Top College Teams Making Big Moves in Transfer Portal

College football is buzzing with excitement as teams rush to secure top talent through the transfer portal. With the portal open until January 16, programs are scrambling to sign new players and set the stage for the 2026 season. Let's take a closer look at some of the top classes and the impact these moves could have on next year's national championship race. LSU is making waves with a massive transfer class, led by quarterback Sam Leavitt. Leavitt, who helped lead Arizona State to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in 2024, is expected to make a significant impact in Baton Rouge. LSU has also added a mix of Power Four talents and high-production Group of Five standouts, including Ole Miss receiver Winston Watkins and Boise State safety Ty Benefield. With a $25-30 million NIL budget, LSU is poised for an immediate turnaround and a shot at the national title. Texas, despite a disappointing 2025 season, is rebuilding with a strong transfer class. Arch Manning, who improved down the stretch of his first year as the starter, will have a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal in 2026. The Longhorns added Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, who will form a powerful 1-2 punch with All-SEC wideout Ryan Wingo. Texas also beefed up their run game by adding NC State's Hollywood Smothers and Arizona State's Raleek Brown, both first-team all-conference running backs. With these additions, Texas is a legitimate contender for the national title in 2026. Penn State is experiencing a massive exodus following James Franklin's firing, and new head coach Matt Campbell is bringing in a massive portal class to fill the gaps. Campbell has brought in 22 players from Iowa State, including quarterback Rocco Becht, leading rusher Carson Hansen, and leading receivers Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell. With these familiar faces, Campbell's first season in Happy Valley could be a success. Oklahoma State's new head coach Eric Morris is also making big moves in the transfer portal. Morris has brought in 17 players from North Texas, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who led the nation in passing in 2025. With these additions, the Cowboys are poised to become a Big 12 contender in Year 1.Ole Miss is also making waves in the transfer portal, led by Auburn quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. With Chambliss' eligibility battle heading to the courts, the Rebels have a good fallback plan in Florida State safety Edwin Joseph, who posted five passes defensed and three interceptions in 2025. Kentucky is making a name for itself in the transfer portal, with new head coach Will Stein bringing in a top-10 class. Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey is the headliner for this class, but Stein has also added protection on the offensive line in Tennessee's Lance Heard, Baylor's Coleton Price, and Ohio State's Tegra Tshabola. With these additions, Kentucky is a team to watch in the SEC. Texas A&M made its first playoff appearance in 2025 and is using the transfer portal to fill some holes for a return trip to the bracket next season. The Aggies added Alabama receiver Isaiah Horton, who led the Crimson Tide with eight receiving touchdowns, and Northwestern edge rusher Anto Saka, who is already touted as being the next star for Texas A&M's defense. Texas Tech is also making big moves in the transfer portal, led by Cincinnati quarterback Brandon Sorsby. The Red Raiders are celebrating this signing with a Billboard in Times Square, and fans are excited to see what Sorsby can bring to the team. Keep an eye out for Wake Forest defensive lineman Mateen Ibirogba and Miami-Ohio edge rusher Adam Trick, who could become the next defensive superstars for Tech. Indiana is 60 minutes away from the program's first national championship, and Curt Cignetti is already assembling a portal haul that can keep the success going into 2026 and beyond. Cignetti values production over potential, so it makes sense that he has a veteran quarterback in TCU's Josh Hoover lined up to replace Fernando Mendoza next year. Hoover has posted back-to-back 3, 000-yard passing seasons for the Horned Frogs and will be throwing passes to wideout transfer Nick Marsh, who led Michigan State in receiving in 2025.