At the beginning of October, a big change dropped for all FBS and FCS players: the transfer portal window is now just a single period. Coaches, players, and fans have been buzzing about it ever since.
The new transfer window runs from January 2 to January 16. Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz hasn’t held back—he’s compared the process to *blind dating* and even called it a *crapshoot*.
The Division I Administrative Council decided to ditch multiple transfer windows and go with just one. It’s supposed to streamline things, but honestly, it’s also brought a bunch of new headaches.
Players can jump into the transfer portal starting January 2. The window stays open until January 16, which lines up with the end of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
If you’re on a team still playing in those games, you get an extra five days to figure things out. That’s a tiny bit of breathing room, but not much.
For players, this new setup means they’ve got a short, clear window to make life-changing decisions. They have to figure things out fast, all while juggling classes and team stuff.
Teams, meanwhile, have to sift through a flood of potential transfers in just two weeks. Trying to find the right fit in that kind of rush? It’s tough, maybe even a little chaotic.
Kirk Ferentz, who’s led the Iowa Hawkeyes for ages, has been pretty blunt about the new system. In a recent press conference, he called it *blind dating*—he’s frustrated by how little time there is to really get to know a player before making a commitment.
He says it’s already hard enough with thousands of athletes entering the portal. Now, with just one short window, it’s even harder to make smart choices.
Ferentz brought up wide receiver Jacob Gill as a rare success story. Gill fit in almost instantly, even though he’d only been with the team for two years.
But that’s not always how it goes. Ferentz pointed out that the portal is a *crapshoot*—there’s just no way to know for sure if a player will actually mesh with your program.
Sometimes, you end up with mismatches. That can throw off team chemistry and performance, which nobody wants.
College football keeps shifting toward more regulation and simplicity with moves like this single transfer window. It’s supposed to make things easier, but honestly, it just piles on more pressure for everyone.
Coaches like Ferentz are having to rethink how they scout and recruit. There’s talk about using more advanced scouting software to speed things up, though it’s not a magic fix.
Building strong relationships with high school and junior college coaches can help too. Sometimes, a good word from someone who knows the player makes all the difference.
Conclusion
The single transfer portal window has really shaken up college football. It’s meant to make things easier, but honestly, it brings a whole new set of headaches for players and coaches alike.
Kirk Ferentz’s comments make it clear—navigating this system takes some serious thought. Coaches have to pick the right players and then actually make them fit in with the team. That’s not exactly straightforward.
The transfer portal keeps changing, and it’s going to keep forcing programs to rethink their strategies. Nobody can just set it and forget it anymore.
Curious about Kirk Ferentz’s full take on the transfer portal and how it’s affecting Iowa football? You can check out the whole article at Dear Old Gold.
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