Proposed Portal Change Could End Two-Windows System; Lane Kiffin Has Previously Called It a ‘Really Dumb System’
OXFORD, Miss. — The college football transfer portal may soon look very different. According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the NCAA Football Oversight Committee voted Thursday to support a single annual transfer portal window each January.
The NCAA FB Oversight Committee voted today to support a single transfer portal in January, sources tell @YahooSports, ushering in a significant change.
The Administrative Committee still needs to formally adopt the change later. The 10-day window is expected to open Jan. 2.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 4, 2025
The new system would create one 10-day window beginning January 2, eliminating the current two-window format. The move comes after years of growing frustration from coaches and administrators around the country — and Lane Kiffin has been one of the most outspoken on the issue.
At the beginning of fall camp, Coach Kiffin didn’t hold back when asked about the portal windows.
“I think that unfortunately, the world we’re in, it is not good…It’s not a good system, and it’s not good for college football. Professional sports don’t have this amount of turnover on a roster. Not even close.”
Lane Kiffin
Kiffin, who has often said he supports players getting paid and acknowledges he has made great use of the transfer portal himself, still finds the current system problematic. One of his biggest complaints has been how the December window overlaps with bowl games, often leaving rosters short-handed.
Before Ole Miss played Duke in the Gator Bowl, the Blue Devils’ quarterback situation became a prime example, as both the starter and the backup entered the portal.
“It really is a really dumb system to think about what we’re talking about, a quarterback going in the portal. Just think about what we’re talking about; the season’s not over yet, and there’s a free agency window open.”
Lane Kiffin in December before Gator Bowl
Because this change is considered “Emergency Legislation,” it still needs approval from the NCAA Administrative Committee by October 1 to take effect this year. The committee is currently restructuring under the NCAA’s revised governing model.
The transfer portal itself launched in October 2018 as a database to streamline the process for athletes looking to explore new opportunities. Since 2021, players have been able to transfer without sitting out a season. In 2024, the NCAA loosened the rules even further, granting immediate eligibility regardless of the number of transfers.
If the new legislation passes, January could become one of the busiest — and most important — months on the college football calendar, while also addressing many of the concerns voiced by Kiffin and others.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
