Transfer portal primer: 'At 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 2, you're going to see people instantly commit'

"Transfer portal season is coming soon in college football. And this year's edition is guaranteed to be fast and furious. The transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, the day after the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, for a frenzied two-week period of transactions at the FBS and FCS level. The elimination of the spring portal window in April means programs have one shot to get this right if they want to win big in 2026."

"This season has brought more proof of concept that a portal-heavy approach can dramatically flip a program's fortunes, with Indiana, Texas Tech and Ole Miss in the national championship hunt thanks to the transfer classes they've assembled. We've officially entered the revenue-sharing era of college athletics. Schools are investing more money than ever into their football rosters. Bidding wars for top transfers can easily surpass $1 million."

"By the time we get to Jan. 2 and players can officially enter the transfer portal, don't be shocked if hundreds of them are already off the board. Several general managers, recruiting staffers and agents surveyed by ESPN compared the upcoming first day of portal season to NBA free agency. 'At 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 2, you're going to see people instantly commit,' one agent predicted. 'Deals have to be made ahead of time.'"

The transfer portal opens Jan. 2 for a two-week period, and the elimination of the spring window means teams have one concentrated opportunity to build rosters for 2026. Transfer-driven roster overhauls have propelled programs such as Indiana, Texas Tech and Ole Miss into national contention. Increased revenue sharing has led schools to invest heavily in roster acquisition, with bidding wars for top transfers easily exceeding $1 million. Many recruits and transfers are finalizing decisions before Jan. 2, creating a fast-moving market where instant commitments are likely. The calendar shift to January aimed to protect postseason rosters and accommodate the coaching carousel.

Read at ESPN.com