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When does the transfer portal open? What Missouri football fans need to know
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- When does the transfer portal open? What Missouri football fans need to know
It's almost 'with that being said' season.
The December window of the college football transfer portal is about to open. As has been the case in the past few seasons, Missouri football is expected to be active in the portal seeking out players to plug gaps on the 2025 roster.
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Yes, that means you're going to see plenty of players posting appreciative messages to their former teams on various social media accounts before declaring they're off to find a new school.
With that being said, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming portal window, including how long it will remain open, which positions Mizzou may target and how the whole thing works:
When does transfer portal open?
The transfer portal for college football officially opens Monday, Dec. 9, which is the day after bowl games are announced and a couple days after conference champions are finalized. It will remain open for players to enter until Dec. 28.
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There are a few caveats to the winter window, some of which will explain why you may have seen some players announce they are in the portal already.
If a team is playing the CFP or a late bowl game, there will be a five-day window after the season ends for a player to enter their name into the portal.
If a player is a graduate student or will graduate this academic year, they were eligible to enter the portal as of Oct. 1.
Finally, if their current college has fired their head coach, then there is an automatic 30-day window for players to enter the portal.
There will be another window after spring ball, with the final transfer portal period opening April 16 and running through April 25.
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Missouri football transfer portal needs
Missouri will, in all likelihood, chase a transfer quarterback. Three-year starter Brady Cook is out of eligibility at the end of this season, and the Tigers are expected to turn to the portal to add competition to the room.
There are other areas on the team you can expect Mizzou to be active. The safety and linebacker positions each will lose three key players in their respective rotations to eligibility at the end of the season. Mizzou is likely to seek out experience at both spots.
A left tackle also will be high on the priority list for Missouri, as will cornerbacks and specialists like a placekicker and punter.
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You may see the Tigers chase a running back with experience and perhaps even a wide receiver, but those do not currently appear to be as pressing due to the expected in-house returners at those positions.
Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Missouri Tigers helmet against the Florida Gators during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
How college football transfer portal works
The transfer portal is exactly what it says on the box: An online database (portal) that players looking to change schools (transfer) can enter. Players notify their respective institutions of their intention to transfer, and within 48 hours their name goes in the database.
Once that happens, other schools can contact that player.
If a player is in the portal, they do not have to commit to a new team by the Dec. 28 entry deadline. That date is only for entering the portal, and players can sign for a new school at any time.
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More: Ranking Missouri football's 2025 recruiting class: Who will have instant impact?
Is there a limit on players Missouri can get from the transfer portal?
No, there is no limit on the number of players Missouri can get from the transfer portal.
But, there are other aspects to consider. Drinkwitz said Nov. 26 that the priority for Missouri was to "sign our freshman class, retain the great players that we have on our roster, and then build moving forward."
The Tigers' portal haul will depend greatly on who returns, in addition to the 17-person recruiting class that signed Wednesday. Final conversations with prospective returners are taking place this week, per Drinkwitz.
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The SEC will continue to operate with an 85-player scholarship limit in 2025, which leaves 20 spots for walk-ons. If revenue sharing is approved in the courts and a proposed 105-player roster limit is implemented during a scheduled hearing April 7, 2025, that will likely change moving forward. Still, it will be something to keep in mind for coaches as they build their rosters.
More: On revenue sharing and NIL, Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz is adapting again
What are transfer portal changes for 2024?
The NCAA voted to shorten the total timespan the portal is open from 45 days to 30 days in April.
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Last season, the winter window lasted 30 days and the spring window was open for 15 days. Both of those have been shortened this year.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Transfer portal dates: When it opens, what Missouri football needs
