Players may publicly announce transfer intentions now, but cannot officially register in the portal or commit to a new school until the portal opens.

This marks a shift from previous years when the portal opened earlier, moving the free‑agency period to begin after all games are completed.

The NCAA announced an immediate change to college basketball transfer rules, delaying entry into the portal until after the NCAA Tournament concludes for both men’s and women’s programs, with a 15-day portal window opening afterward.

There are exceptions: a 15-day portal window will open five days after a new head coach is hired or publicly announced following a coaching change, or if the previous head coach departs under certain timing conditions, with additional windows available under specific departure scenarios.

In 2026, the portal window will align with the NCAA Tournament schedule, which runs from mid‑March to early April, with the free-for-all beginning on April 7.

The change aims to reduce off‑court noise and refocus attention on the NCAA Tournament, while allowing transfer announcements to occur outside the formal portal process.