Brian Kelly endorses having one transfer portal window over Oversight Committee vote

On Thursday, the NCAA Oversight Committee voted to support a single transfer portal, which would take place in early January. During a press conference Thursday, LSU head coach Brian Kelly made his stance on the change crystal clear when asked whether he’d prefer one or two portal windows.

“One window,” Kelly said. “I’m pleased that the Oversight Committee moved that along. We were in favor of the January 2-11 period. We think that’s going to allow us to set our rosters for the rest of the year, not put us in a position where we’re using revenue share NIL and then we don’t see them because they transfer.

“That’s a great move for the Oversight Committee, as well as December being dead. We’ve talked ad nauseam about all the things that go on, and one of them that’s really important is educating your own players in December. Like, should you stay? Should you go? Should you go to the NFL? We’re still signing a class, so I think those were all really positive from my perspective.”

As Kelly mentioned, the single transfer portal window will take place from Jan. 2-11 if approved by the Administrative Committee. The committee must approve the change by Oct. 1 for the change to take effect in the coming year.

In the 2024-25 season, there were two transfer portal windows in college football. The first window occurred in December and lasted for 20 days. The second window was in April and was open just 10 days.

Previously, the portal was open for 45 total days, but the NCAA Division I Council voted to decrease that number to 30 days last October. Brian Kelly is far from the first coach who has been critical of two portal windows.

Notably, coaches have argued a window in December distracts them from being able to prepare for bowl season. LSU lost 11 players to the portal last year between the end of the regular season and its showdown against Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl.

Other teams had it even worse than LSU. After losing head coach Charles Huff to Southern Miss and consequently suffering an exodus of players to the portal, Marshall was unable to play against Army in the Independence Bowl. Marshall was fined $100,000.

On the other hand, coaches have complained about the spring window allowing players to learn about a team’s schemes and then transfer to another in-conference school. This fear has led to numerous schools straying away from their traditional spring games.