After seven games in three seasons at Oregon, quarterback Austin Novosad entered the transfer portal with two years left. The junior from Dripping Springs, Texas, seeks a starting role. For the Ducks, he completed 12 of 15 passes for 99 yards without touchdowns or interceptions.
Baylor
With Sawyer Robertson graduating and the rest of the quarterback room looking relatively thin, the Bears could bring in Novosad. One determining factor could center on location.
The campus is two hours from his hometown, which could bring his family to every home game. Novosad’s athletic profile stands out, with a rangy build, good arm talent, and a track background that will benefit him. Athleticism is always in demand. He could return to fill a vacancy.
Arizona State
Head coach Kenny Dillingham is acquainted with the quarterback’s previous offense, as he previously built it at Oregon. Now at Arizona State, Dillingham implements similar schemes.
With Sam Leavitt in the portal, the Sun Devils could pursue Novosad at a lower cost due to the abundance of available quarterbacks. These savings could allow the head coach to address other roster needs. With that said, ASU needs stability at the position.
Wake Forest
After their bowl game, Wake Forest will lack a suitable quarterback on its roster. Novosad would join a team on an upward trend. Under Jake Dickert, the Deacons achieved eight wins in his first season. The transfer would not be asked to carry the team, as defense remains the foundation.
According to PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, Wake ranked No. 20 in FBS. With just three transfer defections, Novosad could fill the role of game manager, needing only to make quality throws to win.
Memphis
After strong rebuilds at Marshall and Southern Miss, new head coach Charles Huff must do the same with the Tigers. As of right now, his offense looks thin, with 15 transfer departures and seven graduations, so Huff has his work ahead of him.
READ MORE: 5 Players Who Could Follow Charles Huff to Memphis in the Transfer Portal
Novosad could immediately slide in and give the offense a measure of stability, providing a foundation for building a program that could contend in the American. Novosad gives Huff a player able to play with pace, supported by the run game, which should be the center of the offense.
North Texas
Former head coach Eric Morris accepted the Oklahoma State job. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker left for the transfer portal. After these departures, the Mean Green needs to restock the metaphorical shelves. New coach Neal Brown comes to Denton with Power Five experience, having led West Virginia. Novosad gets to return home to Texas and make noise in the American Conference once again.
Novosad may not attract widespread attention, but with his experience in the Ducks’ system, he has the tools to climb the depth chart with a strong camp.
Kentucky is the most likely landing spot.