Ohio State Coach Ryan Day Critiques Proposed Transfer Portal Changes
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day expressed strong opposition on Tuesday to proposed changes regarding the college football transfer portal. The NCAA’s FBS Oversight Committee recently voted to shift the winter transfer portal window from December to a new 10-day period beginning on January 2, 2026. This adjustment would also eliminate the existing spring transfer window in April, limiting FBS players to a single chance to enter the portal for the 2026 season.
The upcoming transfer window, if approved, would commence just one day after the conclusion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals, which are scheduled for January 8 and January 9, 2026. Coaches and athletic administrators are currently evaluating how to navigate the hectic December calendar, which includes coaching changes, bowl practices, recruiting, and the high school signing day.
At a weekly news conference, Day stated, “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea at all. The conversations we had with the Big Ten coaches indicate that the majority agree. I just don’t quite understand how teams that are playing in the playoffs are expected to make decisions and sign their upcoming players while still preparing for games. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
The proposed transfer window would close on January 11, 2026, leaving little time for teams to adjust their rosters while competing for championships. Last year, Ohio State saw nine scholarship players enter the transfer portal during their playoff run, including backup quarterback Devin Brown. Four additional players departed in late January after the national championship game.
Day highlighted the challenges presented by the current calendar, noting that the overlap of various events complicates recruitment efforts. “I know the calendar is funky,” he said. “But I know the Big Ten and Commissioner Tony Petitti have been working hard on this, because he doesn’t believe it either.”
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) executive director Craig Bohl indicated that FBS head coaches he consulted at the AFCA convention expressed unanimous support for a single transfer window that starts in January. Many view this change as beneficial, as it would encourage players to remain with their teams to finish the season before considering transfers.
As the deadline for the Division I Administrative Committee to approve the legislative changes approaches, a vote is expected before October 1, 2023. The outcome of this decision will significantly impact the landscape of college football recruiting and player mobility in the coming years.
