Overview of the Proposed Changes

The Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees have recommended a major shift to when basketball student athletes can enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. The biggest update is moving the transfer windows to begin after the conclusion of the Men's and Women's Final Fours instead of during earlier rounds of March Madness. These recommendations will be reviewed by the Division I Cabinet in January and could take effect in April 2026.

New Notification of Transfer Windows

Under this proposal, both men and women would have a shorter portal window that opens right after the championship weekend. The women's window would run from April 6 to April 20 and the men's window would run from April 7 to April 21. This changes the current model where the portal opens after the second round of the tournament and remains open for 30 days. The committees believe that waiting until the championship is finished provides a more balanced and fair timeline for all teams and athletes.

Adjustments Related to Coaching Changes

The proposal also introduces a new structure for transfer opportunities when a coaching change occurs. Once a school hires a new head coach, players would have a five day period to meet the new staff and learn the program's plans. After that period, student athletes would have a 15 day transfer window to notify the school if they intend to enter the portal. If a school has not hired a new coach within 30 days of a departure, players would automatically receive a 15 day portal window beginning on the thirty first day.

Restrictions After January First

An additional guideline would apply to coaching changes that take place after January first. If a program replaces its head coach after this date, players would not be able to use an early coaching change window. Instead, they would need to wait until the standard April window opens. This keeps late season coaching shifts from creating extra transfer periods.

What These Updates Mean for Athletes and Programs

If approved, these changes would streamline the basketball transfer process, shorten the peak portal activity period, and create more predictable timelines around coaching transitions. Moving the window past the Final Four also ensures that postseason play can finish without the distraction of early transfer entries. These updates could reshape roster management for programs and decision making for athletes heading into the 2026 cycle.