New NCAA Division I Transfer Portal “Windows”

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors recently took action that they believe will reduce the seemingly constant/continuous flow of athletes entering the Transfer Portal that we’ve seen over the past year. They’re doing this by restricting Division I athletes to Transfer Portal “Windows.”

As a result, NCAA Division I athletes who want to transfer to another university will ONLY be allowed to enter the Transfer Portal during limited windows of time.

These Transfer Portal “Windows” generally are:

For Fall Sport Athletes – a 45-day period beginning the day after championship selections are made for that sport, or May 1-15.

For Winter Sport Athletes – a 60-day period beginning the day after championship selections are made for that sport.

For Spring Sport Athletes – December 1-15, or a 45-day period beginning the day after championship selections are made for that sport.

Exceptions to the “Windows” for entering the Transfer Portal will be available for Division I athletes who:

• Have a change of head coach

• Have their athletic scholarship reduced, cancelled, or not renewed (for limited reasons)

• Can use a Transfer Exception other than the One-Time Transfer Exception to be eligible for competition in their first year at their new university (such as the Non-scholarship or Discontinued Sport Transfer Exceptions)

Other Situations:

• A current Division I Spring sport athlete who is planning to transfer to another Division I program to be eligible this coming Spring season (not available for baseball or basketball transfers) is NOT required to wait until December to enter the Transfer Portal. This is the last “class” of athletes who are not subject to the Transfer Portal Windows noted above.

• A current Division I student-athlete who is planning to transfer AWAY from Division I (e.g., Division II, III or NAIA) WILL still be restricted to the Windows noted above to enter the Transfer Portal.

• However, student-athletes currently enrolled at an institution OTHER THAN Division I will NOT be restricted to entering the Transfer Portal during these windows (but will need to be aware of the Transfer rules within their own Division, such as the June 15 deadline for NCAA Division II athletes).

If you think the new Transfer Portal Window rules and exceptions are confusing, here are a couple of comments I’ve seen on social media from some of my Division I compliance friends at various universities:

• “Proposal 2022-20 takes the lead for the worst legislation adopted.”

• “I can honestly say this is the most frustrating NCAA rule change rollout that I have ever encountered.”

Also, I think it’s worth noting that a Q&A document that the NCAA is developing (and updating weekly) for Division I compliance administrators is now 6 pages long.

Are you Confused and Need Advice?

For assistance in navigating all the steps and rules to successfully transfer to an NCAA university, schedule a confidential Transfer Consult online to review the transfer rules and academic requirements that will apply to your student-athlete. You can also contact us by sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235.