According to reporting from Ross Dellenger, Matt Zenitz and Pete Nakos, the Division I FBS Oversight Committee has recommended a single 15-day Transfer Portal window from January 2 to January 16.
The NCAA's Administrative Committee meets in a month to formally approve the change.
It's what Dan Lanning and several other top coaches wanted, a single window in January after the bowl season. As it stands it comes during the semifinals and national championship game, which presents an extra challenge for the best teams in the game.
The ideal way in future seasons would be to start the season in Week 0, move the playoffs to the month of December and finish the season on January 1. That may come later.
The move to one window will most certainly be challenged in court by agents/lawyers, arguing it violates anti-trust laws and restricts players' rights to earn NIL and revenue-sharing money.
The NCAA has a 15-year losing streak in court cases, and it might well turn out that without a collective bargaining agreement, any and all attempts to restrict player movement will fail. It will take some vision and leadership to make this work.
The single window works perfectly for the Ducks. They are a top tier organization with superb evaluation and scouting, a proven track record of sending players to the NFL and winning at a high level. And they are well-funded.
In Lanning's three full recruiting classes they've had a Top Ten recruiting class and a Top Ten portal class each season, putting together one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the game, a blue-chip ratio of 78% among recruited players, with freshmen like Dierre Hill, Dakorien Moore, Jordon Davison and Brandon Finney already making an impact.
In fact, their surprising rise has put this team over the top. So far they are exceeding expectations with a No. 2 ranking, and evaluation and talent acquisition is a big reason why. Preseason, few experts expected the Ducks to be this good this fast. Few projected them to beat a senior-laden Penn State team in Happy Valley.
The young players are playing way above the line, and December 2023 transfer Dante Moore has emerged as a cool, composed leader, a totally different quarterback than he was at UCLA. That speaks to superior evaluation and development.
The evaluation pays double in the portal. Oregon didn't get just highly rated transfers; they got the right highly rated transfers. At the White Out, Alex Harkey and Emmanuel Pregnon were beasts in run blocking. Bear Alexander dominated the line of scrimmage.
Dillon Thieneman emerged as a leader, setting the standard in preparation and film study, making the play of the game.
Dillon Thieneman beating the “flightless bird” allegations. pic.twitter.com/faeMZuoDbV
— I like B1G Ducks and i cannot lie (@_JordanFlowers_) September 28, 2025
It remains to be seen how the new window will mesh with the academic calendar.
Whatever the rules are, Oregon will adapt to them and thrive, because they are a thorough, flexible and extremely well-run organization. Chief of staff Marshall Malchow, the Ducks' equivalent of a GM, is the best in the business.