College Football Key Dates
Recruiting Calendar, Transfer Portal Window & Season Schedule
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This page tracks college football in-season and offseason key dates including the recruiting calendar, transfer portal window and more.
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College Football Key Dates
College Football Season Dates
FBS
Nov. 4, 2025 - CFP Rankings Release
Nov. 11, 2025 - CFP Rankings Release
Nov. 18, 2025 - CFP Rankings Release
Nov. 25, 2025 - CFP Rankings Release
Nov. 29, 2025 - Regular Season Ends
Dec. 2, 2025 - CFP Rankings Release
Dec. 5-6, 2025 - Conference Championships
Dec. 7, 2025 - CFP Selection Sunday
Dec. 13, 2025 - Bowl Season Starts
Dec. 13, 2025 - Army-Navy Game
Dec. 19-20, 2025 - CFP First Round
Dec. 31, 2025-Jan. 1, 2026 - CFP Quarterfinals
Jan. 2, 2026 - Bowl Season Ends
Jan. 8-9, 2026 - CFP Semifinals
Jan. 19, 2026 - CFP National Championship
FCS
Nov. 22, 2025 - Regular Season Ends
Nov. 27, 2025 - Turkey Day Classic
Nov. 29, 2025 - FCS Playoffs First Round
Dec. 6, 2025 - FCS Playoffs Second Round
Dec. 12-13, 2025 - FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals
Dec. 20, 2025 - FCS Playoffs Semifinals
Jan. 5, 2026 - FCS Playoffs National Championship
D2
Nov. 15, 2025 - Regular Season Ends
Nov. 22, 2025 - D2 Playoffs First Round
Nov. 27, 2025 - Turkey Day Classic
Nov. 29, 2025 - D2 Playoffs Second Round
Dec. 6, 2025 - D2 Playoffs Quarterfinals
Dec. 13, 2025 - D2 Playoffs Semifinals
Dec. 20, 2025 - D2 Playoffs National Championship
D3
Nov. 15, 2025 - Regular Season Ends
Nov. 22, 2025 - D3 Playoffs First Round
Nov. 29, 2025 - D3 Playoffs Second Round
Dec. 6, 2025 - D3 Playoffs Third Round
Dec. 13, 2025 - D3 Playoffs Quarterfinals
Dec. 20, 2025 - D3 Playoffs Semifinals
Jan. 10, 2026 - D3 Playoffs National Championship
NAIA
Nov. 15, 2025 - Regular Season Ends
Nov. 22, 2025 - NAIA Playoffs First Round
Nov. 29, 2025 - NAIA Playoffs Second Round
Dec. 6, 2025 - NAIA Playoffs Quarterfinals
Dec. 13, 2025 - NAIA Playoffs Semifinals
Dec. 20, 2025 - NAIA Playoffs National Championship
JUCO
Nov. 29, 2025 - CCCAA Conference Quarterfinals
Nov. 29, 2025 - CCCAA Conference Semifinals
Dec. 6, 2025 - NJCAA (D3) National Championship
Dec. 6, 2025 - CCCAA Conference Championships
Dec. 13, 2025 - CCCAA National Championship
Dec. 17, 2025 - NJCAA (D1) National Championship
Transfer Portal
FBS
Jan. 2-16, 2026 - Transfer Portal Window
Jan. 20-24, 2026 - Transfer Portal Window for Players in the National Championship
FCS
Jan. 2-16, 2026 - Transfer Portal Window
Players also get a 15-day window to transfer that opens five days after the school hired or announced its next head coach. Keep in mind, players can unenroll and enroll at a new school without entering the transfer portal.
From what I understand, players at the D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO levels are free to transfer at any time.
Recruiting Calendar
FBS
Sept. 1-Nov. 30, 2025 - Evaluation Period
Dec. 1-7, 2025 - Dead Period
Dec. 3-5, 2025 - Early Signing Period
Dec. 8-21, 2025 - Quiet Period
Dec. 22, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026 - Dead Period
Dec. 31, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026 - Quiet Period for Two- and Four-Year College Transfers who Intend to Enroll Midyear
Jan. 5-10, 2026 - Contact Period
Jan. 11, 2026 - Quiet Period
Jan. 12-14, 2026 - Dead Period
Jan. 15-31, 2026 - Contact Period
Feb. 1, 2026 - Quiet Period
Feb. 2-March 1, 2026 - Dead Period
Feb. 4, 2026 - National Signing Day
Feb. 6-March 1, 2026 - Quiet Period for Service Academies
March 2-April 14, 2026 - Quiet Period
April 15-May 23, 2026 - Contact Period
May 24-27, 2026 - Dead Period
May 28-June 21, 2026 - Quiet Period
June 22-July 31, 2026 - Dead Period
FCS
Sept. 1-Nov. 30, 2025 - Evaluation Period
Dec. 1-4, 2025 - Dead Period
Dec. 3-5, 2025 - Early Signing Period
Dec. 5-18, 2025 - Contact Period
Dec. 19-21, 2025 - Quiet Period
Dec. 22, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026 - Dead Period
Dec. 31, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026 - Quiet Period for Two- and Four-Year College Transfers who Intend to Enroll Midyear
Jan. 5-10, 2026 - Contact Period
Jan. 11, 2026 - Quiet Period
Jan. 12-14, 2026 - Dead Period
Jan. 15-31, 2026 - Contact Period
Feb. 1, 2026 - Quiet Period
Feb. 2-March 1, 2026 - Dead Period
Feb. 4, 2026 - National Signing Day
March 2-April 14, 2026 - Quiet Period
April 15-May 23, 2026 - Contact Period
May 24-27, 2026 - Dead Period
May 28-July 31, 2026 - Quiet Period
D2
Feb. 4, 2026 - National Signing Day
From what I understand, there is no formal signing date for D3, NAIA and JUCO recruits.
NFL Draft
Jan. 5, 2026 - Early Deadline for Underclassmen to Declare for the NFL Draft. The list will be sent to teams the next day (tentative).
Jan. 14, 2026 (Tentative) - Deadline for Underclassmen to Declare for the NFL Draft. The list will be sent to teams the next day.
Jan. 23, 2026 (Tentative) - Deadline for Underclassmen who Played in the National Championship. The list will be sent to teams the next day.