The first year of the one-time transfer portal window was every bit as chaotic as advertised, maybe even more. From entrenched starters leaving comfortable situations to near full-scale roster overhauls, the portal delivered nonstop drama. It felt like a two-week soap opera, mixing the frenzy of old-school National Signing Day with the modern reality of NIL-driven free agency.
Quarterbacks once again stole the spotlight, with new faces landing in new systems nationwide. Fans will need a cheat sheet just to keep track, especially with NIL numbers soaring above many expectations. College football is clearly in a new era, and as the window closes, here are five winners, three losers, and two surprises that defined the madness.
Texas Tech Makes a Statement With Transfer Portal Hits…Again
Texas Tech emerged as one of the biggest winners once again, proving last offseason was not a one-off. The Red Raiders weren’t shy about spending and made it clear their 2025 success was the start of something sustainable, not a brief peak.
The headliner was quarterback Brendan Sorsby from Cincinnati, who reportedly commanded around $5 million in NIL. Sorsby brings a PFSN QB Impact Grade of 88.2, ranking 10th nationally, and still hasn’t fully tapped into his ceiling.
Texas Tech didn’t stop there, bolstering the defensive front with Trey White from San Diego State and Adam Trick from Miami (OH). White finished with seven sacks, ranking 33rd nationally among edge defenders, while Trick posted the best PFSN defensive tackle impact grade in the country at 96.4. Texas Tech didn’t just reload; they made a statement.
Kiffin Delivers Key Additions To Revive LSU’s Offense
LSU’s offseason under Lane Kiffin started quietly, especially at quarterback, creating unease among the fanbase as the portal exploded elsewhere. For a stretch, it felt uncharacteristic for a Kiffin-led program to sit on the sidelines.
That changed late, when LSU landed former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, one of the most sought-after players in the portal. While critics may point to a dip in his numbers last season, context matters.
Leavitt posted a 79.7 PFSN QB Impact Grade, down from the 82.0 he recorded the year prior when he ranked 10th nationally and led Arizona State to a College Football Playoff appearance, nearly upsetting Texas.
LSU also stabilized its roster by keeping running back Caden Durham out of the portal and securing a long-term quarterback option in former five-star Husan Longstreet. After finishing 66th nationally in PFSN offensive grades, LSU badly needed an infusion of excitement, and Kiffin delivered once the full picture came together.
Indiana Raises the Bar Even Higher for 2026 and Beyond
Indiana somehow managed to raise the bar even higher after last season’s feel-good run. What began as a shocking 11–1 campaign in 2024 ended with the Hoosiers backing it up even bigger in 2025 by winning the Big Ten, reaching the College Football Playoff final, and finishing as the only undefeated team in the country. They followed that up by arguably landing the best transfer portal class in the nation.
Replacing Fernando Mendoza is no small task, but Indiana did so with veteran quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU, who has never ranked lower than 23rd nationally and has never posted a QB Impact Grade below 79.8 in any of his three starting seasons.
With additions like wide receiver Nick Marsh and running back Turbo Richard, the offense looks ready to dominate again. Indiana also addressed depth across the roster with proven contributors at offensive line, tight end, receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. Any notion that last season was a fluke has been erased.
Texas Builds Around Arch Manning the Right Way
Texas, and specifically Arch Manning, also came out ahead. After losing wide receiver Parker Livingstone to rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns responded by landing former five-star Cam Coleman from Auburn, widely viewed as the best receiver in the portal.
They also addressed a glaring need at running back, adding Raleek Brown from Arizona State, who quietly posted an elite 86.6 PFSN RB Impact Grade, along with promising back Hollywood Smothers. Texas finally leveraged its brand effectively on the portal, surrounding Manning with the talent needed to maximize his development.
Eric Morris Jump-Starts Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State rounds out the winners after new head coach Eric Morris brought his offense and his stars with him from North Texas.
Morris led the 22nd-ranked offense nationally last season and set a program record for regular-season wins. And he arrives in Stillwater with quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who led the nation in passing yards, running back Caleb Hawkins, who led the nation in rushing touchdowns as a true freshman, and wide receiver Wyatt Young, who earned PFSN’s highest WR Impact Grade.
With added depth across the roster, Oklahoma State suddenly looks like a serious threat in the Big 12.
Campbell’s Exit Leaves Iowa State in a Tough Spot
Losing longtime head coach Matt Campbell was devastating enough, but the roster exodus that followed compounded the damage.
Several players followed Campbell to Penn State, leaving the Cyclones scrambling to rebuild on short notice.
Without the NIL resources to compete with national powers, Iowa State now faces a steep uphill climb. Campbell wasn’t just the coach; he was the foundation.
Utah Utes Caught in the Crossfire of Transition
Utah endured a brutal stretch as Kyle Whittingham stepped down and later resurfaced at Michigan following the Sherrone Moore situation.
The fallout included losing multiple key contributors to Michigan, most notably defensive end John Henry Daley, who posted an 89 PFSN Edge Impact Grade and ranked fourth nationally with 11.5 sacks.
Along with Daley, Utah lost Smith Snowden, Jonah Lea‘ea, and JJ Buchanan. Utah’s defense ranked in the top 20 nationally by impact grades, and replacing that production will be extremely difficult.
Alabama’s Portal Problems Are Hard to Ignore
Even by Alabama standards, this portal cycle was rough. Ty Simpson departed for the NFL as PFSN’s current QB2 on their 2026 consensus draft board, and Alabama failed to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge Austin Mack or Keelon Russell.
Meanwhile, key contributors transferred out to playoff competitors, including Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M. When more talent leaves than arrives, especially to direct rivals, it’s a concerning trend.
Oregon’s Offseason Moves Fly Under the Radar
Oregon quietly put together one of the most impressive offseasons in the country. The Ducks convinced Dante Moore to return for another season rather than enter the NFL Draft, despite many viewing him as a top-10 prospect.
On top of that, they landed his eventual successor in former five-star Dylan Raiola. While Raiola’s production at Nebraska fell short of expectations, Oregon has already proven it can develop quarterbacks by letting them sit and grow.
The Ducks also convinced defensive standouts Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti to return for another season, keeping Oregon firmly in the national title conversation.
Quarterbacks Pushed the Portal to Its Limits
The portal’s wildest moments came from quarterbacks testing the waters of NIL contracts. Washington’s Demond Williams attempted to leave despite being under contract, reportedly drawing interest from LSU, only for Washington to threaten legal action and shut it down.
At Duke, Darian Mensah publicly committed to staying before entering the portal at the last possible moment, leaving the Blue Devils scrambling after an ACC Championship season.
Once again, quarterbacks ran the offseason, reinforcing a new reality in college football: expect the unexpected.
