The NCAA transfer portal opens for college football on Jan. 2, but players around the country whose seasons have ended have already announced their intentions t

The next era of the college football transfer portal officially opens Jan. 2, but make no mistake -- the 2026 cycle is already underway. Behind the scenes, portal boards have been set for months. Agents are working phones. Players are making quiet decisions. As one source put it, "Deals are being struck."

Clemson football has its biggest portal entry yet. Junior starting safety Khalil Barnes plans to transfer next month, he announced on social media. Barnes has been a key contributor for the Tigers defense over the past three seasons and started nine of 10 games this year.

One of the more notable pieces of news on Monday was that sophomore running back CJ Baxter is set to explore his options in the transfer portal. He finished with 196 yards on 54 carries this season, and was Texas' third-leading rusher behind Quintrevion Wisner and quarterback Arch Manning.

Tennessee volleyball has already lost multiple key players to the transfer portal after getting upset by Utah State in the NCAA first round.

The basketball oversight committees have proposed opening the notification-of-transfer windows for 15 days immediately following the 2026 Final Fours. If formally approved by the Division I Cabinet in January, the changes would take effect at the end of the current season in April 2026.

West Virginia University defensive back Kaleb Gray has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Galveston, Texas, native appeared in two games for the Mountaineers