College football’s calendar chaos runs square into the biggest games of the season

The Indiana Hoosiers have made headlines by defeating Alabama at the Rose Bowl and are now preparing for the next phase of the 2025 season. With the transfer portal opening at midnight on January 2, Indiana's head coach Curt Cignetti is actively recruiting for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Ole Miss, fresh off a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, faces staff changes as tight ends coach Joe Cox and wide receivers coach George McDonald depart to join Lane Kiffin at LSU. Despite these challenges, Ole Miss remains focused on their upcoming semifinal against Miami.

The college football landscape is experiencing significant shifts due to the transfer portal and early enrollment practices. Early enrollment allows recruits to acclimate to college-level competition sooner, a trend that began in 1991 with Georgia quarterback Eric Zeier and gained traction with players like Maurice Clarett at Ohio State. By 2017, the NCAA introduced an early December signing day, further institutionalizing early enrollments.

This year, 32 players will enroll