In an attempt to stem the torrent of players transferring between programs, the NCAA opted to insert windows in the transfer portal that limits when a player can enter their name into the national database. With spring practice underway, when will players next be able to enter the transfer portal — and how long is the spring window open for?
How Long Is the Spring Transfer Portal Window Open?
Unlike the college football transfer portal window that follows the end of the season, the spring transfer portal window is a relatively narrow affair. The spring window is open for just 15 days, one-third of the earlier transfer portal window that closed on Jan. 18, 2023.
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While it is shorter, the spring transfer portal window does give one final opportunity for players to find a new home ahead of the college football season. With spring practices completed at the time of the portal opening, players will have a good idea of their standing at their current program and can seek to insert themselves into a program with greater playing time potential.
When Is the College Football Transfer Portal Deadline?
The spring window for the CFB transfer portal opens on April 15, 2023. The 15-day opportunity for players to enter their names into the national database will close on April 30, 2023. Once that window is closed, players will not be able to enter the portal until after the 2023 college football regular season is completed.
However, just because a player must enter their name into the portal in that 15-day window, it doesn’t mean they have to transfer between April 15 and April 30. Once the player is entered into the portal, they can complete their transfer at any time. Of course, it would be in their interest to do so sooner rather than later as the clock begins counting down to Week 0.
Are There Any Players Exempt From the Spring Transfer Portal Window Deadline?
As mentioned, players wishing to seek a transfer must enter their name in the transfer portal during the 15-day spring window from April 15 until April 30, 2023. However, there are some exemptions to the rule under the NCAA’s latest transfer regulations.
Any player that has completed their undergraduate obligations is free to transfer at any time. Meanwhile, any player at a program where a head coach has been fired, has an immediate 30-day window where they can enter the transfer portal. While extremely unlikely during the spring, this is college football, and stranger things have happened.
Can You Play Immediately After Entering the Transfer Portal in the Spring Window?
Given that the most likely reason for entering the transfer portal in the spring window is to gain greater playing time elsewhere, this is a particularly important question. The answer isn’t quite as straightforward as you might think, either.
First-time transfers will be immediately eligible to play for their new teams. However, things begin to become more complicated for those who have already entered the transfer portal previously.
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As a graduate transfer, you can play immediately regardless of whether you have transferred multiple times. If you’re not a graduate and you’re seeking to transfer for a second time, a new NCAA regulation announced early in 2023 means you have to apply for an eligibility waiver.
To receive an immediate eligibility waiver as a second-time transfer under the new regulation, a student-athlete — including college football players — must be able to prove that a physical injury, illness, or mental health condition meant that they needed to transfer schools.
