You are right, they literally just changed the rules last week.
New transfer legislation passed last week by the NCAA has added a sense of urgency to the looming close of the men's and women's basketball transfer windows.
www.espn.com
"Previously, graduate transfers didn't need to adhere to transfer window dates and could enter the portal at any time. For example,
Cam Spencer left
Rutgers in June and committed to
UConn, ultimately helping lead the Huskies to their second straight national championship.
"Student-athletes who plan to enroll as graduate students at their next school can enter the portal at any time during the academic year but must enter the portal prior to the conclusion of their respective sports' final transfer windows," the NCAA wrote in a news release."
I feel confident that courts would throw out this rule if challenged. Absolutely zero reason to suddenly put that requirement in place other than to restrict grad transfers from having more NIL opportunities.