The coaching carousel in college football has once again sent ripples through the transfer portal, and Michigan State is feeling the effects. Following the departure of head coach Jonathan Smith, a number of high-profile players from the Spartans program are now headed for the NCAA transfer portal, including quarterback Aidan Chiles and wide receiver Nick Marsh.
Chiles, notably, had already taken the portal route once before - leaving Oregon State to follow Smith to East Lansing. Now, with Smith moving on, Chiles is back in the portal, exploring his next move. Marsh, a promising receiver, joins him as part of a growing group of players re-evaluating their future in the wake of coaching changes.
This kind of movement has become a familiar part of the college sports landscape. When a coach leaves, players often have a 30-day window to enter the portal, giving them a chance to reassess their situation and possibly find a better fit elsewhere. And while football tends to dominate the headlines, this same process plays out across all NCAA sports - from basketball to baseball and beyond - as seasons end and rosters begin to shift.
So, what exactly is the transfer portal - and how does it work?
Let’s break it down.
What is the NCAA Transfer Portal?
Think of the transfer portal as college sports’ version of LinkedIn - a centralized database that connects student-athletes looking for a fresh start with programs looking to reload. Introduced in 2018, the portal was designed to streamline what used to be a murky, behind-the-scenes process.
Before the portal, athletes had to get permission from their current coach just to talk to other schools. Coaches, in turn, relied on word-of-mouth or personal networks to find out who might be available.
It was a system that often left athletes in the dark and coaches guessing. Now, it’s all in one place - a searchable, compliance-friendly platform that’s reshaped the way college sports operate.
How Does the Portal Work?
It’s important to understand that the portal isn’t a magic doorway to a new team - it’s just the first step in the process. Athletes still need to be recruited.
Coaches still need to evaluate talent, check eligibility, and determine fit. But the portal makes it easier for both sides to connect and start that conversation.
When a student-athlete decides to explore a transfer, they notify their current school’s compliance office. That office has two business days to upload the athlete’s name into the portal. Once that happens, the athlete is officially "in the portal" and can be contacted by other schools.
For athletes whose coach has left the program - like what’s happening at Michigan State - there’s a 30-day window to enter the portal. Outside of that, each sport has its own transfer window based on the calendar and competitive season.
Who Uses the Portal?
A lot of student-athletes. In 2024 alone, over 10,000 undergraduates and more than 4,500 graduate students entered the portal. That’s a staggering number - and it speaks to just how much the college sports landscape has shifted in recent years.
And while football and basketball tend to dominate the conversation, the portal is used across all NCAA-sanctioned sports. From soccer to swimming, athletes are using the portal to find better opportunities - whether it’s more playing time, a better academic fit, or a shot at competing for championships.
Does Transferring Affect Eligibility?
Not anymore - at least, not in the way it used to.
Before 2021, most athletes who transferred had to sit out a year before becoming eligible to play at their new school. That rule was a major deterrent.
But in the spring of 2021, the NCAA changed course, allowing athletes to transfer once and play immediately. That decision transformed the portal into a kind of free agency system - one that gives players more control over their careers.
There are still rules, though. Athletes are granted immediate eligibility for their first transfer. If they want to transfer a second time without penalty, they must have completed their undergraduate degree and be enrolling in a graduate program.
Suspensions can also complicate eligibility. If a player is suspended in their sport at their current school, they may not be eligible to compete right away after transferring.
Does the Portal Reset the Eligibility Clock?
No. The NCAA’s eligibility rules remain the same regardless of whether an athlete transfers.
For Division I athletes, the clock starts ticking the moment they attend their first class as a full-time student. They have five calendar years to play four seasons. That clock keeps running - even if they redshirt, sit out a year, or take time off.
Division II and III athletes operate under a slightly different system: 10 full-time semesters (or 15 quarters) to play four seasons. Again, the clock moves forward any time the athlete is enrolled full-time and competing.
Can Athletes Change Their Mind After Entering the Portal?
Technically, yes - but it’s rare, especially in big-time college football. According to the NCAA, only about 7% of athletes who entered the portal in 2024 ultimately withdrew and returned to their original schools.
Once a player enters the portal, it’s often a sign that they’re ready to move on. That said, nothing is final until the paperwork is signed with a new program. Coaches can still re-recruit players who’ve entered the portal, and some athletes do end up staying put.
When Does the Portal Open?
Each sport has its own specific transfer window.
For football, the main window runs from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16 - a crucial period for players looking to make a move before spring practices begin. There’s also a secondary window in the spring.
Men’s basketball has its window from March 23 to April 21, with women’s basketball following one day later. Other sports have their own timelines, usually tied to the end of their competitive seasons.
It’s worth noting: these windows apply to when an athlete’s name can be entered into the portal - not when they can transfer or enroll at a new school. That part of the process can happen later, depending on academic calendars and team needs.
The transfer portal has fundamentally changed the way college sports operate. For student-athletes, it offers freedom and flexibility.
For coaches, it’s a tool to build - or rebuild - rosters in a hurry. And for fans, it’s become a new kind of offseason drama, full of twists, turns, and surprise moves.
As Michigan State navigates its own roster turnover, expect more names to enter the portal in the coming weeks. It’s all part of the new normal in college athletics - a world where opportunity is just one click away.