Easing Chaos? NCAA Makes Changes to Early Signing Period

Commissioners make move to slightly benefit coaches, recruits adjusting dates

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — College football commissioners have voted to adjust the dates in relation to the early signing period, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.

"The change, which will become effective in Dec 2024, will move the early signing dates to a three-calendar day period beginning the Wednesday following the last FBS regular season contest. There is no change to the regular signing period which will continue to be the first Wednesday in February through April 1.”

The NCAA decision will speed up the recruiting process by two weeks for high school seniors:

• Dec. 4: Early signing day
• Dec. 7: Conference championship games
• Dec. 8: Final CFP rankings released
• Dec. 9: Winter transfer portal window opens
• Dec. 20-21: First round of CFP 

According to Thamel, a possible June signing period is in play. However, it has been tabled so the commissioners can 'do more diligence on the Signing Day model.'

In what will be a decision widely applauded by coaches, it could make a huge impact for prospects ahead of their senior years. Choices about whether players return for their senior year makes an interesting dynamic in the recruiting landscape. Adding a summer signing date would be similar to what basketball does with most players using the early period. 

"[Signing Day] used to be February, then we moved it to December and now we're moving it to June, potentially," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. "The biggest question for me is how is it going to affect the high school, are they going to sign and then say 'Well, I've reached my goal, I'm not going to play my senior year for the high school.' That was the biggest question for me because it's happened in the past, and as you well know, if it happens once it can go again. It's just like bowl opt outs now. It happened one time and now half your team isn't playing anymore."

The NCAA ruling would also aid teams that are preparing for the now expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Had the former model remained in place, teams in the playoff would be in a recruiting open period, adding new signees through the transfer portal and all other roster movement while preparing for first round games.

Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on the field indoors at Thursday morning's practice at the football center in Fayetteville, Ark :: Craven Whitlow / allHOGS Images

Pittman echoed the sentiment Tuesday during his opening press conference of spring practice.

"If you're in the playoffs you may not like this, you may not like that," Pittman said. "I will say this, I think it'll help the portal and the NIL, to be perfectly honest with you. I think if a young man comes in June and he wants to go to the University of Arkansas, then he has an opportunity in June to do that. You know, guys are being recruited when they're in ninth and eighth grade, you know, so it's not like it's going to be their first time on a campus."

One benefit of having an early summer signing period is it could reward coaches who did the scouting work early on under-the-radar prospects. Players which have flipped to the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Texas in the past due to tremendous senior seasons may not happen as often now. Slow playing prospects might actually go away or become more prevalent than ever. 

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