In the ever-evolving world of college football, the transfer portal’s become a game-changer for teams chasing a championship. The last three national title games all featured at least one transfer quarterback.
Heading into the 2026 season, a bunch of SEC teams have loaded up with key transfers. It’s shaping up to be another wild year.
This article takes a look at the most important SEC transfers to keep an eye on this season. Let’s see how these players might shake things up for their new squads.
The Importance of the Transfer Portal in College Football
The transfer portal has totally changed college football. Players get a second shot, and teams can quickly fill big gaps.
Transfer quarterbacks have made a huge difference in recent championships. Five of the last six starters in those games used the portal at least once. That says a lot about how much it’s changed the sport.
Key SEC Transfers to Watch in 2026
Several SEC teams made bold moves in the transfer portal this offseason. Here are some of the transfers that could really matter:
Sam Leavitt to LSU
When Lane Kiffin took the LSU job, locking down a quarterback shot to the top of his list. After a heavily discussed recruitment, the Tigers landed Sam Leavitt from Arizona State.
Leavitt had a breakout first year at ASU and even made the College Football Playoff. Last season, though, he battled injuries and couldn’t quite get back to that level.
His health is going to be a huge deal for LSU. If Leavitt can’t stay on the field, Husan Longstreet—a transfer from USC—might get the nod instead.
Smothers to Texas
Smothers left NC State for the Texas Longhorns, almost picking Alabama instead. Texas had trouble finding any real balance on offense last year, and maybe Smothers is the jolt they need.
In two seasons at NC State, he racked up 1,510 rushing yards and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. Texas needs someone who can break big runs, and Smothers brings that to the table.
Seaton to LSU
Seaton might be LSU’s most important portal pickup. He started 22 games for Colorado last year and stood out even though the team struggled.
LSU has to protect its quarterback, plain and simple. Seaton’s arrival on the offensive line could change a lot for the Tigers.
Horton to Auburn
Marcel Reed just got another weapon out wide with Horton joining the mix. Horton hauled in 42 catches for 511 yards and 8 touchdowns last season.
With Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman also in the receiver room, Auburn could have one of the best groups in the country. That’s not an exaggeration.
Simmons to Missouri
Remember the quarterback who started at Ole Miss before Trinidad Chambliss? Now he’s at Missouri.
It’ll be interesting to see how quickly Simmons fits into the Tigers’ offense. Having Ahmad Hardy back healthy after an offseason scare should help.
Byrum Brown to Auburn
When Alex Golesh left South Florida for Auburn, Byrum Brown didn’t wait long to follow him. Auburn fans have seen some rough transfer quarterbacks in the Hugh Freeze era, so they’re understandably cautious.
Brown’s career numbers, though—almost 7,770 passing yards and 93 total touchdowns—are hard to ignore. Maybe this is finally the right fit.
Umanmielen to LSU
When Lane Kiffin moved to LSU, Umanmielen was one of the first players linked to Baton Rouge. He made third-team All-SEC last year and now joins a defense with Whit Weeks at linebacker and PJ Woodland in the secondary.
If this group clicks, the LSU defense might just steal a few games. That’s not out of the question.
Eric Singleton to Florida
Eric Singleton turned heads as a transfer last season when he went from Georgia Tech to Auburn. Now he’s at Florida, reuniting with his old offensive coordinator, Buster Faulkner.
That kind of familiarity can’t hurt. The Gators are hoping it helps them get back into the mix.
Ferrelli to Ole Miss
Ferrelli found himself in the middle of a spat between Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Ole Miss’s Pete Golding. Last year at Cal, Ferrelli put up 91 tackles—38 solo—and earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
He should give Ole Miss a big lift on defense. That’s a pretty exciting addition for them.
Notre Dame Quarterback Battle
Last season, Notre Dame kicked things off with a quarterback battle between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. Carr ended up winning the starting job.
Now, Carr’s name pops up on a lot of Heisman shortlists. Minchey still gets plenty of respect too.
With Will Stein stepping in as the new head coach, there’s a lot of curiosity about how Notre Dame’s quarterback situation will shake out.
If you want to dig deeper into these transfers and what they might mean, check out the full article on al.com.
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