immediately at new schools. Plus, multi-time transfers who enter will be eligible to play immediately at a new school in the 2025-26 academic year. UCF has played multiple quarterbacks this season, including Dylan Rizk, Jacurri Brown and EJ Colson. A true freshman, Rizk impressed in six games with 915 passing yards and five touchdowns.

The Knights finished with nine wins in each of Malzahn’s first two seasons before jumping to the Big 12. The Knights went 6-7 a year ago and have won just five league games in two seasons. Gus Malzahn last worked as an offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011 at Auburn.