when does transfer portal open

The college football transfer portal for the 2026 cycle opens on January 2 and runs through January 16, with an additional short extension window for certain postseason players.

Key dates for 2026

• The NCAA has set a single winter transfer portal window for FBS and FCS players beginning in 2026, from January 2–16.

• Several outlets note that this two‑week period is now the primary time players can officially enter the portal ahead of the 2026 season.

Any extra windows?

• Players whose teams are still playing postseason games after mid‑January receive an extra five‑day period following their final game to enter the portal.

• Coverage of the 2026 cycle also mentions an additional five‑day portal window from January 20–24 tied to the new calendar, effectively extending opportunities for some athletes.

Big-picture context

• Starting with 2026, the NCAA eliminated the separate spring transfer window, making the early January window the only standard period to enter the portal for that year.

• Media and league sources describe this change as a way to create more roster stability and reduce the year‑round “free agency” feel of previous multiple‑window systems.

TL;DR: For the 2026 college football cycle, when someone asks “when does the transfer portal open?”, the answer is January 2–16, 2026, with a short extra window for certain postseason players.