NCAA DI Transfer Portal Changes Approved

At the NCAA Convention last week, the Division I Cabinet approved changes to the Transfer Portal windows which will take effect immediately for the following sports:

  • In Men’s and Women’s Basketball, the Transfer Portal window will open for 15 days beginning the day after the respective Men’s and Women’s championship games.
  • In Men’s Hockey, the Transfer Portal window will be open for 15 days beginning the Monday after the Frozen Four championship.

Also, when a head coaching change occurs in Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Men’s Hockey, a 15-day Transfer Portal window will open 5 days after the hiring of a new head coach has been announced.

  • In Track and Field, the Transfer Window following the Indoor Track season has been eliminated.
  • In Men’s Wrestling, the Transfer Window will be open for a 30-day period from April 1-30.

Do You Have Questions?

To learn about the steps, rules and academic requirements for your student-athlete’s specific situation, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online, call 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com

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Three NCAA Convention Proposals That Could Impact Your Athlete

NCAA Division II Seasons of Competition

Division II member institutions will vote on a proposal that would allow five seasons of competition within an athlete’s first 10 semesters of full-time enrollment.

Important implication:
If approved, this change will significantly reduce the availability of hardship waivers.

For example, an athlete who is injured and unable to compete during a season would likely not receive a hardship waiver, but instead would rely on having four other seasons available.

If you have questions about hardship waivers or appeals and how this could impact your student-athlete, schedule a confidential Waivers and Appeals Consultation online. 

 

NCAA Division III Potential Mandatory Use of the Transfer Portal

Division III institutions will vote on whether to require all DIII schools to use the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Currently, the Transfer Portal use is optional in Division III, which has caused confusion for student-athletes and coaches.

If approved, this requirement would take effect in August 2026.

Until then:

  • DIII student-athletes must continue to follow their institution’s current transfer process, and
  • Student-athletes may still use a self-release to contact coaches at other DIII programs.

If you have questions and would like guidance on navigating a Division III transfer, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online. 

 

NCAA Division III Redshirt Proposal

Another proposal being considered at the NCAA Convention would allow Division III student-athletes to be charged a season of eligibility only if they compete during that season.

If approved, a DIII athlete could:

  • Redshirt during one season, and
  • Still retain four additional seasons of competition.

This would replace the current rule that requires an athlete to leave the team before the season begins in order to preserve redshirt and eligibility.

For questions about eligibility or how proposed rule changes may impact your athlete, schedule a confidential Eligibility Consultation online, email rick@informedathlete.com, or call 913-766-1235.

 

 

 

 

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Expected DI Transfer Portal Changes at NCAA Convention

At the NCAA Convention January 13-16, the NCAA Division I Council will vote on proposed changes to Transfer Portal windows in several sports. If approved, the changes would include:

  • Men’s and Women’s Basketball
    The Transfer Portal would open for 15 days beginning the day after the NCAA championship game.
  • Track and Field
    The Transfer Portal window following the indoor season would be eliminated.
  • Men’s Wrestling
    The current 45-day window would be replaced with a 30-day window from April 1–30.
  • Men’s Ice Hockey
    The Transfer Portal would open for 15 days beginning the Monday after the NCAA championship concludes.


Do You Have Questions? 

To discuss how these proposed changes may affect you or your athlete, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online, by calling 913-766-1235 or emailing rick@informedathlete.com.

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NCAA DI Football Transfer Portal Dates

The NCAA Division I Football Transfer Portal (FBS and FCS) will be open for two weeks: January 2–16, 2026.


Division II and Division III student-athletes do not have specific windows during which they must enter the Transfer Portal.


If you have questions about:

  • Exceptions to the Division I Transfer Portal windows (such as a coaching change or postgraduate transfer),
  • How to properly enter the Transfer Portal, or
  • Academic requirements needed to be immediately eligible at your next institution

We can answer your questions and help guide your student-athlete through the process.  Schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online, or call our office at 913-766-1235.

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NCAA DI Football Transfer Portal Changes

Division I football athletes need to be aware of changes to the Transfer Portal dates that were approved by the NCAA recently.

The December and April Transfer Portal windows for D1 football athletes have been eliminated.  They will be replaced by one 15-day Portal window from January 2-16.

Also, the Administrative Committee approved a change to the “head coach departure exception” that will only apply for D1 football athletes. 

  • The new rule will provide athletes with a 15-day window to enter the Transfer Portal which will begin 5 days AFTER the hiring of a new head coach. 

For all sports other than football, the exception provides an athlete in any sport a 30-day window to enter the Transfer Portal after the announcement of a head coaching change.

For a detailed discussion of the Transfer rules and procedures and how they affect your student-athlete, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation or contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or at 913-766-1235.

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Mid-Year Junior College Transfer Reminders

If you’re planning to transfer from a Junior College to an NCAA school, here are some things you need to know before you can take an official visit:

  • If as a first-year junior college athlete you are a Non-Qualifier for Division I (based on your high school academic performance), you are NOT allowed to take an official visit to a Division I university until you complete your freshman year at the two-year college. 

  • In addition, there are specific academic requirements that must be satisfied by a junior college athlete to be eligible as a transfer to an NCAA university, whether as a 2-4 transfer or a 4-2-4 transfer.  And it’s important to know that requirements differ between NCAA Divisions I, II and III. 

  • ALSO, If your junior college athlete has only been told that they must earn their Associates Degree to be eligible when they transfer to an NCAA university, that’s not a complete and accurate answer for what it takes to be eligible as a transfer from a two-year college. 

Do you Need Help Navigating Through a Transfer?

Contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or at 913-766-1235 to schedule a confidential Eligibility Consultation online for an explanation of the rules and academic requirements for a junior college athlete to transfer with immediate eligibility to an NCAA university.

We can also provide a Transcript Evaluation for your junior college athlete to determine whether they are on track to satisfy the academic requirements for a successful transfer. 

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Proposed Change to NCAA DI Football Transfer Portal

We know it may seem early to start talking about the Transfer Portal for this year, but the Division I FBS Oversight Committee just last Thursday proposed a change to the Transfer Portal window for FBS players.  A vote on this proposal is expected to take place by the end of this month.

This proposal removes the December and April Transfer Portal windows and will instead provide just one 10-day Transfer Portal from January 2 to 11. 

Also, another recommendation by this Committee would make the whole month of December a recruiting dead period during which no in-person recruiting contact could occur.  Phone calls, texts and emails to prospects would still be permissible.

For a detailed discussion of the Transfer rules and procedures and how it specifically affects your student-athlete, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation, or contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or at 913-766-1235. 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions This Time of Year

With fall sports and classes starting, here’s a sample of some of the questions we frequently get this time of year: 

  • I’ve started practice with my college team, but I’m not sure this is the right fit for me and I’m thinking about leaving. Will that hurt my eligibility?
  • When does my eligibility “clock” start?
  • Will I be considered a transfer athlete if I leave this team after starting practices at this college?
  • What happens to my eligibility if I withdraw from classes after starting the semester?
  • My new coach just informed me that I likely won’t receive any playing time this season.  Do I have any options to transfer at this late date?  Or, could I take a gap year? 
  • I just learned that I may not be able to be eligible at my new college this year because I don’t have enough transferable credit hours.  Do I have any options for a waiver at this point?
  • How do I redshirt at the NCAA Division III level?

Do you have questions like these or others? 

We can help you in a confidential phone, Video, or What’s App consultation.  At one of these links, select a consultation:  Eligibility Issues Consult, a Transfer Consult, or a Scholarship Strategies Consult.  Don’t worry about whether you’re choosing the correct category of consultation.

Regardless of which category you choose, we will discuss your athlete’s specific situation, answer all your questions, and explain what options your athlete can consider.  Your privacy is our highest priority, therefore everything discussed is held in the highest confidence.  

You can also contact us directly by calling our office at 913-766-1235 or by sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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NCAA DI Spring Sport 2025 Portal Dates

Below are the remaining available Transfer Portal windows for NCAA Division I athletes on Spring sports teams:

Baseball:  June 2 – July 1
Rowing:  May 27 – June 25
Outdoor Track and Field:  May 29 – June 27

Exceptions:

  • There is a 30-day Transfer Window available for any Division I student-athlete immediately following their coach retiring, being fired or leaving to take another job.

Do You Have Questions?

Schedule a confidential Transfer consultation online for an explanation of the steps, rules and academic requirements to be eligible as a transferring student-athlete, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

 

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NCAA House Settlement Details for NIL, Roster Limits and Opting In or Out

After months of anticipation, we’re finally able to share some details with you regarding the NCAA – House settlement and the ways in which it will impact NCAA Division I student-athletes and teams.

NIL

For NIL arrangements with third-parties other than their own university, Division I athletes are now required to report deals worth $600 or more to a new online platform called “NIL Go.”  (www.nilgo.com)

The goal of this new process is to gain some control over the value of NIL deals, so that they are more in line with what was originally intended for the use of an athlete’s name, image or likeness.  That is, for arrangements such as being compensated for autograph signing, personal appearances, or promoting businesses through social media, rather than what appear to be simple “pay for play” compensation deals for upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.

NIL deals with third parties will be evaluated on the following three points:

  • The relationship between the “payor” and the athlete’s school.
  • Whether the payor offer of NIL compensation is for a valid business purpose.
  • Whether the compensation is reasonable for deals offered to other similar individuals (based on things like the athlete’s public recognition, number of social media followers, is the payor a local company or a nationally recognized brand? etc).

If an athlete’s NIL deal is Not Cleared through NIL Go, the athlete will have the option to revise the deal and resubmit for approval, to cancel the deal or can appeal through an arbitration process.

Note: This requirement applies to ALL Division I athletes, regardless of whether their school is opting-in to or is opting-out of the House settlement and is effective immediately.

Roster Limits


Defendant universities (ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and Pac-12) and other universities that Opt-In to the House settlement – referred to as “Participating Institutions” – will be held to the roster limits in each sport that have been publicized for the past few months.

 

However, Participating Institutions will be able to designate athletes who had been told that they were losing their roster spot due to the House settlement if they were on a Division I roster prior to April 7, 2025. Those Designated Student-Athletes will be allowed to continue participating with the team but will not count against a team’s roster limit.

  • The same will be true for recruited athletes who had signed with or been promised a roster sport with a team for the upcoming year before April 7.
  • Designated Student-Athletes must be declared by each Participating Institution and be reported to the NCAA by July 6. Once that list has been submitted to the NCAA, it can’t be revised.
  • Furthermore, except for Designated Student-Athletes (who will not count in roster limits), Fall sports must finalize and be at their limit by the first date of competition this Fall. For Winter and Spring sports teams, rosters must be finalized by either the first date of competition or December 1, 2025, whichever is earlier.
  • Participating Institutions that can afford to do so will have the opportunity to provide full scholarship funding to every athlete on their roster, rather than being restricted to the scholarship limits for each team that have been a part of Division I athletics for many years.

Those universities that Opt-Out of the House settlement will have no specific roster limits (except for Division I baseball), but they will continue to be held to the current scholarship limits in each sport.

Opting in or Opting Out

Schools that are current members of the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, as well as schools that choose to Opt-In to the House settlement will be referred to as Participating Institutions.

  • Those schools will be allowed to directly share revenue earned by the athletic departments with their student-athletes, in addition to having the opportunity to provide full scholarships to those athletes.
  • Schools must formally Opt-In for the 2025-26 school year no later than June 30. A full list of participating schools will then be made public.
  • Going forward, on an annual basis, schools outside of the major conferences will need to declare each year if they are Opting-In or Opting-Out for the upcoming school year no later than March 1.

Do You Have Questions?

Schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies consultation online if you have questions about the settlement, and we’ll do our best to answer them with the resource materials that we have access to from the NCAA, or by calling us at 913-766-1235 or writing to rick@informedathlete.com.

 

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