The most chaotic two weeks in college football history are about to occur following the College Football Playoffs over New Year’s as the transfer portal opens and hundreds of players across the sport transfer programs.
What is the transfer portal, AKA what has become college football’s 15-day free agency period? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Who is eligible to transfer teams?
Any player who has NCAA eligibility remaining and meets the school’s academic standards can freely transfer within the 15-day period to any program of their choice.
While other sports have multiple transfer windows, college football agreed to a single yearly portal that opens after the CFP quarterfinals over two weeks, allowing players to swap teams.
If a player declares for the portal but doesn’t find a new team, their old school isn’t obligated to keep a scholarship open for them, and they might end up teamless in 2026.
When does it start and end?
The transfer portal period officially opens on Jan. 2, 2026, hours after the conclusion of the last College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Ole Miss and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
From the 2nd to Jan. 16, 2026, teams can talk to any player in the portal to sign them to their team. Once the transfer window ends, no more transactions can take place.
More news: Tracking Every Top College Quarterback Entering the 2026 Transfer Portal
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How many players are in the transfer portal?
Over 1,300 players have officially entered the portal in hopes of transferring schools or finding a new NIL deal with their current program.
Who are some big names in the transfer portal this year?
This is promising to be the biggest, craziest, and most hectic two weeks we’ve ever seen in college football.
Over a dozen top quarterbacks that have the talent to play in the NFL have entered the portal, most notably five-star recruits DJ Lagway (Florida) and Dylan Raiola (Nebraska).
For skill players, running back Caleb Hawkins (North Texas) and wide receiver Cam Coleman (Auburn) could be program-shifting players for whoever lands them.
On the defensive side of things, prodigal EDGE talent Chaz Coleman (Penn State) is the crown jewel of the transfer window.
In total, we could see well beyond $100 million spent over the course of the transfer portal in terms of signings between the 15-day period.