College Football Transfer Portal Creates Roster Uncertainty
The college football offseason is entering a new era of uncertainty as the transfer portal continues to reshape rosters across the country.
While the long college football season officially ended last week,the drama surrounding player movement has only intensified. Rumors swirl around highly-touted freshman like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, who is reportedly being courted with lucrative offers to leave Columbus.
Meanwhile, even national championship contenders like Notre Dame are feeling the impact, having lost three starting offensive linemen to the portal.
The unease among coaches and fans alike will likely persist throughout the summer.Not only do underclassmen have a 10-day window (April 16-25) to enter the portal, but graduate transfers can leave their programs at any time leading up to the start of the season.
Adding to the complexity, the NCAA still needs to address critical issues like roster limits, player eligibility, and revenue sharing.
**SEC dominates Transfer Landscape**
While the NCAA figures out its next steps, one conference has emerged as a clear winner in the transfer market: the SEC. Although SEC teams lost 28 top-100 transfers, 16 of those players ended up staying within the conference. On top of that, SEC teams added 31 other top-100 transfers from around the country.**LSU Leads the Pack**
Within the SEC, LSU stands out as the biggest winner.
Head coach Brian Kelly and his staff landed eight top-100 transfers among their 16 additions – more than any other FBS programme.
Key pickups for LSU include edge rushers Patrick Payton (Florida State) and Jack pyburn (Florida), along with cornerbacks and a highly touted quarterback.
LSU Football Bolstered by Experienced Transfers
LSU football’s roster received a significant boost this offseason, adding eight impactful transfers with a combined 202 career starts. These additions aim to strengthen a team coming off a successful 9-4 season and returning starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
Key Transfers Bring Experience and Depth
The Tigers welcomed standout receivers Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech) and Tamarcus Cooley (NC State), along with offensive lineman Josh Thompson (Northwestern) and Braelin Moore (virginia Tech). The receiving corps also gained talented players in Barion Brown (Kentucky) and Nic Anderson (Oklahoma).
This influx of experienced players will provide valuable depth and competition across various positions.
Notable departures
While LSU experienced a net gain in talent, they also saw the departure of two notable players. Receiver CJ Daniels transferred to Miami, and high-profile edge rusher Da’Shawn Womack, a former five-star recruit, opted for Ole Miss. A total of 17 players left the program.
The Tigers’ transfer activity reflects a strategic approach to bolstering key positions and maintaining competitive momentum heading into the upcoming season.
Miami Strengthens Roster
Miami football has secured a top quarterback transfer for the second consecutive year. Carson Beck, the highest-ranked quarterback in recent transfer portal rankings, will lead the Hurricanes in the upcoming season.
Beck, formerly of Georgia, guided the Bulldogs to a 10-2 regular season record. while an injury sidelined him from the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoffs, he is expected to be fully recovered and ready to play in a few months.
Beck will helm an offense that led the nation in scoring last year and returns four starting offensive linemen. A new addition to the offensive line is center James Brockermeyer, transferred from TCU.
Miami’s successful recruiting efforts extended beyond Beck. The Hurricanes secured at least six top-100 players during the winter transfer portal window, including five defensive backs ranked among the top 150. Key additions include Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona), and others.
Transfer Portal Standouts: Oregon Leads the Pack
Oregon Reloads with Top Transfer Class
The Oregon Ducks, despite a Rose Bowl loss to ohio State, are poised for a strong showing next season thanks to a remarkable infusion of talent through the transfer portal. Coach Dan Lanning has assembled arguably the nation’s best transfer class,headlined by five players ranked among the top 100.
This impressive haul highlights the evolving landscape of college football, where the transfer portal plays a crucial role in roster construction and competitive balance.
Miami Makes Noise in ACC
In the ACC, the University of Miami is making waves with the addition of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.
The Canes are looking to bolster their receiving corps,particularly after losing Isaiah Horton (to Alabama) and NFL-bound Xavier Restrepo.
Miami’s rival, Florida State, also landed some key additions via the portal after a disappointing 2-10 season. The Seminoles secured four top-100 players, including receiver Duce Robinson from USC, edge rusher James Williams from Nebraska, and offensive linemen Micah Pettus (Ole Miss) and Luke Petitbon (Wake Forest).
Oregon Football Lands Top Transfers in Portal Frenzy
The Oregon Ducks are making waves in the transfer portal, adding a host of experienced talent to their roster for the upcoming season. Among the notable additions are offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon (USC), tackles Alex Harkey (Texas State) and Isaiah World (Nevada), defensive lineman Bear Alexander (USC), and safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue).
This influx of talent doesn’t even include former Tulane running back Makhi Hughes, a star who has rushed for an impressive 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns in just two seasons. While the Ducks lost 11 players to the transfer portal, their departures had limited starting experience, suggesting minimal impact on the team’s core.
Outside the Pac-12, Nebraska is emerging as a transfer portal powerhouse. The Cornhuskers secured commitments from four top-100 transfers: edge rusher Williams Nwaneri (Missouri), offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett (alabama), and receivers Dane Key and another highly-ranked player.
Texas Tech Leads the Pack in Big 12 Transfer Portal Gains
Texas Tech claimed the top spot for transfer portal activity in the Big 12, bolstering its roster with high-profile additions. Six of the Red Raiders’ 17 transfers are ranked among the nation’s top 100, addressing key areas including the offensive and defensive lines and cornerback.
Standout additions include edge rusher Romello Height from Georgia Tech, defensive lineman Lee Hunter from UCF, running back Quinten Joyner from USC, receiver Reggie Virgil from Miami of Ohio, cornerback Brice Pollock from Mississippi State, and offensive tackle Hunter Zambrano from Illinois State.
This impressive haul could be the catalyst for head coach Joey McGuire to elevate the program after an 8-5 season in 2022. While Texas Tech lost 16 players to the portal, only one, guard Sterling Porcher, was a full-time starter.
Another Big 12 program making waves in the transfer market is Kansas. The Jayhawks, though losing 10 players, managed to snag 22 transfers, with six of them being full-time starters at their previous institutions.
Southern Miss Football Reloads with Transfers After Dismal Season
Southern Miss reloading its football program after a dismal 1-11 season in 2024. The Golden Eagles made a splash in the transfer portal, adding a whopping 26 players, including numerous starters.
Leading the charge is new head coach Charles Huff, who was poached from Marshall after leading the Thundering Herd to a sun Belt title. Huff brought over 19 players from his former team, including six full-time starters. Among the notable additions is quarterback Braylon Braxton, the Sun Belt’s Newcomer of the Year.
Huff also raided the FCS and Group of 5 ranks, securing seven more full-time starters.
The influx of talent contrasts sharply with the exodus from Southern Miss. Eight of the 24 players who left the program via the transfer portal were starters for at least half of the 2024 season.
The Golden eagles will feature a revamped roster, with a new coach and a host of transfers hoping to turn the tide after last year’s struggles.
College Football Roster Turnover: Winners and Losers in the Transfer Portal
The NCAA transfer portal has drastically reshaped college football rosters this offseason, with some programs emerging as clear winners while others face significant rebuilding challenges.
Teams like Southern Miss have benefited greatly from the influx of talent, adding more starting experience than they lost. Others, like Purdue and USC, have seen a significant exodus of key players, leaving their coaches with major holes to fill.
Southern Miss Leads the Way in Experience Gained
Southern Miss stands out as a major winner in the transfer portal, accumulating a net gain of 172 career starts. The Golden Eagles have added a number of experienced players, including safety Michael Caraway Jr. from Florida, bolstering their roster for the upcoming season.
Purdue Faces Biggest Roster Turnover Loss
Purdue, under new head coach Barry Odom, has experienced the biggest loss of starting talent. The Boilermakers lost 13 players who started at least six games last season, including several top-100 transfers. Key departures include edge rusher Will Heldt (Clemson), tight end Max Klare (Ohio State), and a number of players who followed Odom from UNLV.
In total, Purdue lost 287 combined starts, the highest among all Power 4 programs. Odom has attempted to mitigate the losses by bringing in seven of his former UNLV players, but the Boilermakers face an uphill battle to rebuild their roster.
USC Struggles to Keep Top Talent
USC, despite a 7-6 record in Lincoln Riley’s first Big Ten season, has suffered significant losses in the transfer portal.
Seven players ranked in the top 100 transfers have left the Trojans,including wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. (Oregon), linebacker shane Lee (Alabama), running back Travis Dye (california), and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees (NFL Draft). These departures, coupled with the loss of players like quarterback Jaxson Dart to Ole Miss last offseason, leave USC with significant questions heading into the 2023 season.
The transfer portal continues to reshape the college football landscape, with teams constantly navigating the challenge of retaining talent while adding key pieces to build championship contenders.
College Football’s Transfer Portal: Winners and Losers
The transfer portal has reshaped the college football landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for programs across the country.
Big Ten Championship Contenders Gain Strength
Two Big Ten teams appear to have benefited significantly from the transfer portal. Michigan, a perennial playoff contender, added two highly-touted defensive backs: Amorion Walker from Notre Dame and J.T. Turner from
SEC Teams Navigate Roster Turnover
The SEC, known for its fierce competition, has seen significant roster churn through the transfer portal. While some programs like Alabama have successfully replenished their ranks, others, including Georgia and Washington State, have faced substantial losses.
Alabama, despite losing star quarterback Bryce Young to the NFL draft, landed quarterback quinn Ewers from
Washington State endured a particularly tumultuous offseason. The Cougars lost 36 players to the portal, including four top 100 recruits. Key departures included quarterback John Mateer (Oklahoma) and running back Wayshawn Parker (Utah) .Despite these losses,new coach Jimmy Rogers,who arrived from South Dakota State,managed to convince 11 players to return to the program,including quarterback Zevi Eckhaus.
Transfers Offer New Opportunities
The transfer portal has created opportunities for players seeking more playing time or a change of scenery. Such as, quarterback Quinn Ewers transferred from Ohio State to Texas in search of a starting role. The portal has also allowed smaller programs to acquire talent. South Dakota State, under new coach Jimmy rogers, brought in 15 players from his former team, including several starters.
College Football Transfer Portal: Winners and losers
The transfer portal has reshaped the college football landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for programs across the country.
Big 12 Transfer Portal Gains
Texas Tech claimed the top spot for transfer portal activity in the Big 12, bolstering its roster with high-profile additions. Six of the Red Raiders’ 17 transfers are ranked among the nationS top 100, addressing key areas including the offensive and defensive lines and cornerback.
Standout additions include edge rusher Romello height from Georgia Tech, defensive lineman Lee Hunter from UCF, running back Quinten Joyner from USC, receiver Reggie Virgil from Miami of Ohio, cornerback Brice Pollock from Mississippi State, and offensive tackle hunter Zambrano from illinois State.
This impressive haul could be the catalyst for head coach Joey McGuire to elevate the program after an 8-5 season in 2022. While Texas Tech lost 16 players to the portal, only one, guard Sterling Porcher, was a full-time starter.
Another big 12 program making waves in the transfer market is Kansas. The Jayhawks, tho losing 10 players, managed to snag 22 transfers, with six of them being full-time starters at their previous institutions.
Southern Miss Football Reloads with Transfers After Dismal Season
Southern Miss is reloading its football program after a dismal 1-11 season in 2024. the Golden Eagles made a splash in the transfer portal, adding a whopping 26 players, including numerous starters.
Leading the charge is new head coach Charles Huff, who was poached from Marshall after leading the Thundering Herd to a Sun Belt title. Huff brought over 19 players from his former team, including six full-time starters. Among the notable additions is quarterback Braylon Braxton, the Sun Belt’s Newcomer of the year.
Huff also raided the FCS and Group of 5 ranks, securing seven more full-time starters.
The influx of talent contrasts sharply with the exodus from Southern Miss. Eight of the 24 players who left the program via the transfer portal were starters for at least half of the 2024 season.
the Golden eagles will feature a revamped roster, with a new coach and a host of transfers hoping to turn the tide after last year’s struggles.
College Football Roster Turnover: Winners and Losers in the Transfer Portal
the NCAA transfer portal has drastically reshaped college football rosters this offseason, with some programs emerging as clear winners while others face notable rebuilding challenges.
Teams like Southern Miss have benefited greatly from the influx of talent, adding more starting experiance than they lost. Others, like Purdue and USC, have seen a significant exodus of key players, leaving their coaches with major holes to fill.
Southern Miss Leads the Way in Experience Gained
Southern Miss stands out as a major winner in the transfer portal,accumulating a net gain of 172 career starts. The Golden Eagles have added a number of experienced players, including safety Michael caraway Jr. from Florida, bolstering their roster for the upcoming season.
Purdue Faces Biggest Roster Turnover Loss
Purdue, under new head coach Barry Odom, has experienced the biggest loss of starting talent. The Boilermakers lost 13 players who started at least six games last season, including several top-100 transfers. Key departures include edge rusher Will Heldt (Clemson), tight end Max Klare (Ohio State), and a number of players who followed Odom from UNLV.
In total, Purdue lost 287 combined starts, the highest among all Power 4 programs. Odom has attempted to mitigate the losses by bringing in seven of his former UNLV players, but the Boilermakers face an uphill battle to rebuild their roster.
USC Struggles to Keep Top Talent
USC, despite a 7-6 record in Lincoln Riley’s first Big Ten season, has suffered significant losses in the transfer portal.
Seven players ranked in the top 100 transfers have left the Trojans, including wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. (Oregon),linebacker Shane Lee (Alabama),running back Travis Dye (California),and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees (NFL Draft). These departures, coupled with the loss of players like quarterback Jaxson dart to Ole Miss last offseason, leave USC with significant questions heading into the 2023 season.
The transfer portal continues to reshape the college football landscape,with teams constantly navigating the challenge of retaining talent while adding key pieces to build championship contenders.
College Football’s Transfer Portal: Winners and Losers
The transfer portal has reshaped the college football landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for programs across the country.
big Ten Championship Contenders Gain Strength
two Big Ten teams appear to have benefited significantly from the transfer portal. Michigan, a perennial playoff contender, added two highly-touted defensive backs: Amorion Walker from Notre Dame and J.T.Turner from Texas A&M. Ohio State, another Big Ten powerhouse, bolstered its offensive line with the arrival of Cedric melendez from Arizona State. These additions could help both teams solidify their positions as favorites in the conference.
SEC Teams Navigate Roster Turnover
The SEC, known for its fierce competition, has seen significant roster churn through the transfer portal. While some programs like Alabama have successfully replenished their ranks, others, including Georgia and Washington State, have faced ample losses.
Alabama, despite losing star quarterback Bryce Young to the NFL draft, landed quarterback quinn Ewers from Texas, perhaps easing the transition. Georgia, the reigning national champions, lost several key players, including offensive tackle Broderick Jones to the NFL draft and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to Texas A&M via the portal.
Washington State endured a especially tumultuous offseason. The Cougars lost 36 players to the portal, including four top 100 recruits. Key departures included quarterback John mateer (Oklahoma) and running back wayshawn Parker (Utah). Despite these losses, new coach Jimmy Rogers, who arrived from South Dakota State, managed to convince 11 players to return to the program, including quarterback zevi Eckhaus.
Transfers Offer New Opportunities
The transfer portal has created opportunities for players seeking more playing time or a change of scenery. For example, quarterback Quinn Ewers transferred from Ohio State to Texas in search of a starting role. The portal has also allowed smaller programs to acquire talent. South Dakota State, under new coach Jimmy rogers, brought in 15 players from his former team, including several starters.
Q&A
- Q: Which Big 12 team made the most significant gains in the transfer portal?
A: Texas Tech emerged as a major winner, landing six top-100 transfers to address key needs on both sides of the ball.
- Q: How has the transfer portal impacted the SEC?
A: The SEC has seen a mixed bag, with some teams reloading successfully (Alabama) while others have faced major losses (georgia, Washington State).
- Q: Can you give an example of a player who benefited from the transfer portal?
A: Quinn Ewers transferred from Ohio State to Texas, seeking a starting opportunity.
The transfer portal continues to redefine college football. Stay tuned to see how these roster changes shape the upcoming season.
