College football’s landscape keeps shifting, and lately, the transfer portal has become a lifeline for programs chasing quick results. Through the first four weeks of the 2025 season, a pattern’s pretty obvious: the teams that dove headfirst into the portal are winning big.
Texas Tech, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, Miami, and Missouri all landed top-tier transfer classes — and none of them have lost yet. It’s hard to ignore how overhauling rosters with experienced players translates to wins on the field.
The Power of the Transfer Portal
The transfer portal’s changed everything, letting teams patch up weaknesses and grab proven talent in a flash. This year, the payoff is glaring — Texas Tech, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, Miami, and Missouri have all used the portal to great effect, and they’re unbeaten for it.
Texas Tech: Volume and Experience
Texas Tech didn’t hold back. Head coach Joey McGuire and GM James Blanchard brought in 22 transfers who had piled up over 20,000 career snaps. Twelve of those guys even cracked the starting lineup by Week 1.
When starting QB Behren Morton went down with a head injury, Will Hammond jumped in and led four scoring drives like it was nothing. Transfers Terrance Carter Jr. and Reggie Virgil chipped in big, and the defensive front — with veterans Lee Hunter and Romello Height — shut down Utah’s run game.
Even with 14 penalties, Tech’s new core kept their cool and pushed the team to a 4-0 start. That kind of maturity just wasn’t there before.
LSU: Emphasizing Veteran Defenders
LSU’s Brian Kelly wanted experience, so he went after veteran defenders and proven starters in the portal. The Tigers snagged 18 transfers, including safety A.J. Haulcy and cornerback Mansoor Delane.
In a 56-10 blowout of Southeastern Louisiana, Garrett Nussmeier passed for 273 yards and three touchdowns, and the offense finally found its groove. The defense, led by Patrick Payton and other vets, smothered the Lions and allowed just 30 yards in the first half.
LSU’s added depth from transfers puts them in a strong spot as they gear up for a big SEC clash with Ole Miss.
Ole Miss: Rebuilding Through the Portal
Ole Miss basically rebuilt their roster, bringing in 29 transfers after losing eight players to the NFL draft. Lane Kiffin’s main call was at quarterback, giving the job to Trinidad Chambliss.
Chambliss threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 112 more in a 45-10 win over Tulane. New faces like receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and running back Kewan Lacy have steadied the offense, which racked up 548 yards.
On defense, seven new transfers in the secondary have given them much-needed depth. Now they’re set for a top-15 SEC showdown with LSU.
Strategic Additions for Success
Some teams went for sheer numbers, but Oregon took a different path. They focused on a few high-impact additions, and it’s working just as well.
Oregon: Surgical Precision
Dan Lanning at Oregon got picky, adding only 11 transfers — but each one fit perfectly. Guys like offensive lineman Isaiah World and safety Dillon Thieneman jumped in right away, with the group averaging over 1,200 career snaps apiece.
Quarterback Dante Moore has been electric, throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-7 win over Oregon State. With a roster already stacked from top-five recruiting classes, Oregon’s careful portal moves have them eyeing the Big Ten title as they prep for a huge game at No. 2 Penn State.
Miami: Defensive Dominance
Mario Cristobal at Miami hit the portal hard, bringing in quarterback Carson Beck and 18 other experienced players. The defense shined in a 26-7 win over Florida, holding the Gators to just 141 total yards and forcing a brutal 0-for-13 on third down.
Running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Marty Brown combined for three touchdowns, and Beck managed things smoothly. Miami’s rebuilt defense has helped them stay perfect at home since last season, and they’re heading into a rivalry game with Florida State feeling pretty good about Cristobal’s portal strategy.
Missouri: Balancing Losses and Gains
Missouri lost 45 players in the offseason but answered by bringing in 20 transfers. Coach Eliah Drinkwitz filled key spots with new faces like quarterback Beau Pribula, running back Ahmad Hardy, and edge rusher Damon Wilson.
Hardy ran for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 29-20 win over South Carolina, while Pribula led a clutch fourth-quarter drive to seal it. The defense, reloaded with transfers, tallied five sacks and looked dominant.
With 14 straight home wins, Missouri’s right in the thick of the SEC race as they get ready to host UMass.
Looking Ahead
As the season rolls on, everyone’s watching these transfer portal moves. Honestly, it’s wild how quickly some programs can plug in new talent and start winning.
They’ve shown they can blend fresh faces into their lineups. Still, the real test comes with the next few matchups—pressure’s on, and we’ll see who’s really built to last.
For more detailed insights and analysis, check out this comprehensive article.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
