The 2026 college football transfer portal is officially open and features a boatload of star talent. NIL deals have completely changed the game and turned the portal in to the NCAA’s version of free agency. Offering up game changing talents to the highest bidder.
So where will the best players in the transfer portal land? We look to answer that question with bold predictions for the destinations for the top 20 college football players available starting Jan. 2.
Wayne Knight to Notre Dame
All-American running back Wayne Knight is one of the elite talents that Sun Belt Conference champion James Madison is losing to the transfer portal this week. While Knight is undersized, the junior is very explosive, and that was proven when he finished sixth in the nation for rushing yards with 1,373 yards.
He is evolving into an elite talent and could be a Heisman contender in 2026 with the right program. That’s why it feels like a perfect fit if he heads to Notre Dame to replace future NFL Draft first-round pick Jeremiyah Love.
Lincoln Keinholz to USF Bulls
Following their devastating loss to Miami in the college football playoffs, backup QB Lincoln Keinholz was the first player to jump ship and leave Ohio State for the transfer portal. And it is understandable why, since he is stuck behind freshman Heisman finalist Julian Sayin.
However, he made Sayin work into the late summer to earn the starting job and has a reputation as a great locker room presence and leader. With offensive coordinator Brian Hartline headed to USF to be their new head coach, it would not be a surprise if Keinholz followed to be the new starting QB.
Sam Leavitt to Florida Gators
Entering the 2025 season, Arizona State signal-caller Sam Leavitt was seen as one to watch as he was primed for a big breakout season. However, a season-ending foot injury limited him to just seven games. Nevertheless, the sophomore is very smart with a football, has a good arm, and is strong at processing plays before the snap. Plus, he is also dangerous scrambling or tucking the ball and running.
With former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall taking over at Florida, look for the Gators to make a big splash by landing Leavitt.
Quintrevion Wisner to Baylor Bears
There has been a stunning mass exodus of Texas running backs into the transfer portal. The most notable of them is Quintrevion Wisner. The junior had a down season in 2025 as hamstring injuries limited him to just nine starts. However, in 2024, he posted 1,067 rushing yards, reeled in 311 passing yards on 44 receptions, and also had six touchdowns from scrimmage.
The Texas native is sure to draw interest from around the country. However, he will probably stay close to home again and will head to Baylor in the transfer portal.
Rocco Becht to Penn State Nittany Lions
Iowa State veteran Rocco Becht regressed in year four. After posting career highs of 3,505 passing yards, 33 total TDs, and 318 yards on the ground in 2024, his numbers were down for an 8-4 Cyclones team. However, he is tough, gritty, and is good at extending plays.
While he is a little undersized for the position, doesn’t have a big arm, and he has some decision-making issues, he is a very talented player. With his Cyclones now overseeing things at Penn State, don’t be surprised if Becht reunites with Matt Campbell in State College.
Dylan Raiola to LSU Tigers
There was a lot of hype surrounding former five-star recruit Dylan Raiola when the hopes of Nebraska’s football program were foisted on his sizable shoulders two years ago. He has an NFL build, arm, and accuracy for the next level. However, he is a classic pocket passer who isn’t very mobile.
Nevertheless, with the right coordinator and QB coach, he has the potential to be a Heisman candidate in his final two seasons. With Lane Kiffin taking over at LSU, they are sure to make a big splash in the transfer portal. Raiola will be that major move.
Isaac Brown to Miami Hurricanes
Stud Louisville running back Isaac Bown is one of the best RB’s in the latest transfer portal. He was limited to nine games in 2025 and rushed over 60 times less than the previous season because of a lower leg injury suffered in November. However, in 2024, he had a breakthrough season as he rushed for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 7.1 yards per carry on 165 rushes was among the best in the entire nation among starting backs.
Considering his Miami roots, don’t be surprised if he heads to the Hurricanes to possibly replace Mark Fletcher Jr.
Drew Mestemaker to Oklahoma State Cowboys
North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker had a huge season for the Mean Green in 2025. Leading the nation in passing yards with 4,129. That was over 400 more than the second-place finisher. He was also tied for second with 31 TD passes.
He could arguably be the best QB in the transfer portal. So he will draw a ton of interest. However, the current rumors suggest the Texas native is headed to Oklahoma State to play for new head coach Eric Morris. Who just so happens to be his former coach at North Texas.
Byrum Brown to Auburn Tigers
South Florida veteran Byrum Brown has a ton of potential if he can get into a program that maximizes his talents after four seasons with the Bulls. This past season, he led the team to a rock-solid 9-4 record. Throwing for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. But most importantly, he also ran for just over 1,000 yards in 2025.
With his former coach, Alex Golesh, taking over at Auburn, it would make sense if he followed him to be the new Tigers head coach.
Nick Marsh to Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is sure to lose star receiver Carnell Tate to the NFL Draft after a huge breakout season in 2025. While receiver guru Brian Hartline is leaving the program, the Buckeyes will still hold a lot of appeal to stud receivers in the transfer portal. That is why the school replacing Tate with Michigan State sophomore Nick Marsh makes a ton of sense.
While his stats from his first two years don’t jump off the page, he has great size and potential. It is why he is seen as one of the best receivers in the portal. With Julian Sayin throwing passes to him in 2026, he could have a similar breakout year as Tate.
Cam Coleman to Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns emerged almost immediately as a top suitor for Cam Coleman after reports surfaced that he would enter the transfer portal. With the 6-foot-3 wideout prioritizing both NIL (reportedly a $2 million price tag) and the opportunity to play with a proven quarterback, there are only a few viable landing spots. Arch Manning recently reduced his NIL earnings from the school’s revenue-sharing pool to facilitate Texas bringing in more talent. Coleman will likely wind up in Austin, giving the Longhorns’ offense a true No. 1 wide receiver with both Manning and Coleman able to turn a great year into being top picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Related: Cam Coleman Transfer Landing Spots
John Henry Daley Heads to Michigan Wolverines
Since taking over as the Michigan Wolverines’ coach, Kyle Whittingham has been raiding the state of Utah for talent. After poaching BYU’s Jay Hill to take over as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator, the duo can now turn their focus to luring elite talent out of the state. John Henry Daley, fresh off earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025, is coming off a breakout year with 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 11 games. The 6-foot-4 edge rusher would provide Michigan’s defense with a blue-chip pass rusher who could be even more impactful next season with Hill as his play-caller.
Caleb Hawkins Lands with Oklahoma State Cowboys
The raiding of North Texas will continue by former head coach Eric Morris. In addition to pulling in his former quarterback, Drew Mestemaker, Morris will bring his entire backfield to the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ offense for the 2026 season. Caleb Hawkins, the 6-foot-2 running back, earned first-team American Rookie of the Year honors in 2025 after putting up 1,804 scrimmage yards with 29 total touchdowns as a freshman. He will join the Cowboys’ offense and reunite with Mestemaker and Morris, even as Texas was reportedly focusing on another running back.
Chaz Coleman Returns Home to Ohio State Buckeyes
It is going to be a do-over for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Chaz Coleman starred at Warren G. Harding High School, but the Buckeyes seemed to pass him over, and that is when the Penn State Nittany Lions swooped in. Fortunately for Ryan Day and Matt Patricia, they get to correct their mistake after Coleman entered the college football transfer portal. While he only had 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack as a freshman, the 6-foot-4 edge defender stood out in his opportunities. The Buckeyes will bring him back home, and by 2027, he will be a first-team All-Big Ten edge rusher.
DJ Lagway to the Baylor Bears
No one can fault DJ Lagway for trying to make it work with the Florida Gators, a program that could have positioned him for stardom. Unfortunately for him, things just did not work out. The young quarterback needs a change of scenery and would greatly benefit from going to a school where the expectations are more reasonable. The Baylor Bears offer that, and it would be an opportunity to play for the program his father did years ago. If all goes well, maybe we see a Lagway-led Baylor program in the Big 12 Championship Game next December.
Brendan Sorsby to Texas Tech
A brutal showing and exit in the College Football Playoff will likely push the Texas Tech Red Raiders to be even more aggressive in the portal for a top quarterback. While Cincinnati signal-caller Brendan Sorsby might not be on that Sam Leavitt tier of passers, he is not too far behind. Across his time at Indiana and Cincinnati, he has posted a 42–10 TD–INT line with an impressive passing touchdown rate, and he has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career. He is the caliber of dual-threat quarterback who can truly elevate the Red Raiders’ offense next season.
Read More: Staggering Cost Expected to Land Top QBs in College Football Transfer Portal
Rasheem Biles Joins Ohio State
Yes, after losing in the College Football Playoff, we expect the Buckeyes to go all-out in the transfer portal. It also helps that one of the top defenders available, All-ACC linebacker Rasheem Biles, is an Ohio native who reportedly has real interest in playing for the Buckeyes. We anticipate that Ohio State will come out of January with several top defenders, bringing both Coleman and Biles back home.
Mateen Ibirogba Heads to Oregon
The Oregon Ducks’ defense is about to lose a lot of talent to the 2026 NFL Draft, including projected first-round pick A’Mauri Washington. Dan Lanning’s program has done an excellent job in recent seasons at getting defensive tackles to the pros, which is just another selling point they can offer to Mateen Ibirogba. Coming off a season where he was one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the ACC, the 6-foot-4 standout can step in and become an integral part of Oregon’s defensive success next season.
Omarion Miller Heads West to USC Trojans
With Makai Lemon poised to be a top-20 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans need to find a new No. 1 receiver. Cam Coleman would be great, but there are enough needs on the Trojans’ roster that it would probably be wise to spread the money around a bit more. Consequently, USC goes one tier down among the available receivers in the portal and will land Omarion Miller. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors this past season, averaging an eye-popping 18 yards per reception with 808 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. He will have a much better quarterback at USC, and functioning as the No. 1 wideout in the Trojans’ offense could propel him to becoming a top-50 pick next year.
Carius Curne to Ole Miss
With the money saved by not engaging in a bidding war for Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss Rebels should remain major players in the college football transfer portal. We also suspect that with the hiring of Frank Wilson, the former interim coach at LSU, the Rebels’ new running backs coach will pull some of the elite talent out of Louisiana. Offensive lineman Carius Curne will likely turn down an opportunity to return home to Arkansas, instead taking a rewarding NIL deal to start on the Rebels’ offensive line next season.
