Penn State football James Franklin postgame press conference Illinois
Franklin thanked the fans for their “White Out Energy” as the Nittany Lions won their first game under the lights this season.
Penn State football fans have much to pay attention to, from early signing day to the Big Ten championship to preparing for its appearance in the College Football Playoff. But in the midst of all that, the Nittany Lion faithful have another event to follow: the transfer portal.
Recent changes have made the portal an X factor in how programs build a championship roster, and all of the major programs keep an eye out for the missing piece, including Penn State.
When does the transfer portal open?
The transfer portal opens on Monday, Dec. 9. It is the first of a 20-day window that starts after the end of the regular season. It is the same start date for the FBS teams and FCS teams.
When does the transfer portal close?
The transfer portal closes on Saturday, Dec. 28. This is the weekend before the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
What are the transfer portal changes for 2024?
The biggest change for the transfer portal is the length of the window. Instead of the previous 45 days, the window for football (and basketball) has been reduced to 30 days. The 30 days in football are split between the fall and the spring. In the fall, the window is 20 days, from Dec. 9-28. It’s 10 days in the spring, from April 16-25. Naturally, this shortens the amount of time athletes have to decide after the season concludes.
Does Penn State plan to be active in the transfer portal?
James Franklin said the program prioritizes high school recruitment and development and only looks for players in the portal to “accent” what they already have.
That said, the Nittany Lions already have one player planning to enter the portal. It was announced earlier this week that Jerry Cross, a former four-star tight end, will enter the portal. Penn State has also been mentioned with NC State wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year, who’s also entered the portal.
