Tag Archive for: NCAA Transfer Portal

NCAA Transfer Portal News

Division I Transfer Rule: Significant Penalties Approved

The NCAA Division I Cabinet has approved a new rule across all sports that imposes penalties on programs that allow a student-athlete to transfer in from another NCAA institution without properly entering the Transfer Portal.

Under this rule:

  • The head coach will be suspended from coaching duties for 50% of the season, and
  • The institution will face a financial penalty equal to 20% of that sport’s budget.

This rule is effective immediately and will be applied retroactively to any transfer occurring on or after February 25, 2026.

Division II Considering Transfer Windows

At its March meeting, the NCAA Division II Legislation Committee discussed the possibility of implementing sport-specific Transfer Portal windows for Division II student-athletes—similar to the limited windows currently used in Division I.

To support this discussion, NCAA staff will compile sport-by-sport data showing when Division II athletes have been entering the Transfer Portal.

This information will help guide ongoing conversations and potential rule changes in the coming months.

For Division II Football, the Committee also reviewed a request from coaches to establish a transfer window that would align with Division I’s January window.

Need Help Navigating Transfer Rules?

If you have questions about how these potential changes could impact your student-athlete, schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation online, email rick@informedathlete.com, or call 913-766-1235.

/by

NCAA Considers Stronger Penalties Against Schools for Improper DI Transfers

To prevent athletes from transferring to an NCAA Division I program without entering the Transfer Portal through the required notification process, the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Subcommittee recently recommended that the Division I Cabinet impose significant penalties on any university that allows an athlete to join its team outside of the established portal procedures.

Under current rules, an athlete may still transfer to another university and remain eligible without entering the Transfer Portal, provided the athlete and their family follow the conditions and steps listed below.

  • The athlete must apply and be admitted to the new university through the normal transfer admissions process, just like any other student. The athletic department may not assist in facilitating the transfer.
  • The athlete may not communicate with athletic department staff members at the new school — either directly or through family members or third parties.
  • The athlete may not join the team or participate in athletically related activities until they are officially enrolled and attending classes at the university.

However, if this recommendation is approved by the Division I Cabinet in April, the following penalties could be imposed:

  • The head football coach would be prohibited from all coaching, recruiting, and administrative duties for six games.
  • The university would be fined an amount equal to 20% of its football program budget.
  • The football program’s roster limit would be reduced for the following season.

Just days after the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee issued its recommendation, the Division I Cabinet signaled its support for the proposal.

The Cabinet also endorsed the idea of applying a similar penalty structure across all Division I sports programs, not just football.

A formal vote of the full Cabinet membership is expected to occur in mid-April.

For questions about this action and the potential impact on your athlete, write to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.

/by
,

NCAA DIII Convention Actions

Transfer Portal

The NCAA Transfer Portal is currently optional for Division III schools.

However, starting in August 2026, the Transfer Portal will become mandatory for all D3 member universities.

Until then, D3 athletes must follow their school’s chosen process:

  • Transfer Portal notification method or the
  • “Permission to Contact” method.

The option of a D3 athlete’s opportunity to utilize a “self-release” will remain permissible if they are interested in contacting coaches at another D3 program.

Schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation to talk through your athlete’s unique situation, understand available options, and receive guidance on navigating the transfer process.

Season of Eligibility

A proposal that would have charged Division III athletes with a season of eligibility only if they competed in a contest during the season was defeated.

This means Division III athletes will continue to be charged with one of their four permissible seasons of participation even if their involvement during a season is limited to practicing with the team and they never appear in a game.

This also means that if a D3 athlete wants to have an additional season of eligibility, it will be even more important to manage their season by

  • Stepping away from the team before the season begins or
  • Having a clear understanding of the rules and guidelines for a Medical Hardship Waiver to possibly get a season “over again” if they are injured or become ill during a season.

Schedule an Eligibility Consultation online or reach out at rick@informedathlete.com or 913-766-1235 for guidance on how your athlete’s season of eligibility will be counted.

/by

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

/by
, , ,

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.

 

 

 

 

/by

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.

/by

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.

 

/by

NCAA DI Winter Sport Transfer Portal Dates

With many Winter sports approaching the end of the regular season, here are the opening and closing Transfer Portal dates for NCAA Division I Winter sport athletes:

  • Men’s Basketball: March 24-April 22
  • Women’s Basketball: March 25-April 23
  • Bowling: April 2-May 16
  • Fencing: March 18-May 1
  • Men’s Gymnastics: April 15-May 29
  • Women’s Gymnastics: March 31-May 14
  • Men’s Ice Hockey: March 30-May 13
  • Women’s Ice Hockey: March 16-April 29
  • Rifle: Feb. 24-April 9
  • Skiing: March 4-April 17
  • Men’s Swimming/Diving: March 19-May 2
  • Women’s Swimming/Diving: March 12-April 25
  • Indoor Track and Field: March 11-April 24
  • Men’s Wrestling: March 19-May 2

Exceptions:

  • here are exceptions for Division I student-athletes who will be transferring as a postgraduate student and for those who have had their sport discontinued at their school.
  • There is also a 30-day Transfer Window available for Division I student-athletes immediately following their coach being fired, retiring, or leaving to take another job.
  • For DII athletes, the transfer portal deadline is June 15th. DIII athletes have no specific deadline.
  • Keep in mind, however, that you will probably be removed from your current team as soon as you inform them of your plan to transfer.

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

/by
,

NCAA Academic Requirements for 4-4 and 2-4 Transfers

The academic requirements for a student-athlete to be eligible when transferring to a new university depend upon several factors, including the number of semesters when an athlete has been enrolled in college and taking classes as a full-time student. This is especially true for any athlete transferring to the NCAA Division I level.

When a junior college athlete who will be transferring to an NCAA Division I university has attended the junior college for more than two years (which has been somewhat common ever since the onset of the pandemic), the academic requirements to be eligible can become even more complicated.

Here is one reason why – think of the situation this way:

How will an athlete attending a two-year college that only offers freshman and sophomore level courses earn junior level course credits that will be acceptable for transfer to a Division I university if they’ve been attending a junior college for three years?

We can provide a confidential Eligibility Consultation to inform you and your athlete of the specific academic requirements that he or she will need to satisfy to be eligible when they transfer to a new university.

We also have a Transcript Review Service in which we assess your athlete’s transcript to estimate and inform you about the courses that will be transferable to the next university to satisfy the NCAA transfer requirements. This is available for a transfer from a two-year college or from one four-year university to another.

Contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or call our office at 913-766-1235 for more information regarding our services.

/by
,

NCAA DI Basketball & Football Transfer Portal Window Changes

The NCAA Division I Council took action last week to reduce the Transfer Portal Windows for Division I men’s and women’s basketball and football from 45 to 30 days. These changes are effective for the upcoming Portal Windows at the end of those sport seasons for the current year.

For Men’s and Women’s Basketball the new Portal Windows are:

  • Men’s Basketball – March 24 to April 22
  • Women’s Basketball – March 25 to April 23

For Football (both FBS and FCS), there will be two Portal Windows totaling 30 days.

  • The first Window for Football will be for 20 days from December 9 to 28.
  • The second Window will be for 10 days from April 16-25.

There will also continue to be Exceptions to the above Portal dates:

  • When there is a change of Head Coach (30 days after such an announcement)
  • An Exception that began on October 1st for athletes who will be transferring after graduating this year (or semester) from their current four-year university.

Questions About the Transfer Portal Academic Eligibility Rules?

If you have questions about the steps to enter the Transfer Portal, or perhaps more importantly about the academic requirements to be immediately eligible at your next university, schedule a confidential Eligibility Issues consult online, contact us at rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235 to arrange a confidential consultation.

/by