What is the Transfer Portal? How does it work for college sports?

It's officially the era of the transfer portal in college athletics.

All sports, not just football and basketball, now have to deal with the reality that any athlete can transfer before or after a season.

Players who do decide to transfer no longer have to sit out a season, whether they are a graduate transfer or not.

In December 2023, college athletes were granted permission to play immediately after transferring a second time, after U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey of northern West Virginia issued a 14-day temporary restraining order against the NCAA's transfer rule.

At this point, we all know what the transfer portal is. For various reasons, college athletes enter their names in the portal to find a new school to attend. But how does it work? And when did it become the norm for college athletes?

To view the current College Football Transfer Portal, CLICK HERE.

When was the transfer portal established?

The transfer portal is an NCAA application database that was created in the Fall of 2018. Players still had to sit out a season after transferring at that time until a rule change in 2021 allowed players who transferred to be eligible immediately.

What is the transfer portal, and how do athletes enter it?

The transfer portal is an online database that student-athletes are entered into by a compliance administrator or designee, according to the NCAA Transfer Portal User Guide.

The portal is used as the first step in the notification of transfer, and the method used for coaches and other schools to contact the players.

Schools have 48 hours to enter a student-athlete into the portal and after that, coaches and staff from other schools are allowed to transfer.

When can a student-athlete enter the transfer portal?

For fall sports, as of the 2024-2025 academic year, a 30-day transfer window begins for student athletes at the end of the regular season, according to NCSA college recruiting. Winter sports are the same, a 30-day window opens at the end of the regular season. For spring sports, there is a 45-day window once the regular season ends.

1. For football, it is a 20-day window that begins the Monday after the conference championship games.
2. For basketball, the 30-day window opens the day after the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

A student-athlete does not have to officially transfer during this period; they just have to apply during this window. They can transfer whenever, wherever, as long as they are accepted into the school and meet academic requirements.

In 2024, the Division I Council adopted new rules that allow student-athletes who meet certain academic eligibility requirements to be immediately eligible at their new school after transferring, even if they did so previously. For more details, CLICK HERE.

To view a PDF of the Transfer Portal windows for all sports in 2024-2025, CLICK HERE.

Can a student-athlete enter the Transfer Portal and return to their original school?

As long as the student-athlete meets enrollment criteria, they can choose to leave or stay at their original school. For college football, the 2022-23 winter transfer window had more than 1,200 scholarship players enter the portal, according to The Athletic.

How many times can a college athlete enter the Transfer Portal and move schools?

Athletes can transfer multiple times without penalty as long as they "maintain good academic standing." The NCAA Division I Council approved the new transfer rules in April 2024.

"With these rule changes, NCAA members continue to prioritize long-term academic success for college athletes who transfer, while supporting their opportunity to compete immediately," said Lynda Tealer, deputy athletics director at Florida and chair of the council. "We hope that this practical approach to transfer eligibility requirements will encourage student-athletes to make well-informed decisions about transferring and the impacts such a move could have on their ability to graduate on time in their degree of choice, particularly as it relates to transferable credits."

TO TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY, PER NCAA:

1. Undergraduate athletes must be in good standing (not subject to disciplinary suspension or dismissal)
2. Meet progress-toward-degree requirements at their new school before competing.
3. For graduate transfer student-athletes to be eligible, they would have to earn a degree from their previous school.
4. Leave while academically eligible and be enrolled as a full-time postgraduate student
5. Satisfy minimum academic standards

What Notable Players Have Entered The Transfer Portal?

Dillon Gabriel: The two-year starter for Oklahoma entered the portal and committed to Oregon on Dec. 9th.

John Mateer: The new OU quarterback for 2025 spend the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Washington State. He joined the Sooners after the 2024 season, with help from Heisman Winner Baker Mayfield.

Jackson Arnold: OU's 2024 quarterback had a tumultuous 6-7 season with the Sooners. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Auburn.

Alan Bowman: The Cowboys quarterback started at Texas Tech, transferred to Michigan for two seasons, and was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA, spending his seventh and final college season with the Cowboys. They finished 3-9.

Hailey Van Lith: The women's college basketball star spent three years at Louisville before transferring to LSU for one season with Angel Reese. She spent her final season at TCU, leading her team to the Sweet Sixteen and then being drafted into the WNBA.

Davon Mitchell: The former highly-touted tight end recruit for the Sooners was never able to make an impact in Norman. He entered the transfer portal in the 2025 spring window.

Kendal Daniels: The four year player for Oklahoma State transferred to in-state rival OU for his last year of eligibility in 2025.

Nico Iamaleava: Maybe the most notable transfer portal entry to date, now former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava reportedly entered the portal in April due to a contract dispute. He has yet to land at a new school.

Jaydn Ott: Cal's star running back suddenly entered the transfer portal in April 2025. Reports say the Sooners are in the mix to land Ott.

Damonic Williams: OU Football picked up Williams from TCU, a 4-star defensive lineman who looks to anchor the Sooners' move to the SEC.

Nic Anderson: The OU receiver who made a name for himself in 2023, catching 10 touchdowns, including the game-winner over Texas, couldn't stay healthy for OU in 2024. He entered the portal and left for LSU for the 2025-2026 season.

Bauer Sharp: OU's leading receiver for the 2024-2025 season entered the portal and committed to LSU.

Otega Oweh: The former Oklahoma guard entered the transfer portal and spent the 2024-2025 season with Kentucky. He delivered two game-winning shots in revenge fashion against the Sooners that season.

Gavin Freeman: The Cowboys now have a former Sooner wide receiver on the team. Freeman entered the portal and committed to OSU in May 2024 after two seasons with the Sooners.

PJ Haggerty: Star shooting guard for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane left the program for Memphis after the 2023-24 season. He committed on April 4, 2024. He was considered one of the most impactful players who transferred in the 2025 season.

Javon Small: OSU's guard for 2023-24 entered the portal and committed to West Virginia in May 2024. He averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 assists for the Mountaineers.

Gunnar Gundy: The son of OSU head coach Mike Gundy entered the portal and committed to Ohio before decommitting a few weeks later. He played the 2024 season at Emporia State, then accepted a role as OSU's quarterbacks quality control assistant.

Max Abmas: After the 2022-23 season, the ORU sharpshooter who led the program to two March Madness appearances left for Texas.

Jabbar Muhammad: The former Oklahoma State Cowboy spent last season making a run to the National Championship with the Washington Huskies. Now, he's heading to their rival, Oregon.

Malachi Nelson: A one-time five-star quarterback recruit who was committed to Lincoln Riley's Sooners changed his plans when the coach went to USC. Nelson followed, but after the season, he entered the portal and on Jan. 6th, he committed to Boise State. Due to transfer portal rules, Nelson entered the portal again before Boise State could compete in the College Football Playoffs. He's now with UTEP.

Cayden Green: One of the more surprising moves this transfer portal season was when star offensive lineman Cayden Green entered the transfer portal from the Sooners. He flipped to Missouri on Dec. 19th.

Mario Williams: Another former OU player with Lincoln Riley, Williams followed him to USC after the 2021 season. He also entered the transfer portal this year and landed at Tulane on Jan. 15th.

Deion Burks: One of the top wide receivers in the portal left Purdue for the Sooners on Dec. 12th. He's back for a second season in Norman.

Caleb Williams: The former Sooner quarterback transferred to USC in February 2022, following coach Lincoln Riley to the Trojans.

Spencer Sanders: After the 2022 season, Sanders transferred to Ole Miss.

Spencer Rattler: Ratter transferred to South Carolina after losing his position to Williams. He spend two years with the Gamecocks and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints.

Max Brown: Brown played high school ball with Lincoln Christian in Oklahoma before heading to the Florida Gators. He entered the portal and transferred to Charlotte in December.