College football never really sits still, does it? The transfer portal has turned into an essential tool for programs chasing experienced talent, and the 2025 season is no exception.
Several teams are making bold moves, hoping to flip their fortunes overnight. Let’s dig into the numbers and strategies behind some of the most impactful transfer grabs, and see which programs have really squeezed the most out of the portal this year.
The Importance of the Transfer Portal in 2025
The portal has completely changed how teams build their rosters. Now, coaches can fill gaps fast and bring in players who’ve already been through the grind.
This year, Power 4 programs picked up over 13,000 career starts and more than 930,000 career snaps of Division I experience from transfers. That’s a staggering amount of on-field know-how, and it’s no wonder coaches are scrambling to find plug-and-play guys.
West Virginia’s Ambitious Roster Overhaul
Rich Rodriguez came back to Morgantown with a pretty clear plan—hit the portal hard. West Virginia tops the list for most career snaps and starts added this offseason.
The Mountaineers brought in 35 players who have started games, and 16 of them have logged over 1,000 snaps at the D-I level. Some of the bigger names:
- DB Jordan Walker from Chattanooga (2,067 career snaps)
- DB Fred Perry from Jacksonville State (1,895)
- DB Darrian Lewis from Akron (1,740)
Rodriguez wants veterans around him. It’s a move that could quickly make West Virginia a real threat in the Big 12, but of course, nothing’s guaranteed.
Virginia’s Under-the-Radar Success
Virginia isn’t making a ton of noise, but they’ve quietly put together a transfer class that’s honestly pretty impressive. Tony Elliott zeroed in on guys who’ve already proven themselves, adding 11 transfers who have started at least 20 games.
Some names that stand out:
- QB Chandler Morris from North Texas, who finished No. 7 nationally in total offense last season
- OL Makilan Thomas from Arkansas State (2,303 snaps)
- OL Monroe Mills from Louisville (2,259 snaps)
With the offensive line and secondary getting a real boost, Virginia could surprise some folks in the ACC.
Purdue’s Massive Roster Rebuild
Barry Odom has a mountain to climb at Purdue after losing a ton of players. To patch things up, he brought in 52 transfers—more than any other Power 4 team.
Key pickups include:
- DB Tony Grimes from UNLV (2,356 snaps)
- OL Jalen St. John from UNLV (1,484 snaps)
- WR Kris Hutson from Washington State (1,905 snaps)
Odom’s betting on overlooked talent and experience, a formula that paid off for him at UNLV. Will it work again? Only time will tell.
Louisville’s Consistent Portal Success
Jeff Brohm has really figured out how to use the portal. Louisville keeps stacking depth, year after year.
This time, they’ve landed seven offensive linemen with a combined 120 career starts, plus a handful of multiyear starters on defense. Notable additions:
- QB Miller Moss from USC
- DB JoJo Evans from Florida International (1,587 snaps)
- OL Matthew Wykoff from Cal (1,578 snaps)
Brohm just keeps finding ways to reload, and that’s why Louisville’s always in the ACC conversation.
Other Notable Programs Making Waves
Plenty of other schools are making noise in the portal, too. Here are a few worth mentioning:
Arizona
Brent Brennan didn’t waste any time after a rough 4-8 season. He went after experienced players hard, bringing in a dozen transfers with over 1,000 D-I snaps.
Some of the key additions:
- WR Kris Hutson from Washington State (1,905 snaps)
- RB Ismail Mahdi from Texas State, who has the fourth-most all-purpose yards in FBS over the past two seasons
All that experience could help Arizona bounce back, but it’s always a bit of a gamble, isn’t it?
Houston
Willie Fritz is in year two at Houston, and he’s sticking with his portal-heavy rebuild. Noteworthy transfers include:
- QB Conner Weigman from Texas A&M
- TE Tanner Koziol from Wisconsin (1,587 snaps)
- OL Matthew Wykoff from Cal (1,578 snaps)
Fritz is really beefing up both lines. Houston’s hoping that makes them tougher in the Big 12, but we’ll see how it plays out on the field.
Conclusion
The transfer portal keeps shaking things up in college football. Programs can now fill gaps fast and bring in players who already know what they’re doing.
Heading into the 2025 season, some teams have really nailed their portal moves. West Virginia’s overhaul grabs attention, while Virginia quietly gets the job done.
These programs aren’t just collecting talent—they’re building rosters that might surprise people. Want to dig deeper or see a full breakdown of the top transfer classes? Check out the full article on ESPN.
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