The 2026 college football transfer portal season has been wild—chaotic, even. Over 4,700 players have jumped into the portal.
As the window closes, some teams just couldn’t figure it out. Several Power Four programs finished outside the top 60 in the Transfer Portal Team Rankings.
One major program is sitting embarrassingly low, trailing behind schools like Tarleton State and Tennessee Tech. Clemson, for example, is having its worst portal showing since 2010.
There’s a lot of doubt about their chances for a quick turnaround under Dabo Swinney. Even though they brought in more transfers this offseason than in the previous four years put together, the Tigers still didn’t crack the top 60.
Power Four Programs Struggling in the Transfer Portal
College football is changing fast, and the transfer portal is at the center of it. Teams need to nail the portal if they want to stay competitive.
But not everyone is getting it right. A handful of Power Four teams stumbled through the 2026 transfer cycle, ending up with classes outside the top 60.
This kind of poor performance stings for programs that usually lean on strong recruiting to stay relevant. It’s just not a great look.
Clemson’s Disappointing Transfer Class
Clemson’s showing in the 2026 transfer portal feels especially rough. They finished with their worst record since 2010, and the new class doesn’t really spark much hope for a quick bounce-back.
Even after bringing in more transfers this year than the last four years combined, Clemson still couldn’t break into the top 60. It’s got people wondering what exactly is going on with Dabo Swinney and the program’s direction.
So, what’s dragging Clemson down in the portal?
- Inability to attract top-tier talent: Clemson’s been a powerhouse for years, but lately, it’s just harder for them to pull in big names through the portal.
- Competition from other programs: With thousands of players on the move, the fight for the best is intense. Other schools are winning those battles, leaving Clemson picking through leftovers.
- Uncertain future: The recent downturn has left the program looking a bit shaky, which doesn’t exactly help when trying to convince transfers to come aboard.
Other Low-Ranked Transfer Classes
Clemson isn’t alone in this mess. A few other Power Four teams also ended up outside the top 60, and it’s hard not to worry about their ability to stay competitive in the next few years.
- Stanford: Stanford used to be a Pac-12 heavyweight, but those days seem far away. Their 2026 transfer class didn’t do them any favors, and they’re way down in the rankings.
- Arizona State: The Sun Devils are struggling to bring in big-time transfers, and their low-ranked class could make Pac-12 competition even tougher for them.
- Boston College: Even with a proud ACC tradition, Boston College couldn’t get much going in the portal, finishing with a class that’s well outside the top 60.
Implications for the Future
So, what does all this mean for these Power Four programs? In an era where the transfer portal is pretty much essential to building a roster, missing out on top talent could set a program back for years.
For teams like Clemson and Stanford, the challenge is figuring out how to adapt—fast. They can’t afford to keep falling behind in future transfer cycles.
Maybe the answer is ramping up recruiting and actually connecting with potential transfers. Just a few ideas:
- Investing in scouting and evaluation: Spotting high-potential transfers early could give programs a real edge.
- Building a strong program culture: If a school feels like home, players might be more likely to transfer in. It can’t hurt to make the environment more welcoming.
- Leveraging NIL opportunities: Let’s be honest—Name, Image, and Likeness deals are a huge draw. Programs might need to get creative here if they want to attract the best.
Conclusion
The 2026 college football transfer portal has been a rough ride for a lot of Power Four programs. Clemson and Stanford, just to name a couple, haven’t had much luck bringing in top transfers.
That’s left them with lower-ranked transfer classes. It’s a situation that might mess with their chances down the road.
How do they turn it around? Well, there’s no magic fix, but these teams probably need to get creative with their recruiting.
Maybe they’ll lean harder on scouting. Maybe they’ll double down on building a culture players actually want to join.
And let’s be real—NIL can’t be ignored. If they figure out how to use those opportunities, it might help them stay in the mix.
For more in-depth coverage and analysis of the 2026 transfer portal, visit the full article on 247Sports.
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