2025 Key Dates: Recruiting, College & Pro Football Calendar
A guide to the most important in-season and offseason dates
This post will be updated all year round. All new updates are sent to your inbox in the daily newsletter with the latest college football QB recruiting, transfer portal, depth chart and injury news.
This page tracks the most important in-season and offseason dates of the recruiting, college and pro football calendar through Dec. 31, 2025.
Email GunslingerBuzz@gmail.com or DM on Twitter with news tips.
JANUARY 1, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Starts (thru Jan. 5). Quiet period for two- and four-year college players who intend to enroll midyear (thru Jan. 5). College Football Playoff Quarterfinal. Coaches may call class of 2026 recruits once a week and unlimited times during the contact period.
FCS - Dead Period Starts (thru Jan. 5). Quiet period for two- and four-year college players who intend to enroll midyear (thru Jan. 5). Coaches may call class of 2026 recruits once a week and unlimited times during the contact period.
D3 - Teams may begin hosting class of 2026 recruits on official visits.
JANUARY 2, 2025
FBS - College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.
JANUARY 3, 2025
JANUARY 4, 2025
FBS - Bowl Season Ends.
JANUARY 5, 2025
FBS - Dead period ends. Quiet period for two- and four-year college players who intend to enroll midyear ends.
FCS - Dead period ends. Quiet period for two- and four-year college players who intend to enroll midyear ends.
D3 - Stagg Bowl.
NFL - Regular Season Ends.
JANUARY 6, 2025
FBS - Contact Period Starts (thru Jan. 11).
FCS - Contact Period Starts (thru Jan. 11).
NFL - Soft NFL Draft entry deadline. Earliest date for teams to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft or undrafted rookies who signed in 2023. Teams may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
JANUARY 7, 2025
JANUARY 8, 2025
NFL - Rosters are frozen for playoff teams at 4 p.m. ET with limited exceptions.
JANUARY 9, 2025
FBS - College Football Playoff Semifinal.
NFL - Deadline for players who declared before the soft NFL Draft entry deadline to revoke their submission.
JANUARY 10, 2025
FBS - College Football Playoff Semifinal.
JANUARY 11, 2025
FBS - Contact Period Ends.
FCS - Contact Period Ends.
NFL - Playoffs Wild Card Round.
JANUARY 12, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period (one day).
FCS - Quiet Period (one day).
NFL - Playoffs Wild Card Round.
JANUARY 13, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Starts (thru Jan. 15).
FCS - Dead Period Starts (thru Jan. 15).
NFL - Playoffs Wild Card Round.
JANUARY 14, 2025
JANUARY 15, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Ends.
FCS - Dead Period Ends.
NFL - Hard NFL Draft Entry Deadline.
JANUARY 16, 2025
FBS - Contact Period Starts (thru Feb. 1).
FCS - Contact Period Starts (thru Feb. 1).
JANUARY 17, 2025
JANUARY 18, 2025
NFL - Playoffs Divisional Round. Deadline for players who declared before the hard NFL Draft entry deadline to revoke their submission.
JANUARY 19, 2025
NFL - Playoffs Divisional Round.
JANUARY 20, 2025
FBS - College Football Playoff Final.
JANUARY 21, 2025
JANUARY 22, 2025
JANUARY 23, 2025
JANUARY 24, 2025
NFL - NFL Draft entry deadline for players in the College Football Playoff national championship.
JANUARY 25, 2025
JANUARY 26, 2025
NFL - Conference Championships.
JANUARY 27, 2025
NFL - Deadline for players who played in the College Football Playoff national championship and declared for the NFL Draft to revoke their submission.
JANUARY 28, 2025
JANUARY 29, 2025
JANUARY 30, 2025
NFL - East-West Shrine Bowl.
JANUARY 31, 2025
FEBRUARY 1, 2025
FBS - Contact Period Ends.
FCS - Contact Period Ends.
NFL - Senior Bowl.
FEBRUARY 2, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period (one day).
FCS - Quiet Period (one day).
D2 - Contact Period Ends.
CFL - Conversations between teams and pending free agents start (thru Feb. 9).
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Starts (thru March 2).
FCS - Dead Period Starts (thru March 2).
D2 - Dead Period Starts (thru March 5).
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
D2 - Dead Period Ends.
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
D2 - Contact Period Starts.
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period for Service Academies starts (thru March 2).
NFL - Deadline for players to opt out of the NFL Draft.
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
FEBRUARY 9, 2025
NFL - Super Bowl.
CFL - Conversations between teams and pending free agents ends.
FEBRUARY 10, 2025
FEBRUARY 11, 2025
CFL - Free Agency Opens at noon ET.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
FEBRUARY 13, 2025
FEBRUARY 14, 2025
FEBRUARY 15, 2025
FEBRUARY 16, 2025
FEBRUARY 17, 2025
FEBRUARY 18, 2025
NFL - Teams may start designating franchise or transition tags (thru March 4).
FEBRUARY 19, 2025
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
FEBRUARY 22, 2025
FEBRUARY 23, 2025
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
NFL - NFL Draft Scouting Combine Starts (thru March 3).
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
FEBRUARY 26, 2025
FEBRUARY 27, 2025
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
CFL - Invitational Combine.
MARCH 1, 2025
MARCH 2, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Ends. Quiet Period for Service Academies Ends.
FBS - Dead Period Ends.
MARCH 3, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period Starts (thru April 14).
FCS - Quiet Period Starts (thru April 14).
NFL - NFL Draft Scouting Combine Ends.
UFL - Training Camp Starts.
MARCH 4, 2025
NFL - Teams may designate franchise or transition tags until 4 p.m. ET.
MARCH 5, 2025
MARCH 6, 2025
MARCH 7, 2025
MARCH 8, 2025
MARCH 9, 2025
MARCH 10, 2025
NFL - Negotiation period for pending unrestricted free agents begins at noon ET (thru March 12).
MARCH 11, 2025
MARCH 12, 2025
NFL - Negotiation period for pending unrestricted free agents ends at 3:59:59 p.m. ET. The free agency and trading period opens at 4 p.m. ET.
MARCH 13, 2025
MARCH 14, 2025
MARCH 15, 2025
MARCH 16, 2025
MARCH 17, 2025
MARCH 18, 2025
MARCH 19, 2025
MARCH 20, 2025
MARCH 21, 2025
UFL - Rosters cut from 64 to 50 players.
CFL - CFL Combine Starts (thru March 23).
MARCH 22, 2025
MARCH 23, 2025
CFL - CFL Combine Ends.
MARCH 24, 2025
MARCH 25, 2025
MARCH 26, 2025
MARCH 27, 2025
MARCH 28, 2025
UFL - Game Day. Regular Season Starts.
MARCH 29, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MARCH 30, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MARCH 31, 2025
APRIL 1, 2025
FBS/FCS - Teams may begin hosting class of 2026 recruits on official visits (thru May 25).
APRIL 2, 2025
APRIL 3, 2025
APRIL 4, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 5, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 6, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 7, 2025
NFL - Teams that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2024 regular season may begin offseason workout programs
APRIL 8, 2025
APRIL 9, 2025
APRIL 10, 2025
APRIL 11, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 12, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 13, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 14, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period Ends.
FCS - Quiet Period Ends.
APRIL 15, 2025
FBS - Contact Period Starts (thru May 24).
FCS - Contact Period Starts (thru May 24).
APRIL 16, 2025
CFB - Transfer Portal Window Opens.
NFL - Deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its team facility.
APRIL 17, 2025
APRIL 18, 2025
NFL - Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 19, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 20, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 21, 2025
FBS - Contact Period (thru May 24).
NFL - Every team may begin offseason workout programs.
APRIL 22, 2025
APRIL 23, 2025
NFL - Deadline for teams to exercise Right of Refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets. Deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.
APRIL 24, 2025
NFL - NFL Draft (thru April 26).
APRIL 25, 2025
CFB - Transfer portal window closes. Grad transfer portal window closes.
NFL - NFL Draft (thru April 26).
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 26, 2025
NFL - NFL Draft Ends.
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 27, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
APRIL 28, 2025
APRIL 29, 2025
CFL - CFL Global Draft (11 a.m. ET). CFL Draft (8 p.m. ET).
APRIL 30, 2025
MAY 1, 2025
NFL - Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
MAY 2, 2025
NFL - Teams may hold three-day post-draft rookie minicamps today through May 4 or May 10-12.
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 3, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 4, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 5, 2025
MAY 6, 2025
MAY 7, 2025
MAY 8, 2025
MAY 9, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 10, 2025
NFL - Teams may hold three-day post-draft rookie minicamps today through May 12 or May 2-4.
CFL - Rosters cut down to 85 players.
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 11, 2025
CFL - Training Camp Starts.
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 12, 2025
NFL - Rookie football development programs begin.
MAY 13, 2025
CFL - Rosters cut down to 75 players.
MAY 14, 2025
NFL - NFLPA Rookie Premiere.
MAY 15, 2025
MAY 16, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 17, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 18, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 19, 2025
CFL - Preseason Game Day. Preseason Starts.
MAY 20, 2025
MAY 21, 2025
MAY 22, 2025
MAY 23, 2025
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 24, 2025
FBS - Contact Period Ends.
FCS - Contact Period Ends.
CFL - Preseason Game Day.
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 25, 2025
FBS/FCS - Dead Period Starts (thru May 28). Final day for teams to host class of 2026 recruits on official visits.
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 26, 2025
MAY 27, 2025
MAY 28, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Ends.
FCS - Dead Period Ends.
MAY 29, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period Starts (thru June 22).
FCS - Quiet Period Starts (thru July 31).
MAY 30, 2025
CFL - Preseason Game Day. Preseason Ends.
UFL - Game Day.
MAY 31, 2025
CFL - Training Camp Ends.
UFL - Game Day.
JUNE 1, 2025
UFL - Game Day. Regular Season Ends.
JUNE 2, 2025
JUNE 3, 2025
JUNE 4, 2025
JUNE 5, 2025
CFL - Game Day. Regular Season Starts.
JUNE 6, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 7, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 8, 2025
UFL - Game Day. Conference Championships.
JUNE 9, 2025
JUNE 10, 2025
JUNE 11, 2025
JUNE 12, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 13, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 14, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
UFL - Game Day. Championship.
JUNE 15, 2025
FBS/FCS - Coaches may extend verbal offers to class of 2027 recruits.
D2 - Teams may begin hosting class of 2027 recruits on official visits. Coaches may begin calling class of 2027 recruits. They may also begin conducting off-campus communication with class of 2027 recruits and/or their parents.
JUNE 16, 2025
JUNE 17, 2025
JUNE 18, 2025
JUNE 19, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 20, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 21, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 22, 2025
FBS - Quiet Period Ends.
JUNE 23, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Starts (thru July 31).
JUNE 24, 2025
JUNE 25, 2025
JUNE 26, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 27, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 28, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 29, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JUNE 30, 2025
JULY 1, 2025
JULY 2, 2025
JULY 3, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 4, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 5, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 6, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 7, 2025
JULY 8, 2025
JULY 9, 2025
JULY 10, 2025
JULY 11, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 12, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 13, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 14, 2025
JULY 15, 2025
D2 - Coaches may begin sending recruits printed recruiting materials to class of 2027 recruits.
NFL - Deadline to sign a franchise-tagged player to a multi-year deal at 4 p.m. ET.
JULY 16, 2025
JULY 17, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 18, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 19, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 20, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 21, 2025
NFL - Signing period ends for transition players with outstanding tenders. Signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a “UFA tender” was made by the prior team.
JULY 22, 2025
JULY 23, 2025
JULY 24, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 25, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 26, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 27, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
JULY 28, 2025
JULY 29, 2025
JULY 30, 2025
JULY 31, 2025
FBS - Dead Period Ends.
FCS - Quiet Period Ends.
NFL - Preseason Starts.
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 1, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 2, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 3, 2025
AUGUST 4, 2025
AUGUST 5, 2025
AUGUST 6, 2025
AUGUST 7, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 8, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 9, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 10, 2025
AUGUST 11, 2025
AUGUST 12, 2025
AUGUST 13, 2025
AUGUST 14, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 15, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 16, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 17, 2025
AUGUST 18, 2025
AUGUST 19, 2025
AUGUST 20, 2025
AUGUST 21, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 22, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 23, 2025
FBS - Game Day. Regular Season Starts.
FCS - Game Day. Regular Season Starts.
CFL - Game Day.
AUGUST 24, 2025
AUGUST 25, 2025
AUGUST 26, 2025
AUGUST 27, 2025
AUGUST 28, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
AUGUST 29, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
AUGUST 30, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
AUGUST 31, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
FBS - Game Day. Coaches may call class of 2026 recruits once a week and unlimited times during the contact period. Class of 2027 recruits can receive any form of private communication including emails, recruiting materials, texts and direct messages on social media.
FCS - Coaches may call class of 2026 recruits once a week and unlimited times during the contact period. Class of 2027 recruits can receive any form of private communication including emails, recruiting materials, texts and direct messages on social media.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
NFL - Game Day. Regular Season Starts.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2025
SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
OCTOBER 1, 2025
OCTOBER 2, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 3, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 4, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 5, 2025
OCTOBER 6, 2025
OCTOBER 7, 2025
OCTOBER 8, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 9, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 10, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 11, 2025
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 12, 2025
OCTOBER 13, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 14, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 15, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 16, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 17, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 18, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 19, 2025
OCTOBER 20, 2025
OCTOBER 21, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 23, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 24, 2025
CFL - Game Day.
OCTOBER 25, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day. Regular Season Ends.
OCTOBER 26, 2025
OCTOBER 27, 2025
OCTOBER 28, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 29, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
OCTOBER 30, 2025
OCTOBER 31, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
NOVEMBER 1, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day. Conference Semifinals.
NOVEMBER 2, 2025
NOVEMBER 3, 2025
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
NOVEMBER 5, 2025
NOVEMBER 6, 2025
NOVEMBER 7, 2025
NOVEMBER 8, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
CFL - Game Day. Conference Finals.
NOVEMBER 9, 2025
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
NOVEMBER 11, 2025
NOVEMBER 12, 2025
NOVEMBER 13, 2025
NOVEMBER 14, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
NOVEMBER 15, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day.
NOVEMBER 16, 2025
CFL - Game Day. Grey Cup.
NOVEMBER 17, 2025
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
NOVEMBER 19, 2025
NOVEMBER 20, 2025
FCS - Game Day.
NOVEMBER 21, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
NOVEMBER 22, 2025
FBS - Game Day.
FCS - Game Day. Regular Season Ends.
NOVEMBER 23, 2025
NOVEMBER 24, 2025
NOVEMBER 25, 2025
NOVEMBER 26, 2025
NOVEMBER 27, 2025
FCS - Game Day. Turkey Day Classic.
NOVEMBER 28, 2025
FBS - Game Day
NOVEMBER 29, 2025
FBS - Game Day. Regular Season Ends.
FCS - Game Day. Playoffs First Round. Bayou Classic.
NOVEMBER 30, 2025
DECEMBER 1, 2025
DECEMBER 2, 2025
DECEMBER 3, 2025
DECEMBER 4, 2025
DECEMBER 5, 2025
DECEMBER 6, 2025
FBS - Conference Championships.
FCS - Game Day. Playoffs Second Round.
DECEMBER 7, 2025
FBS - Conference Championships.
DECEMBER 8, 2025
DECEMBER 9, 2025
DECEMBER 10, 2025
DECEMBER 11, 2025
DECEMBER 12, 2025
FCS - Game Day. Playoffs Quarterfinal Round.
DECEMBER 13, 2025
FBS - Game Day. Army-Navy Game.
FCS - Game Day. Playoffs Quarterfinal Round.
DECEMBER 14, 2025
DECEMBER 15, 2025
DECEMBER 16, 2025
DECEMBER 17, 2025
DECEMBER 18, 2025
DECEMBER 19, 2025
FBS - Game Day. College Football Playoff First Round.
DECEMBER 20, 2025
FBS - Game Day. College Football Playoff First Round.
FCS - Game Day. Playoffs Semifinal Round.
DECEMBER 21, 2025
DECEMBER 22, 2025
DECEMBER 23, 2025
DECEMBER 24, 2025
DECEMBER 25, 2025
DECEMBER 26, 2025
DECEMBER 27, 2025
DECEMBER 28, 2025
DECEMBER 29, 2025
DECEMBER 30, 2025
DECEMBER 31, 2025
FBS - Game Day. College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.