How transfer portal window following College Football Playoff will operate

The NCAA approved changes to the transfer portal windows in all sports back in October.

A widely expected move at the time, the decision moved college football’s window from 60 total days to 45. It’s the reason why this current window is 30 days long. But when the NCAA made those changes to the portal more than two months ago, it also added language that athletes on teams that compete in the College Football Playoff and later bowl game will be allowed to enter an additional five-day transfer window in January.

The current 30-day window for athletes not participating in the College Football Playoff or later bowl games on the calendar ends on Jan. 2. Speaking with an NCAA spokesperson, On3 was able to gain some clarity on what those windows will look like. The additional five-day window will go into effect following the contest.

The SEC also clarified to On3 that the intraconference transfer policy does extend to the NCAA’s five-day extension for New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff teams.

Last year’s transfer portal appeared to slow to a halt at times. According to data from The Athletic, more than 2,400 FBS scholarship players entered their names in the NCAA transfer portal from August 2022 to 2023. The data shows entries continue to increase year over year. 

This year’s 30-day window has gotten off to a quick start. When the portal opened on Monday, Dec. 4, 538 FBS scholarship players entered.

On3 obtained guidance sent from the NCAA to schools this week that would allow multi-time transfers to play immediately in the 2024 season without having to secure a waiver. Multiple sources have indicated this could lead to an uptick in portal entries.

With some of the nation’s most talent-rich programs playing in New Year’s Six games and the College Football Playoff, there’s been rising interest in when the five-day window starts and ends.

Here is a breakdown:

Dec. 29 Bowl Games – Transfer Portal Window from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3

+ Cotton Bowl – Missouri vs. Ohio State

+ Gator Bowl – Kentucky vs. Clemson

+ Sun Bowl – Oregon State vs. Notre Dame

+ Liberty Bowl – Memphis vs. Iowa State

Dec. 30 Bowl Games – Transfer Portal Window from Dec. 31 to Jan. 4

+ Peach Bowl – Ole Miss vs. Penn State

+ Orange Bowl – Georgia vs. Florida State

+ Music City Bowl – Auburn vs. Maryland

+ Arizona Bowl – Toledo vs. Wyoming

Jan. 1 Bowl Games/CFP – Transfer portal window from Jan. 2 to Jan. 6

+ Reliaquest Bowl – Wisconsin vs. LSU

+ Fiesta Bowl – Liberty vs. Oregon

+ Citrus Bowl – Iowa vs. Tennessee

+ Sugar Bowl – College Football Playoff Semifinal – Texas

+ Rose Bowl – College Football Playoff Semifinal – Alabama

Jan. 8 CFP National Championship – Transfer portal window from Jan. 9 to Jan. 13

+ Washington vs. Michigan