OSU Doubles Down: Bjork and Day Rally for Spring-Only Transfer Portal
Ohio State is leading the charge in reshaping college football’s transfer landscape, with athletic director Ross Bjork and head coach Ryan Day championing a spring-only transfer portal window. In doing so, the Buckeyes are aiming to better align academic calendars, financial mandates, and roster management—particularly for teams with championship aspirations.
Ross Bjork, freshly appointed as OSU’s athletic director, underscores the synergy between a spring portal and institutional priorities. He emphasizes that the academic year at Ohio State—and across most universities—wraps up in May, followed by athlete revenue-sharing arrangements that begin in July. Instituting a sole spring portal, therefore, would align athletes’ decision-making with the academic calendar and financial frameworks. According to Bjork, it’s a matter of fiscal responsibility and academic respect.
The current two-window system—December and April—has created turbulence during critical periods, especially for teams in the College Football Playoff. OSU finds itself particularly strained each January, when it has to simultaneously contend with postseason play and a winter portal window that Tempts players to transfer. As Ryan Day noted during a segment on The Joel Klatt Show, early January is a hectic time—both in terms of competition and roster flux. For teams still playing, roster decisions often must be made mid-playoff, a scenario that he called “messy” and challenging.
Despite the chaos, Ohio State has leveraged the transfer portal effectively. Key additions—like QB Will Howard, RB Quinshon Judkins, and S Caleb Downs—arrived from transfers and were pivotal in their national title run.
Yet, the winter window also triggered unwanted distractions. After the championship, the Buckeyes had to fend off tampering efforts targeting players such as defensive tackle Hero Kanu, only to lose some—without the ability to replenish thanks to the portal’s timing.
Progress toward consolidating the portal into a single window is underway, though the prevailing sentiment across college football favors January—a 10-day window sometime early in the year. Reports indicate an approximately 80–20 split among coaches favoring January over April.
Ryan Day, however, counters that teams racing through the CFP shouldn’t be forced to finalize rosters while still competing. He argues that if only one window exists, it must coincide with spring. December decisions clash with postseason play, and January doesn’t allow enough time to integrate new transfers before spring drills begin. His solution? Maintain two portals—unless the season concludes much earlier.
Critics caution that eliminating the winter window may hinder all programs—especially those outside playoff contention—from adding transfers ahead of spring practices. Spring acquisitions provide vital roster reinforcements and strategic flexibility.
Nevertheless, Bjork believes the upsides far outweigh potential downsides for aspirational programs like OSU. And he insists there must be more than just a one-off solution. Instead, what’s needed is a clear, year-round calendar that tethers recruitment, signing day, spring practices, OTAs, and the transfer portal to specific blocks on the calendar.
As the broader movement toward a unified portal window gains steam, Ohio State seems to represent a slight outlier by advocating for spring timing. Most coaches and administrators reportedly prefer early January—before most bowl games—to preserve time for spring integration. Support from groups like the American Football Coaches Association for a Jan. 2–12 window reinforces that momentum.
Bjork reiterates the need for a comprehensive annual collegiate football timeline—from spring practices to playoff scheduling and transfer windows. With the 2025 season looming in under three months, OSU is ramping up its campaign for institutional clarity. Bjork and his Big Ten allies are pressing for rapid coordination and decision-making.
