College football's early signing period to move, but is it for the better?

College football head coaches have been open about their unhappiness with the crammed schedule in December. Reports from Nicola Auerbach at The Athletic suggest it could be a little less hectic starting in 2024.

Ole Miss Football head coach Lane Kiffin has been one of many in college football to bring up the schedule in December. With Bowl games and the CFP being played in and around the early signing period and the opening of the first transfer portal, it didn't sit right with Kiffin

With 2024 seeing the new 12-team CFP come into effect, it seemed the schedule could get even more messy for head coaches.

That could get less manic, as according to Nicola Auerbach of The Athletic, the college football early signing period is set to move. Tom Wistrcill told The Athletic that there have been discussions about moving the early signing period to the Wednesday before conference championship weekend.

It would be a step in the right direction in clearing December from distractions, especially for teams that make the CFP this season. However, with the early signing period days before conference championship weekend, it still feels like a disadvantage for teams competing for their conference championship three days after the early signing period begins.

The big issue would remain for college football teams. The winter transfer portal would still open around the CFPs and the bowl games. The problem was highlighted when Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy had to enter the transfer portal despite his team preparing for a CFP semi-final against Washington.

Murphy was the backup quarterback at Texas and decided that his football career would benefit if he transferred out of Texas. However, if he had not entered the portal before the CFPs, he would have missed his chance to find a landing spot he would be happy with.

As of now, nothing has officially changed. However, we shall see if these "advanced discussions" are the start of something more on the horizon for the college football schedule in December.