Transfer Portal

The NCAA Division I football transfer portal is a system that allows student-athletes to transfer from one school to another while maintaining their eligibility to compete. Thousands of football players will enter the portal this year. We can help you navigate this chaos. There are numerous reasons why a player might transfer: academic reasons, changes in coaches, changes in playing time, and better opportunities for NIL money. Here are the key rules and guidelines surrounding the transfer portal:

Enter the Portal

Student-athletes must notify their current school’s compliance office of their intent to transfer. The school then has two business days to enter the athlete’s name into the transfer portal.

Contact with Other Schools

Once a student-athlete’s name is in the portal, coaches from other schools are free to contact them. This allows athletes to explore their options without needing permission from their current school. Schools and coaches are prohibited from contacting student-athletes at other institutions to discuss transfer opportunities before the athlete’s name appears in the portal. Violations of this rule can result in penalties.

Transfer Window

The NCAA has new, shorter transfer windows during which athletes can enter the portal. For football, there are two windows this year: a 20-day window beginning the day after championship selections are made in December, and a 10-day window in the spring, typically in mid-April. This year, the window is from December 9th, 2024 until December 28th, 2024. The spring window is April 16-25, 2025.

Academics

Transferring student-athletes must meet the academic requirements of their new institution and the NCAA to be eligible to compete. This includes maintaining good academic standing and making satisfactory progress toward a degree.

Graduate Transfers

Graduate transfers, who have completed their undergraduate degree, are eligible to transfer and compete immediately without sitting out a year, provided they enroll in a graduate program at their new school.

Eligibility

As of recent rule changes, student-athletes transferring for the first time are generally eligible to compete immediately at their new school, provided they meet academic and other eligibility requirements. A head coaching change may offer another opportunity to play after transferring. However, subsequent transfers may require a waiver for immediate eligibility.

Thinking About Transferring? Contact Us First!

  • Options: You may be able to stay at your current school and re-negotiate with their collective. We will walk you through your options and strategize on the best possible outcome for you.

  • Negotiate: We can tell you what different schools pay for certain positions and level of pay. Know your value before you jump in the portal.

  • Finalize: We will finalize any NIL collective contracts for you and ensure the language is advantageous to you. Most NIL agents aren’t attorneys. That’s what makes us different from the others. We understand contract law and how to keep you out of trouble.