For the first time since NCAA Division I football student-athletes have had the opportunity to transfer schools, the winter window to enter the portal was reduced to 20 days from 30 days. The portal officially opened on December 9, 2024 and closed on December 28, 2024. Importantly, this window did not require that student-athletes declare where they plan to attend school the following year, only that the student-athlete had decided that he may transfer before next season. The transfer portal will open again during a spring window for a total of 10 days from April 16-25, 2025. Additionally, a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal opens immediately following the departure of a head coach for any reason. Finally, any player participating in postseason competition is given a five-day transfer window following the conclusion of their season.

Things to Consider:
Academic Situation. Each student-athlete’s academic situation is unique and should be appropriately considered when determining whether to enter the transfer portal come April 2025. One’s declared major or participation in an honors program should be part of the analysis. Of note, less than 2% of college football players are signed to play professionally. This statistic alone should prompt student-athletes to weigh the value of earning degrees at their current institutions versus completing their courses of study at a potential target university. Further, the NCAA requires that a student-athlete must have been enrolled as a full-time student at either a two- or four-year school during the previous, regular academic term in order to be eligible to transfer.

Athletic Eligibility. Like a student-athlete’s academic situation, individual eligibility timelines must be dealt with on a case by case basis. Historically, Division I student-athletes have had five-calendar years in which to play four seasons of competition following their enrollment as a full-time student. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA granted waivers to all fall and winter sport athletes, effectively providing them with a sixth year of eligibility. Student-athletes must also consider past or future use of redshirt or medical redshirt years of eligibility in determining destinations and the potential, long-term value they can provide to target universities. For some Division I football student-athletes, the focus may be on maximizing their collegiate earning years versus sacrificing playing time for future NFL Draft stock.

Transfer Procedures. The NCAA requires that Division I or II student-athletes request a notification of transfer from and through the student-athlete’s current university compliance office. Importantly, this notification of transfer is meant to occur prior to the student-athlete making any “direct or indirect athletics recruiting contact” with other NCAA colleges and universities. After notifying one’s school, the compliance office will then place the student-athlete’s name and contact information into the NCAA Transfer Portal within two calendar days for Division I and seven calendar days for Division II. Communications with other schools regarding a student-athlete’s interest in transferring may commence only once the target university can verify the student-athlete’s notification of transfer is valid and that the student-athlete’s information is entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal. Finally, Division I and II student-athletes are required to complete an educational module on transferring, which can be found at Want to Transfer? - NCAA.org.

Financial Position. During the 2023 academic year, the NCAA reported that 22% of FBS Division I football transfers went from receiving no money in athletic-based financial aid to receiving scholarship funding in varied degrees at their new schools. In addition to increased chances at NIL compensation, the significance of a full or partial athletic scholarship cannot be overstated.  Moreover, in February 2024, a federal judge in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the NCAA from enforcing any rules that prohibit NCAA member schools from leveraging NIL compensation as a recruiting tool. Keeping one’s personal financial position in mind when deciding whether to enter the portal, and where to ultimately enroll, can be one of if not the most important factor in a student-athlete’s analysis.

Now What?
Transferring schools is an important decision, both personally and professionally. Understanding a target university athletic department’s attitude towards NIL compensation, and the applicable State laws that may affect its future, can make a marketable difference in potential earnings. Now, with four months until the spring window opens, student-athletes have time to analyze the college football landscape before making any major career decisions. Finally, ensuring that student-athletes keep the aforementioned factors top-of-mind throughout the transfer process can be challenging. Burr & Forman can advise on proper NCAA transfer portal procedures, NIL enforcement protocols, and any NCAA issues that may arise.