The 2025 cycle brings a few key changes. Most notably, the portal opens a week later than it did in 2024, no longer overlapping with the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. This shift means 75% of tournament teams will already be eliminated by the time players can officially enter.

When the action hasn't been taking place on the floor during March Madness there's only been one other main topic of conversation at the NCAA Tournament, and it's all about NIL and how the transfer portal is drastically changing the sport. RELATED: How much is Purdue Boilermakers star Braden Smith's NIL value?