Friday was one of the most anticipated days on the 2026 college football calendar with the opening of the transfer portal. Heading into the start of the NCAA’s version of free agency on Jan. 2, quite a few notable players already made their intentions known about entering the portal. However, after hundreds more jumped in today, over 4,500 players are now available to the highest bidders.
Let’s look at some of the latest news and rumors for major programs expected to be aggressive in the college football transfer portal, as well as some of the newest additions on the market.
Notre Dame Transfer Portal Latest
After being left out of the college football playoffs, Notre Dame will aim to add more talent to the roster so there is no doubt about being a worthy postseason team in 2026. And they reportedly already have some big visits lined up.
According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, the program is set to meet with Iowa State cornerback Jontez Williams. The junior is viewed as the best CB in the transfer portal. Fawcett also reports that the Irish have scheduled a meeting with talented and high upside Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh. Both meetings are set for early next week.
Alabama Transfer Portal Latest
On Thursday, Alabama looked to progress further in the college football playoffs. However, they were crushed by the No. 1 team in the nation, Indiana, by a score of 38-3. With the Crimson Tide’s season officially over, the program has started to see departures as well as potential additions from the transfer portal.
According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, 2024 five-star+ recruit Jaylen Mbakwe is hitting the portal with two years of eligibility left. However, this weekend, they are expected to meet with Virginia Tech veteran Caleb Woodson. The three-year starting linebacker posted 7.5 sacks in 2024. But he was limited to nine starts in 2025 and had just 2.5 sacks.
Michigan Transfer Portal Latest
Michigan is going through major upheaval after Sherrone Moore was shockingly fired last month after it was revealed he had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, then got into a whole bunch of trouble after he was dismissed. While they landed a good replacement in former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, there is an exodus of Wolverines players to the transfer portal.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that linebacker Cole Sullivan is set to test his value on the open market after a solid sophomore season in Ann Arbor. Thamel also revealed that co-captain and All-Big Ten tight end Marlin Klein will enter the portal.
Furthermore, Max Olson of ESPN reports that All-Big Ten corner Zeke Berry is another impact player from the Wolverines who will be available in the transfer portal.
LSU Transfer Portal Latest
With former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin now leading the program, LSU is expected to be very aggressive in the transfer portal to immediately get back into title contention. On Friday, On3’s Pete Thamel revealed they are big game hunting, and former Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby is set to meet with the program in the coming days. He is viewed by many to be the best QB available in the portal.
According to Chris Karpman of 247 Sports, there is “buzz” around the sport that it will cost LSU and every other program targeting Sorsby north of $5 million to land his services for 2026.
Latest Additions to the College Football Transfer Portal
With the transfer portal now officially open, a boatload of players added their names to the market, including a couple of players from Georgia following their playoff loss to Ole Miss on Thursday night. Below, you can get a rundown of the latest additions to the portal.
- USF receiver Nykahi Davenport – 98 carries, 612 yards, and 7 TDs in 2025
- Virginia receiver Trell Harris – 59 catches, 847 yards, and 5 TDs in 2025
- Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine – 41 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT in 2025
- Louisville defensive back Corey Gordon – 53 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended
- Tennessee EDGE Caleb Herring – 14 tackles, 4 sacks in 2025
- Duke quarterback Henry Belin IV
- Arkansas running back Rodney Hill
- Iowa State lineman Brendan Black
- Georgia tackle Jordan Thomas
- Penn State QB Jaxon Smolik
- Texas A&M cornerback Cobey Sellers
- Georgia running back Roderick Robinson II
