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College Football transfer portal update: back up the Brinks truck if you want blindside protection
For those unfamiliar with archaic, nonsensical NCAA rules and regulations, this dead period in the college football recruiting calendar is due to the prohibition on in-person recruiting. Athletes can still enter the transfer portal, but no face-to-face contact or campus visits are allowed.
The portal only opened on January 2nd and closed two weeks later on January 16th. The timing alone is absurd, landing right in the middle of the college football playoffs. And to then have three days within that window - the 12th to the 14th - where you have to sit twiddling your thumbs, makes even less sense.
That appears to be the consensus among programs across the country, too, as the sheer volume of players announced in the last 72 hours suggests the blackout is being flagrantly ignored.
This may come as little surprise to anyone familiar with recruiting over the past five decades. But if low levels of rulebreaking doesn’t make you blink, then perhaps the money involved will. With the going rate for elite quarterbacks surpassing $5m, college football can no longer legitimately cling to its amateur status.
You read that right; a QB earning that amount of money will bank more in 2026 than anyone taken after the seventh pick in April’s 2026 NFL Draft. Meaning for many, it’s more lucrative to stay in college than it is to turn pro. With other positions also benefiting from relaxed NIL rules, the transfer portal has exploded.
Here, we bring you the latest updates in the college transfer portal.
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QB carousel part two
Where were we up to? Oh yeah, Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech), Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State), Rocco Becht (Penn State), and Josh Hoover (Indiana) had all found new homes and fatter wallets. But there was still plenty of quarterback drama before the dominoes had finished falling…
Former Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt had been doing the rounds, presumably balancing the biggest paycheck versus the best chance to shine. Inevitably, he ended up in Baton Rouge, where the money and the chance to work with Lane Kiffin both proved too good to turn down.
Dylan Raiola, or ‘Baby Mahomes’ as he’s better known, left Nebraska for Oregon as the heir to Dante Moore, who is likely turning pro. The ‘Huskers replaced him with Anthony Colandrea, who enjoyed a great year at UNLV.
There was more unorthodox drama elsewhere. Trinidad Chambliss was denied another year by the NCAA. He’s appealing the ruling, but Ole Miss acted fast to get a Plan B in place, signing Auburn’s Deuce Knight. Florida’s DJ Lagway finally settled on Baylor, the school his dad used to play for, before getting cold feet and flirting with the Rebels, too. Eventually, he stayed committed to the Bears.
But the most sensational story of all emanated from Seattle, where Washington quarterback Demond Williams re-upped with the Huskies to the tune of $4m, before immediately throwing himself in the portal. Rumour has it he was offered more by LSU, but Washington refused to let him out of his contract.
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In a rare victory for legislation and the rule of law, the Huskies prevailed. Williams’ agent fired his client, and the quarterback acceptedthat his near future was in the Pacific Northwest.
Some of these prospects have been called ‘classless’ in their approach to the transfer portal. Millions of dollars will do that to you. Expect more twists and turns before Friday’s deadline.
Show me the money
On Monday, star left tackle Jordan Seaton announced he would be entering the transfer portal. The big fish of Deion Sanders’ 2024 recruiting class, Seaton has been a dominant force on the blindside for the Buffs the last two years - and with NFL measurables is destined for a long and lucrative pro career.
It appears that Seaton wants that gravy train to start rolling a year early. It is anticipated he won’t be short of offers from the premier programs in the game, and could command as much as $3m for his services in 2026. Early frontrunners appear to be Texas and Oregon. Imagine if these universities spent money on education…
Other schools - particularly those who had been in the playoffs and had joined the party late - have also been dusting off the chequebook. Ohio State swooped for five top prospects on Monday, including luring two elite defensive linemen in Qua Russaw and James Smith.
Oregon got in the game, landing the top safety in the class. Koi Perich had 82 tackles, a pick-6, a sack and a forced fumble for Minnesota last season. Expect master recruiter Dan Lanning to go into overdrive in the next few days - Nike supremo Phil Knight has deep pockets, and the Ducks don’t do rebuilds.
Elsewhere, Alabama tabbed Washington d-lineman Caleb Smith, Georgia stole safety Gentry Williams from Oklahoma, and Miami - despite the small distraction of a National Championship game on the horizon - managed to prise defensive tackle Jarquez Carter from Ohio State.
The rich keep getting richer, and they’re not finished yet.
New faces headed to London
One of the biggest consequences of the new NIL-led era of college football is perhaps the revolving doors of mid-tier programs, particularly those in the Big 12 and ACC. Sitting ahead of the majority but behind the elite, these schools endure attrition both as players leave for playing time and for bigger programs or more money.
Two Big 12 schools that fall into this category are heading to the UK in 2026. The Union Jack Classic will see the Kansas Jayhawks and Arizona State Sun Devils square off at Wembley Stadium on September 19th. And looking at the changing shape of their respective rosters makes for interesting reading…
Earlier this year, Kansas head coach Lance Leipold told me he would be adopting a balanced approach to the portal. As of Monday, he had stayed true to his word, with 26 departures being replaced with 27 new Jayhawks. Despite the parity, trying to maintain a culture with all the new faces will be a tough task.
Nevertheless, the influx of talent is something for KU fans to get excited about. There’s been a big focus on defense and the trenches, with Texas guard Connor Stroh perhaps the pick of the bunch. But former MTSU receiver Nahzae Cox is the splash signing, a size and speed prospect set to replace the production of Emmanuel Henderson.
The Sun Devils have been just as busy, and have turned heads landing a trio of wide receivers. Two of them are ranked as four-star transfer prospects, giving new quarterback Cutter Boley all the tools possible to fill the big shoes of the departed Sam Leavitt. Keep an eye out for Omarion Miller when they jump across the pond in Week 4.
Arizona State’s recruiting has been strong, and they currently boast one of the top ten classes in the nation. Buoyed by head coach Kenny Dillingham staying in town, ASU looks set to be a frontrunner for the Big 12 in 2026. With hopes also high in Lawrence, fans heading to Wembley could be in for a spectacle.
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