Transfer Portal: Evaluating 30-day windows for Alabama, Washington, Michigan and more
The college football coaching carousel does not seem to have a stop date.
The latest major domino to fall came last Friday, as UCLA head coach Chip Kelly left Westwood to take the offensive coordinator job at Ohio State under his former quarterback, Ryan Day. While the common college football fan was stunned by the decision, those following closely could see Kelly was looking for an out of Los Angeles.
All of these coaching changes have implications on players, too. With every head coaching opening, a 30-day transfer portal window opens for athletes to enter college football’s free agency. With the 30-day winter window closed, each school has its own period where athletes can enter the portal.
On3 confirmed with the NCAA when the 30-day window ends for each school. Most athletes have not entered the portal because of academic calendar restraints. Expectations are that the spring transfer portal window – from Tuesday, April 16 to Tuesday, April 30 – will be chaotic. The SEC office previously told On3 that players could only transfer within the SEC during the winter period or in the extended 30-day window.
Here is a breakdown of each team’s 30-day portal window.
Alabama
Nick Saban announcing his retirement set off a cascade of coaching moves. Alabama’s 30-day window lasted from Jan. 11 to Feb. 10 and saw a notable amount of talent leave Tuscaloosa. Isaiah Bond quickly entered the transfer portal, landing at Texas. SEC Freshman of the Year Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State while starting offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor left for Iowa. Early signee and five-star quarterback Julian Sayin is also now at Ohio State. Other notable losses included cornerback Dezz Ricks, tight end Amari Niblack, offensive lineman Terrence Ferguson, running back Roydell Williams, safety Antonio Kite and linebacker Shawn Murphy.
With the exodus of talent, new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer brought a few pieces with him from Washington. Quarterback Austin Mack was added to the Tide’s roster, along with offensive lineman Parker Brailsford and wide receiver Germie Bernard.
Washington
With DeBoer leaving Seattle to take over for Saban at Alabama, the Huskies 30-day portal lasted from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11. Washington lost some major pieces of its offense to the portal, including offensive linemen Nate Kalepo, Parker Brailsford, Julius Buelow and Geirean Hatchett. Plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball opted to leave Seattle, too, including cornerback Jaivion Green, safety Mishael Powell, safety Asa Turner and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad.
Jedd Fisch’s biggest win was convincing Mississippi State transfer quarterback Will Rogers to stick with his commitment to Washington despite entering the portal after DeBoer took the Alabama job.
Arizona
The Arizona portal window began on Jan. 15, the day after Fisch took the Washington job, and is set to close on Feb. 13. New head coach Brent Brennan was able to keep most of the roster intact, including quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. That doesn’t mean Fisch didn’t take talent with him to the Big Ten. Among the losses for the Wildcats, running back Jonah Coleman, cornerback Ephesians Prysock and defensive lineman Isaiah Ward following Fisch to Washington. Brennan added some talent in the portal, most notably Syracuse defensive lineman Kevon Darton, who had had 42 tackles and five sacks in 2023.
Michigan
Jim Harbaugh achieved everything he wanted to as a head coach at his alma mater. Three consecutive wins over Ohio State. Three Big Ten championships. And to cap it off, leading Michigan to a national championship in the College Football Playoff. He decided in late January to take the Los Angeles Chargers job, opening the portal up for Michigan players. The 30-day window does not close until Feb. 23 for the Wolverines. Because of the academic calendar, players could wait until the spring window to leave. Since Harbaugh took the job, only defensive lineman Reece Atteberry has entered the portal.
San José State
With Brennan leaving San José State for a shot to coach in the Big 12, the Spartans did not lose any major talent because of the coaching change. Linebacker Bryun Parham transferred to Washington, while offensive tackle Ryan Stewart, EDGE Tre Smith and running back Quali Conley followed Brennan to Tucson. The San José State portal window closes on Feb. 15.
Buffalo
Buffalo head coach Maurice Linguist resigned in January to take the co-defensive coordinator role at Alabama. Because of the move, the 30-day window for the Bulls lasts until Feb. 15. Buffalo running back Michael Washington is the lone player to enter the portal since Linguist’s departure. The Bulls have since hired South Carolina assistant Pete Lembo to fill the role.
South Alabama
Another head coach on the move to Alabama, DeBoer tapped his former colleague Kane Wommack as the Tide’s new defensive coordinator. The move left the head coaching position open at South Alabama. The portal window is set to close also on Feb. 15 for the Jaguars, who lost offensive lineman James Robinson to the portal. Elevating offensive coordinator Major Applewhite to head coach has surely helped retain players, too.
Boston College
Jeff Hafley took the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator job last month, leaving Boston College to return to the NFL. He brought the Eagles to bowl eligibility in three of his four years on Chestnut Hill. The decision to leave BC and the ACC was partially rooted in the ever-changing landscape of college sports. He was also starting to feel the pressure to win. Hafley’s departure opened the portal up for BC players on Jan. 1 and will last until March 1. The Eagles have lost just two tight ends and hired Bill O’Brien last week.
UCLA
With Chip Kelly off to Columbus to take the offensive coordinator role with the Buckeyes, the Bruins are facing a transfer portal window that will last until March 10. UCLA has not seen a single player enter the portal yet. The Bruins also hired their next head coach, DeShaun Foster, on Monday. He’s a former UCLA star and assistant who had recently taken a job with the Las Vegas Raiders.