FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCC2010]

Congrats to JP Sullivan on winning the Cliff Harris Award

https://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2026/1/15/football-sullivan-becomes-first-cardinal-to-win-cliff-harris-award.aspx

[Patrick Coleman]

Congrats to JP Sullivan on winning the Cliff Harris Award

https://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2026/1/15/football-sullivan-becomes-first-cardinal-to-win-cliff-harris-award.aspx

This award comes with winning D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year. It's been a nice collaboration over the past few years!

[Gregory Sager]

North Park's Ben Butler got a nice write-up for his performance at the National Scouting Combine.

[robertgoulet]

A final Transfer Portal Update:

10,965 NCAA football players entered the portal.
- 3,972 FBS
- 2,771 FCS
- 4,222 D2/D3


6,671 NCAA football players are still looking for a team.
- 1,619 FBS
- 1,782 FCS
- 3,270 D2/D3

40% of FBS portal guys are still looking.
64% of FCS portal guys are still looking.
77% of D2 and D3 portal guys are still looking.

[CarollFan]

NPU news.

https://www.footballscoop.com/2026/01/16/13-months-after-starring-for-division-iii-program-a-former-standout-has-earned-a-coordinator-title

[CarollFan]

A final Transfer Portal Update:

10,965 NCAA football players entered the portal.
- 3,972 FBS
- 2,771 FCS
- 4,222 D2/D3


6,671 NCAA football players are still looking for a team.
- 1,619 FBS
- 1,782 FCS
- 3,270 D2/D3

40% of FBS portal guys are still looking.
64% of FCS portal guys are still looking.
77% of D2 and D3 portal guys are still looking.

Last year D1 had some changes announced increasing scholarships but limiting roster size to 105 for football. This makes it harder for walk ons and according to this article programs were expected to cut athletes. You would think this may help D2/D3.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-removes-scholarship-limits-aligns-with-house-settlement-as-roster-sizes-evolve-in-new-college-sports-era/

[CCIWFan69]

A final Transfer Portal Update:

10,965 NCAA football players entered the portal.
- 3,972 FBS
- 2,771 FCS
- 4,222 D2/D3


6,671 NCAA football players are still looking for a team.
- 1,619 FBS
- 1,782 FCS
- 3,270 D2/D3

40% of FBS portal guys are still looking.
64% of FCS portal guys are still looking.
77% of D2 and D3 portal guys are still looking.

When do they have to decide on a new school?  Is there a from/to list out there as well?

[CarollFan]

A final Transfer Portal Update:

10,965 NCAA football players entered the portal.
- 3,972 FBS
- 2,771 FCS
- 4,222 D2/D3


6,671 NCAA football players are still looking for a team.
- 1,619 FBS
- 1,782 FCS
- 3,270 D2/D3

40% of FBS portal guys are still looking.
64% of FCS portal guys are still looking.
77% of D2 and D3 portal guys are still looking.

When do they have to decide on a new school?  Is there a from/to list out there as well?

There are websites which track primarily D1 movement. You can search "transfer portal".

From Google AI:

No, there's no deadline for players to commit or sign once they're in the NCAA transfer portal; the deadlines are only for entering the portal to be eligible for a specific season, so players already listed can take their time choosing a new school, though most move quickly to enroll for spring semester. The entry windows (like the main football window in January) are short (around 15-30 days), but once a player's name is in the database, they stay there until they commit or withdraw, with exceptions for coaching changes.

[CarollFan]

Starting to see some posts on D3 players moving to D1.
FlyingDutchFan posted about the Hope DE transferring to University of WI.

https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/sports/college/2026/01/15/hope-college-football-player-liam-danitz-committed-to-wisconsin/88208145007/#

UWRF's 6'9 OL DJ Fox transferring to James Madison University.
Susquehanna's RB Rashan LaMons committed to UAlbany or SUNY Albany (FCS school).
Susquehanna's QB Josh Ehrlich committed to a D2 school, UNCP.

So looks like some D3 players are finding opportunities in D1.

[D3fanboy]

Starting to see some posts on D3 players moving to D1.
FlyingDutchFan posted about the Hope DE transferring to University of WI.

https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/sports/college/2026/01/15/hope-college-football-player-liam-danitz-committed-to-wisconsin/88208145007/#

UWRF's 6'9 OL DJ Fox transferring to James Madison University.

So looks like some D3 players are finding opportunities in D1.

and so many, many, many more have effectively retired and found their next opportunity at Walmart or UPS

[Patrick Coleman]

Starting to see some posts on D3 players moving to D1.
FlyingDutchFan posted about the Hope DE transferring to University of WI.

https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/sports/college/2026/01/15/hope-college-football-player-liam-danitz-committed-to-wisconsin/88208145007/#

UWRF's 6'9 OL DJ Fox transferring to James Madison University.

So looks like some D3 players are finding opportunities in D1.

and so many, many, many more have effectively retired and found their next opportunity at Walmart or UPS

Or return to their previous programs and have eminently normal sophomore/junior/senior seasons. Going into the portal isn't necessarily a full cut of ties with their previous program.

[D3fanboy]

Starting to see some posts on D3 players moving to D1.
FlyingDutchFan posted about the Hope DE transferring to University of WI.

https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/sports/college/2026/01/15/hope-college-football-player-liam-danitz-committed-to-wisconsin/88208145007/#

UWRF's 6'9 OL DJ Fox transferring to James Madison University.

So looks like some D3 players are finding opportunities in D1.

and so many, many, many more have effectively retired and found their next opportunity at Walmart or UPS

Or return to their previous programs and have eminently normal sophomore/junior/senior seasons. Going into the portal isn't necessarily a full cut of ties with their previous program.

"going into the portal" isn't even necessary unless the player is transferring "up" from D3, which is a tiny percentage.  D3FB as the jumping off point for the horrible product that is college football in 2026 is so gross.  Now get off my lawn 

[Patrick Coleman]

First off, I agree that thousands of kids get horrifically bad advice.

Using the portal is not required at the moment, but as of Aug. 1, it will be as the result of a vote just taken last week at the NCAA convention.

Even so, frankly, why would you not put yourself in the portal, since that's where all of the coaches' eyeballs are?

[D3fanboy]

First off, I agree that thousands of kids get horrifically bad advice.

Using the portal is not required at the moment, but as of Aug. 1, it will be as the result of a vote just taken last week at the NCAA convention.

Even so, frankly, why would you not put yourself in the portal, since that's where all of the coaches' eyeballs are?

If I was a D3 football player, I'd accept the fact that I am not likely to get paid to play football and I would work towards my degree and build lifelong relationships through the greatest sport known to man.  If I was to transfer, it would be to win. 

Small school football players transferring around from school to school is nuts and there is no way that they could ever graduate.  But I'm sure that their agent, or uncle has told them that they are "league bound". The top % of D3FB players that move up are hearing from the bigger programs, not from some bs agent

[CarollFan]

UWRF's WR Blake Rohrer entered the portal and has apparently received an offer from Louisiana Tech. He had some huge catches in the playoffs.

https://x.com/Redshirt_Portal/status/2009822831048380503