College football moves fast, and the transfer portal is now a must-have for programs looking to reload. This year, the portal window is jammed into just two weeks—January 2 to January 16—so coaches are hustling to lock down talent. With more than 6,200 Division I players in the mix, it’s a wild scramble out there.
So, who’s actually winning the offseason right now? Here’s a look at some programs that are making the most noise for their 2026 rosters.
Indiana Hoosiers: Building on Success
It’s year one for Curt Cignetti at Indiana, and the Hoosiers are wasting no time in the portal. Last season, they landed Fernando Mendoza, who turned into a Heisman winner, and brought in 15 transfers who pushed them to an undefeated run.
This year, they’ve already got 12 fresh faces committed, including:
- QB Josh Hoover (TCU)
- RB Turbo Richard (Boston College)
- WR Nick Marsh (Michigan State)
- TE Brock Schott (Miami)
- DL Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State)
- DL Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame)
- DL Joe Hjelle (Tulsa)
- DL Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State)
- DB Preston Zachman (Wisconsin)
- DB Jiquan Sanks (Cincinnati)
- P Billy Gowers (Hawaii)
- LS Drew Clausen (Iowa State)
Key Additions
Josh Hoover, who started 31 games at TCU, steps in as the likely successor to Mendoza. Nick Marsh, ranked No. 3 among transfer receivers by ESPN, picked Indiana for a shot at big stats with Hoover.
Tobi Osunsanmi, a top-50 transfer, could finally break out after injuries slowed him at K-State. Indiana also went after running back and safety, landing Turbo Richard and experienced safeties Jiquan Sanks and Preston Zachman.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: Proving Their Mettle
Coming off a strong 2025, Joey McGuire and GM James Blanchard want to show Texas Tech isn’t just a flash in the pan. Their plan? Lock down a top quarterback and build a scary defensive line.
They already have 14 new commitments, including:
- QB Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati)
- WR Donte Lee Jr. (Liberty)
- WR Kenny Johnson (Pitt)
- WR Jalen Jones (Alabama State)
- DL Mateen Ibirogba (Wake Forest)
- DL Trey White (San Diego State)
- DL Adam Trick (Miami (Ohio))
- DL Julien Laventure (Akron)
- DL Bryce Butler (Washington)
- DL Jojo Johnson (Oregon State)
- DL Amarie Fleming (Allen)
- LB Austin Romaine (Kansas State)
- DB Davin Martin (UTSA)
High-Impact Transfers
Brendan Sorsby, ESPN’s top-ranked transfer, is a huge get. Adding three speedy receivers—Donte Lee Jr., Kenny Johnson, and Jalen Jones—should crank up the passing game.
On defense, Mateen Ibirogba (ESPN’s No. 1 transfer DT) joins edge rushers Trey White and Adam Trick to toughen up the line.
Penn State Nittany Lions: A Bold Year 1 Experiment
Matt Campbell is shaking things up at Penn State, bringing in 29 transfers—many from his Iowa State days. Thirteen of them started games last year, and three were All-Big 12 picks.
- QB Rocco Becht (Iowa State)
- QB Alex Manske (Iowa State)
- RB Carson Hansen (Iowa State)
- RB James Peoples (Ohio State)
- WR Brett Eskildsen (Iowa State)
- WR Chase Sowell (Iowa State)
- WR Karon Brookins (Iowa State)
- WR Zay Robinson (Iowa State)
- TE Benjamin Brahmer (Iowa State)
- TE Gabe Burkle (Iowa State)
- TE Cooper Alexander (Iowa State)
- OL Trevor Buhr (Iowa State)
- OL Will Tompkins (Iowa State)
- OL Kuol Kuol II (Iowa State)
- OL Vaea Ikakoula (Iowa State)
- DL Alijah Carnell (Iowa State)
- DL Alexander McPherson (Colorado)
- DL Armstrong Nnodim (Oklahoma State)
- DL Keanu Williams (UCLA)
- DL Dallas Vakalahi (Utah)
- DL Siale Taupaki (UCLA)
- LB Caleb Bacon (Iowa State)
- LB Cael Brezina (Iowa State)
- LB Kooper Ebel (Iowa State)
- DB Marcus Neal Jr. (Iowa State)
- DB Jamison Patton (Iowa State)
- DB Hunter Sowell (Iowa State)
- DB Omarion Davis (Boston College)
- DB Ibn McDaniels (Syracuse)
Strategic Transfers
Campbell’s clearly betting on familiar faces to set the tone in State College. Rocco Becht, who’s started 39 games, leads the way, while All-Big 12 guys like Carson Hansen, Benjamin Brahmer, and Marcus Neal Jr. bring some real credibility to this experiment.
Ole Miss Rebels: Defensive Reinforcements
New head coach Pete Golding is making some noise at Ole Miss, zeroing in on the defense as the Rebels gear up for another playoff push. They’ve landed eight transfers so far:
- OL Carius Curne (LSU)
- DL Jonathan Maldonado (Nevada)
- DL Michai Boireau (Florida)
- DL Jehiem Oatis (Colorado)
- LB Keaton Thomas (Baylor)
- LB Chris Jones (Southern Miss)
- DB Jay Crawford (Auburn)
- DB Sharif Denson (Florida)
Impactful Acquisitions
Jonathan Maldonado brings real pass-rush upside, and linebackers Keaton Thomas and Chris Jones are solid pickups for the defense. Carius Curne flipping from LSU is a nice win for Golding, too.
Texas A&M Aggies: Committed to Competing
Mike Elko and his crew at Texas A&M are dead set on keeping the Aggies in the mix. They’ve added 14 experienced players, with a clear focus on the lines.
- TE Richie Anderson (Fresno State)
- TE Houston Thomas (UTSA)
- OL Tyree Adams (LSU)
- OL Trovon Baugh (South Carolina)
- OL Coen Echols (LSU)
- OL Wilkin Formby (Alabama)
- DL Anto Saka (Northwestern)
- DL Ryan Henderson (San Diego State)
- DL Brandon Davis-Swain (Colorado)
- LB Ray Coney (Tulsa)
- DB Rickey Gibson III (Tennessee)
- DB Tawfiq Byard (Colorado)
- K David Olano (Illinois)
- LS Shea Freibaum (Oklahoma State)
Strategic Moves
The Aggies went heavy on SEC starters, especially up front. Defensive newcomers like Anto Saka, Ryan Henderson, and Brandon Davis-Swain should help fill some gaps.
If they can reel in Cam Coleman, expectations could get sky-high for a real SEC title shot and maybe a deep playoff run in 2026. Not a bad place to be.
Arizona State Sun Devils: Offensive Overhaul
Kenny Dillingham is determined to keep Arizona State’s offense rolling in 2026. The Sun Devils have locked in 19 transfers so far:
- QB Cutter Boley (Kentucky)
- QB Mikey Keene (Michigan)
- RB David Avit (Villanova)
- RB Marquis Gillis (Delaware State)
- WR Omarion Miller (Colorado)
- WR Reed Harris (Boston College)
- WR Raiden Vines-Bright (Washington)
- TE Anthony Miller (Tulane)
- TE Kristian Ingram (Portland State)
- OL Tana Alo-Tupuola (Georgia Tech)
- LB Owen Long (Colorado State)
- LB Ramere Davis (Northern Arizona)
- LB Emar’rion Winston (Baylor)
- DB Ashton Stamps (LSU)
- DB Lyrik Rawls (Kansas)
- DB Caleb Chester (Texas)
- K Carson Smith (Austin Peay)
- P Nick McLarty (Ohio State)
- LS Grayson Curtis (New Mexico State)
Offensive Firepower
Arizona State’s brought in some serious weapons at receiver—Omarion Miller, Reed Harris, and Raiden Vines-Bright. Cutter Boley, who’s got SEC starts under his belt, and Mikey Keene will battle for QB1.
On defense, Ashton Stamps and Lyrik Rawls give the secondary a boost. It’s a lot of new faces, but Dillingham seems to like the mix.
Oklahoma State Cowboys: A Historic Roster Flip
Eric Morris and his coaching staff at Oklahoma State are in the middle of a wild roster overhaul. There are 63 scholarship players from the 202
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