Comments from head coach Mario Cristobal this spring that you adapt to the transfer portal or die show Miami is in a good position with the decision by the NCAA Administrative committee on Wednesday to eliminate the spring window for players transferring.
The NCAA Administrative Committee chose to eliminate the spring transfer portal window and the fall transfer window graduate student exception. NCAA News issued a statement via social media stating, in response to student-athlete feedback, the football oversight committee will consider modifications to the January window.
The Transfer Portal will now have a single January window, with the football oversight committee focusing on the length of the proposed January window and in their words, corresponding dates. The Administrative Committee expects to consider modifications during an October meeting.
Miami has been one of the most successful programs in the Transfer Portal since Cristobal was hired as head coach in December 2021. The Hurricanes have signed an average of the eighth-ranked transfer class in the four portal cycles under Cristobal per 247Sports.
"The portal is always open regardless of the dates..that's the reality of where we are in.... You adapt or you die...you work your tail off and you make sure that you show guys a path for improvement, for betterment, and...that puts Miami first...that's still the best part of a winning formula...people that want to see a place do well and understand that if...everybody does well...and if you work together to get all the pieces to do well, that the magic happens...will it be chaotic...let's put together the best team."Miami head coach Mario Cristobal
The comments from Cristobal this spring show his willingness to accept whatever changes the NCAA makes in relation to roster building. The addition of the early signing period in December 2017, players not having to sit out when transferring, advent of the portal and NIL have all been major changes to college football.
Administrative Committee eliminates DI football's spring transfer window and fall transfer window's graduate student exception.
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) September 17, 2025
In response to student-athlete feedback, football oversight committees will consider modifications to proposed single January window, including length… pic.twitter.com/fFP3sEf0ty
Miami has built a winning formula with a 10-3 2024 season and three consecutive wins to begin the 2025 season. Cristobal understands the chaotic nature of the portal. The NCAA eliminating the spring Transfer Portal will create more roster stability across college football.
The new, sole Transfer Portal will be in January. Dates will be discussed at the meeting in October, with a decision on when players will be allowed to transfer released at a later date. The New Transfer Portal Cycle will make it more critical for coaches to evaluate transfers in January.
Under Cristobal, Miami has been very active during the spring transfer portal cycle that allowed the Hurricanes to fill holes on the roster after spring practice. Miami added seven transfers during the spring portal cycle that included several key contributors through the first three weeks of the 2025 season.
The January portal will allow coaches to begin building culture in January without being concerned about who they lose and integrating new players into the program in the spring. Miami will adapt to the changes in the Transfer Portal with Cristobal leading a staff that emphasizes talent acquisition.