The transfer portal is officially open.

First instituted by the NCAA in 2018, the portal has changed in some form or fashion each of the last four years, making it a challenge for even diehard fans to keep pace. But it’s the most consequential period for a team’s roster construction and can turn a pretender into a contender (or vice versa) in a hurry.

What do you need to know? The Athletic has a handy guide to bring you up to speed on the ins and outs of the portal, what’s new, who to watch and what to expect.

What is the transfer portal?

The NCAA transfer portal is a database where college athletes can enter their names so that they can be contacted and recruited by other schools. It was created on Oct. 15, 2018, in part to remedy situations in which coaches tried to restrict which schools athletes could transfer to by refusing to release them from their scholarship.

To enter the portal, athletes simply notify the school (typically an athletic department compliance officer) of their intent to transfer, and the school must then enter the athlete’s name in the database within two business days of written notification of intent to transfer.

Athletes can transfer without using the portal and have done so in the past by withdrawing from their school and enrolling in another. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff (BYU to Tulane) and defensive back Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin to Miami) are recent examples. But other schools are not allowed to have recruiting contact with a player unless his name is in the portal, and the vast majority of football transfers take place via the portal.

How long is the portal open?

For college football players, this year’s portal is open for 15 days. It opened on Friday, Jan. 2, and will close on Friday, Jan. 16, for all FBS and FCS players, regardless of their classification or graduation status.

There are exceptions. For teams that play in the national championship game on Jan. 19, their players will get an additional five-day window that begins on Jan. 20. If any schools change head coaches after the portal closes, players at those schools will get a 15-day window that begins five days after a new coach is hired.

These rules are tweaked from recent years. From 2022 through 2025, there were two portal windows, one in the winter and one in the spring. This year, the NCAA eliminated the spring window, a move pushed for by many coaches. And the head coaching change exception was altered: It used to be a 30-day window beginning the day after a coaching change.

Do players have to pick their new school within the 15-day window?

No. The portal window is only for entry. Players are free to take as long as they need to pick a destination. However, players who want to enroll in their new school in time for the spring semester — and, thus, spring practice — will have to move quickly to meet enrollment deadlines.