In a flurry of movement Monday morning, five different high-level quarterbacks announced their intention to go in the college football transfer portal.

Former five-stars Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway left Nebraska and Florida, respectively, after two seasons. Aidan Chiles, a former top 60 recruit, opted to depart Michigan State. East Carolina QB Katin Houser decided to make a run back to the Power Four following a breakout season. 

All the while, the portal has new No. 1 player according to Cooper Petagna’s big board at 247Sports: Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, who hopped back into the portal ahead of his final season of college football. 

It was all a bit dizzying. 

The portal doesn’t open for another three weeks, and there are still many high-profile moves expected to occur both within in the quarterback market and apart from it. With that in mind, let’s reset the quarterback landscape, highlighting some of the big names, schools to watch and names we still have on the radar ahead of Jan. 2.

The names atop the QB market

No. 1 Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati: Sorsby finished the year ranked 10th in ESPN’s QBR metric, emerging as one of the truly elite passers in the sport. The two early schools to watch with Sorsby are Indiana and Texas Tech. The Hoosiers are a bit ironic given that’s where Sorsby started his career, exiting Bloomington shortly after Curt Cignetti arrived. The Red Raiders are the local school to have on the radar — if you consider 300 miles of West Texas driving local — and seem to be a strong on-paper fit for the junior passer. Of note with Sorsby: Sources have indicated he still plans to consider the NFL Draft. But those are two schools to know if he does opt to stay in school. 

No. 2 Dylan Raiola, Nebraska: It probably is unsurprising to see Raiola’s name listed here given the lead up the last few weeks. His brother decommitted from Nebraska. The school fired his uncle Donovan, the offensive line coach. CBS Sports reported the split was likely. But the end of the Raiola and Nebraska partnership is still interesting given how much the two sides had invested in each other, including a $3.5 million rev share/NIL package for Raiola. As for what’s next, an early school to keep an eye on is Oregon. The Raiola camp has interest in the Ducks, per sources, and there is a growing industry thought that Oregon QB Dante Moore will end up testing the NFL Draft waters.

No. 3 DJ Lagway, Florida: Unlike the above two situations that had been trending toward a breakup for weeks, the divorce between Lagway and Florida came as somewhat of a surprise Monday. Lagway only decided in recent days he’d move on after his initial meetings with the new Florida staff went poorly, per sources. As for what’s next for the former No. 1 QB prospect in the 2024 class, schools like Baylor, Florida State and Duke (depending on what happens with Darian Mensah) have been brought up per sources along with those like Clemson, LSU and Miami. Of note, Lagway’s dad played at Baylor.

Where will DJ Lagway transfer? Departing Florida QB’s possible destinations include LSU, Miami, Clemson

Cody Nagel

Others we’re watching

Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State: Industry sources have pointed at Leavitt for months as someone who could enter the transfer portal. That seems like a formality at this point after he didn’t attend Arizona State’s year-end banquet and head coach Kenny Dillingham wished him well “in whatever his future may hold,” per 247Sports’ Chris Karpman.

CJ Bailey, QB, NC State: A star sophomore with the Wolfpack, Bailey is a popular rumor for other teams in terms of potential portal candidates. Dave Doeren coming back aids NC State’s chances of keeping Bailey around, but he remains a very hot name in terms of other programs looking at the quarterback market.

Byrum Brown, QB, South Florida: It raised some eyebrows in the industry when Brown opted out of the Cure Bowl. Brown is a senior, but he’s pursing a waiver that is expected to go through. If it does … several schools in the industry are watching Brown and his status. There would be a natural fit at Auburn, where his former South Florida head coach Alex Golseh resides.

Drew Mestemaker, QB, North Texas: A breakout star as a redshirt freshman this season, Mestemaker led the FBS with 4,129 passing yards to go along with 31 touchdowns on 70.2% passing. He’s been a name other schools have eyed for months. It’s natural to assume that he’ll follow Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. But Mestemaker is expected to have robust options.

There are several other QBs worth watching over the coming month. Some notable backups like Ohio State’s Lincoln Kienholz and Oregon’s Austin Novasad have decisions to make. There are other very productive Group of Five QBs like Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor or Parker Navarro from Ohio worth keeping track of. There are also a few more established starters who could shake if things become further unsettled at their current situations.

The news keeps coming with three weeks to go. Don’t expect it to stop anytime soon. 

Teams in need

Miami: The Hurricanes are likely to dip into the portal for a third straight offseason in pursuit of a quarterback with Carson Beck’s impending graduation. Though, there is some internal optimism about the development of Emory Williams.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders love backup quarterback Will Hammond, but he tore his ACL in late October. Given that there’s no guarantee of him being ready for next season, Texas Tech is expected to go after a starter-quality passer in the portal. Money tends to be no object in Lubbock.

Indiana: Indiana’s made the playoff in back-to-back years with a transfer quarterback, and it will try to do so a third time in 2026. Expect Indiana to go and get a guy to replace Fernando Mendoza.

LSU: Could it just end up being Trinidad Chambliss? That’s certainly possible if he can secure a waiver. Either way, the Tigers are expected to be in the portal market for a high-level starter, and Lane Kiffin makes the Tigers a super attractive option.

Florida State: There had been some thought that Tommy Castellanos could qualify for an additional season of college football via a waiver. It could still happen, but there’s a good chance of Florida State hopping into the high-end portal quarterback market either way.

That top of the market could grow, too, depending on a few big quarterback decisions. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore could end up going to the draft which would mean Oregon jumping into the fray. The tenor around his situation has shifted in recent weeks with industry sources now considering the NFL a more likely option for Moore.

Auburn will have a decision to make about its 2026 signal-caller. Deuce Knight is a potential superstar and seems to be an ideal on-paper fit for Golesh’s system. Knight has also started just one game. I would expect the Tigers to pursue an experienced option.

Clemson, believe it or not, is also a team to watch in the quarterback market. The Tigers have indicated to agents that quarterback is a potential need this cycle as they replace Cade Klubnik. Whether that’s a high-end starter or someone to compete with Christopher Vizzina remains to be seen.

There are also a lot of other teams expected to go get a guy. Illinois, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Baylor will all likely need starting arms, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech had three members of its football staff recognized by the website FootballScoop.com Monday as Zarnell Fitch was named the publication’s Defensive Line Coach of the Year, while Shiel Wood and C.J. Ah You shared top honors for linebackers.

In total, Texas Tech has claimed three of FootballScoop’s annual coaching awards as Kenny Perry was previously named the Special Teams Coordinator of the Year last week. Wood was also a finalist for the top defensive coordinator in the country for his role in leading one of the top defensive turnarounds in recent history. He is also a finalist this season for the prestigious Broyles Award, which is presented to the nation’s top assistant coach. Fitch was previously a finalist for National Defensive Line Coach of the Year by FootballScoop while at TCU in 2017.  

Texas Tech enters the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl as one of the nation’s top defenses, ranking third in the FBS for scoring at 10.9 points allowed per game and fifth for total defense after giving up only 254.4 yards a contest to this point. The Red Raiders are on pace to record the largest year-to-year improvement in both categories for an FBS team since 2000 after cutting their scoring average by 23.9 points a game from 2024 as well their yards surrendered by an average of 207.1 yards a contest.

Texas Tech is also the FBS leader with 31 takeaways this season thanks in part to one of Wood’s mainstays at linebacker in Jacob Rodriguez. The winner of multiple national awards already, Rodriguez finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting after becoming the first player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions in the same season. He contributed to nine takeaways during Big 12 play alone to lead a Red Raider defense that is also the FBS leader at only 68.5 rushing yards allowed per game.

In addition, Texas Tech’s defensive line under Fitch and outside linebacker room under Ah You have been able to get to the quarterback at near record numbers this season to rank among the top defensive fronts in college football. The Red Raiders enter bowl season with 39.0 sacks and 96.0 tackles for loss on the season, ranking fourth in the FBS for both categories.

David Bailey currently ranks second in the FBS with 13.5 sacks this season, earning him first team All-America honors alongside Rodriguez by the Walter Camp Foundation and Associated Press. Defensive linemen A.J. Holmes Jr. and Lee Hunter were also recognized as second and third team All-America selections, respectively, by the Associated Press after helping lead a Red Raider defense that is the highest-graded unit in college football by Pro Football Focus (96.9). Texas Tech is also the publication’s highest-rated defense against the run (96.4) and in pass-rush opportunities (92.1).

Texas Tech have held five of its last six opponents to at least single digits for points en route to a 12-1 record and its first Big 12 title, snapping the single-season school record for wins in the process. The Red Raiders will make their College Football Playoff debut on New Year’s Day against either No. 5 Oregon or No. 12 seed James Madision in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Might be time to give the old LinkedIn profile an update, TJ.

PublishedDecember 15, 2025 8:20 PM EST•UpdatedDecember 15, 2025 8:00 PM EST

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I’m sure some of you are sick of me beating this dead horse by now of college football not being what it once was, and sometimes I catch myself thinking, “You know, it isn’t that bad.”

Sure, the transfer portal and NIL have gotten a little out of hand and bowl season is basically a relic of a bygone era, but it’s still my favorite sport by a long shot, so what do I have to complain about?

Then news like this drops, and I go right back to questioning my love for this sport and my passion for college athletics in general.

Oh brother! Is this guy serious? Does that REALLY say seventh year of eligibility?

If you’re a college football fan, a guy like TJ Finley really needs no introduction.

About a million years ago, Finley was a fairly highly touted high school quarterback with offers from every power program imaginable.

He decided to go to LSU and the thought was he would keep the gravy train rolling along in Baton Rouge after Joe Burrow had won them a national championship the year prior.

Yes, that’s how long Finley has been in college.

For some added context, Finley played college football around the same time Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, and Spencer Rattler were still in school.

Anthony Richardson was in TJ Finley’s recruiting class, and that dude is coming up on three full years in the NFL.

Six teams later, and Finley is looking for lucky number seven to match the amount of years he’s been on a college campus.

Van Wilder would blush at these numbers. Hey, TJ, it might be time to focus less on the transfer portal and more on your LinkedIn profile.

Get a job, my guy!

Many of the fine folks on X have echoed a similar sentiment.

Then again, it’s not Finley’s fault. He’s just taking advantage of a broken system.

How about this, NCAA? If a guy is old enough to legally rent a car, he probably shouldn’t be playing college football.

Until that rule is fixed though, I guess TJ Finley should do everything he can to soak up some more NIL dollars and bask in the glow of being the big man on campus.

Trust me, man. The real world comes at you fast after college.

The 2025 College Football Playoff field has settled into a 12-team bracket with Indiana (13-0), Ohio State (12-1), and Georgia (12-1) occupying the top seeds and a strong mix of Power Five contenders below them.

Other programs include No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma, who will meet Friday night in Norman, along with No. 10 Miami (set to face No. 7 Texas A&M), No. 6 Ole Miss (matching up with No. 11 Tulane), and No. 5 Oregon (to play No. 12 James Madison).

Interestingly, three teams featured in the CFP bracket are also reportedly in the mix for the class of 2027’s top-ranked running back, Kemon Spell.

Spell recently told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that his recruitment is officially down to five finalists: Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, USC, and Notre Dame.

Spell, listed at 5-10, 210 lbs, is the consensus No. 1 running back in the 2027 cycle across major services and a top-10 overall prospect on industry composites. 

He exploded onto the national radar as a younger prospect, recording a breakout 2024 sophomore campaign in which he rushed for 1681 yards and 24 TDs on 157 carries (10.7 yards per carry).

He verbally committed to Penn State in August 2024 but decommitted after Penn State’s dismissal of James Franklin in October 2025, reopening a wide national scramble. 

Multiple outlets and evaluators now list him as a top prize for contenders across the Big Ten, SEC, and independent power programs. 

Spell reportedly told Fawcett that he plans to take official visits to each before deciding.

For CFP contenders, a back like Spell helps sustain drives, convert third downs, and control the clock in pivotal late-season or championship matchups.

With no clear decision timeline, Spell’s eventual choice could meaningfully shift recruiting momentum, and each program’s postseason run could influence the outcome.

However, despite not being in the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame can point to RB Jeremiyah Love’s Heisman-caliber season as tangible proof of its ability to develop elite running backs, a factor that could carry weight with the class of 2027’s top recruit.

Read More at College Football HQ

• Jim Harbaugh issues statement on Sherrone Moore’s firing from Michigan

• $64.5 million college football coach among top candidates to replace Sherrone Moore at Michigan

• College football QB enters transfer portal after 3,000-yard season

• $3 million college football QB benefits from head coach firing: per Insider

Data provided by Student Athlete Score

(Dec. 15th, 2025) — From Power Five basketball programs to Olympic sports and emerging brand partnerships, last week’s NIL activity underscored just how broad and sophisticated the athlete economy has become. This edition of the NIL Deals Recap features men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball, gymnastics, and track & field athletes partnering with national brands like C4 Energy, Motorola, SONIC Drive-In, MET-Rx, and DripDrop. As schools like Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU continue to generate consistent NIL momentum, these deals highlight how brands are strategically activating across sports, markets, and athlete profiles.