The College Football Playoff quarterfinals are now behind us and the final four teams are locked in.
While those teams are preparing to punch their ticket to Miami to play for the national championship, many programs are searching for the right players to help them reach the big game next season.
That’s where the transfer portal comes into play.
Many players will enter the transfer portal in hopes of finding opportunities to play with new teams in 2026.
Here are a few things you should know about the NCAA Transfer Portal.
What is the transfer portal?
According to the NCAA, the transfer portal is a compliance tool that manages the transfer process for players.
In short, it’s a database.
Players inform their current school they intend to transfer. From there, compliance officers enter the player’s information into the transfer portal. Once the player’s and information is in the portal, they receive an email to verify their contact information.
When does the transfer portal open?
Players were allowed to officially enter the transfer portal at midnight on January 2.
The transfer portal window for players at the FBS and FCS levels will remain open until January 16, 2026.
While the portal window recently opened, some players did announce their intent to enter the transfer portal before the window officially opened.
Players who compete in the national championship game will have an extended window from January 20-24 to enter the transfer portal.
Can I see who’s in the transfer portal?
Officially, no.
Fans do not have access to the official transfer portal. However, many news outlets like HawkCentral and USA Today do have trackers that list players who have entered the portal from their respective programs.
What happens if a player is not picked up in the transfer portal?
In some cases, players do not find new homes after entering the transfer portal.
According to the NCAA, about 30% of Division I athletes who enter the transfer portal do not find a new program to join.When that happens, a player runs the risk of losing their roster spot and maybe even their scholarship if they are not allowed to return to their current program.
If a player does not find a new home using the transfer portal, they may be able to find opportunities to play at smaller schools or at non-NCAA programs. In some cases, players leaves the sport entirely if they aren’t able to transfer.
Can a player return to their school if they enter the transfer portal?
Yes.
Players can have their names removed from the transfer portal if they have a change of heart.
About 7% of Division I athletes who enter the portal ultimately withdraw, according to data from the NCAA.
Emery Glover is an audience engagement specialist for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at eglover@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What is the transfer portal? How NCAA athletes find new programs
Reporting by Emery Glover, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
