Charlie Baker, speaking with reporters at the NCAA Convention, said transfer windows are challenging because they must be built around academic calendars.

The AFCA proposes transfer portal reforms to balance player freedom with program stability, addressing chaos in modern college football’s landscape

By the time the portal window closed for the Badgers on Dec. 28, 23 scholarship players and two walk-ons entered the portal.

Hours after coaches made their case for a simpler calendar, Baker pumped the brakes on an immediate slashing of most portal windows

Student-athletes can enter their names into the transfer portal during two different periods for the 2024-25 academic year. The first took place in early December and the second in late April.

Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr. was arguably Auburn’s biggest signing of the winter window, ranking as the top receiver in the portal, according to On3 and 247Sports. He and Wake Forest transfer Horatio Fields were the two receivers Auburn signed, with both coming off quality seasons in the ACC.

While it's not uncommon for a player from a Group of Five or FCS program to have aspirations of transferring to a larger program, it is pretty rare for a player to openly admit that is their goal. Ford will join the Warhawks as the highest-ranked running back recruit in program history, picking them over Louisiana Tech, Memphis, and Minnesota.

LSU, Texas and Ole Miss are among the programs leading the 247Sports team rankings for portal commits. Tigers coach Brian Kelly urged boosters and LSU supporters after the season to help the cause in 2025 and has said he'll match any individual donation up to $1 million.

Miami-bound Carson Beck entered the portal at the top of the list ahead of John Mateer, who is headed to the SEC to play at Oklahoma.

Division I FBS coaches voted Tuesday during the American Football Coaches Association convention to change the current transfer portal time window frame