The NCAA transfer portal officially opens on April 13. That applies to players who haven’t already lost their roster spots or informed their teams they won’t be returning.
But the reality? The portal has effectively been open for weeks.
At both the Division I and Division III levels, players have already started entering in significant numbers—and it’s filling up quickly.
How quickly?
As of now, there are already 35 players in the Division I portal, with only six having found new homes.
Division III is even more crowded. There are 77 players currently in the portal, and again, only six have landed commitments.
That’s a substantial number of players available before the portal has even officially opened.
And it’s about to get more crowded.
With ongoing coaching changes and recent NCAA rule adjustments, expectations are that another 100+ players will enter the Division I portal, along with 150–200 more at the Division III level.
So what does that mean?
It means that starting next week, players—especially those in the 2005 birth year still hoping to secure a commitment—are about to face a massive influx of new competition. If things felt difficult this year, the landscape is about to become even more challenging.
Waiting it out isn’t a great strategy either. Some may think they can hold off until the portal closes at the end of the month, but that overlooks an important reality: portal movement can continue well into mid-May. Spots don’t stay open, and decisions don’t pause.
The bottom line?
Just because you’re a strong player finishing your junior career doesn’t mean you’re in control of the process. Programs move quickly, and they don’t wait around. Players who overestimate their value—or hesitate too long—can find themselves with very few options left.
In this environment, timing and realism matter just as much as talent.
