Transfer portal rankings 2026: Updated list of top college football players by position, from DJ Lagway to Dylan Raiola originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

College football recruiting never stops, and that’s true even in 2026. One of the biggest tools coaches use to build their respective rosters is the transfer portal.

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Thanks to players having immediate eligibility when entering the portal, football rosters are now built by utilizing both the portal and traditional recruiting classes.

This year’s college football transfer portal is a bit different from last year’s. Starting in 2026, the winter transfer portal window opens Jan. 2 and runs for two weeks through Jan. 16. That is a change from recent years, during which the portal window opened in early December. The move to January allows players to enroll in spring classes on time at their new schools.

Another change to the portal window is that there was previously a spring window, but the NCAA has done away with it entirely. So if players want to go to a new school, this window is their only opportunity to do so.

So who are the biggest names to enter the portal so far? Here’s a look at the top players to enter the portal and a breakdown of the biggest names by position.

MORE: List of QBs headed to the portal in 2026

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Transfer portal rankings 2026: Top players available

Florida QB DJ Lagway

Although some suspected DJ Lagway would stay on with new head coach Jon Sumrall coming to Gainesville, he is expected to enter the portal. The former five-star quarterback prospect from Willis, Texas had a solid true freshman season in 2024, throwing for 1,915 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. But he regressed in 2025, throwing for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, which led the SEC.

With a fresh start elsewhere, he could immediately elevate a roster, assuming his turnover issues can be fixed. Expect some Texas schools to potentially be in the mix for Lagway.

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Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer

Ethan Grunkemeyer spent the 2024 season backing up Drew Allar, and started his 2025 season doing the same. But Allar tore his ACL midseason, and Grunkemeyer threw for 1,339 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. As a redshirt sophomore in 2026, he will have at least three years of eligibility.

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola

Nebraska signal-caller Dylan Raiola threw for 4,819 yards with 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over two seasons. His 2025 season was cut short in early November after he suffered a broken fibula.

Raiola, the former five-star quarterback prospect from Buford, Georgia was a longtime UGA commit before flipping late to Nebraska. Raiola would have to compete for the starting job with Gunnar Stockton, in Athens, however.

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JMU QB Alonza Barnett II

Alonza Barnett helped lead the James Madison Dukes to a historic CFP berth in 2025, helped by his 2,806 yards passing with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added another 589 yards with 15 touchdowns on the ground.

Barnett, from Greensboro, N.C., will be a welcomed addition to a power-conference school in need of a dual-threat quarterback.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

This is Sam Leavitt’s second time in the portal, transferring from Michigan State to ASU before the 2024 season. Although he helped lead the Sun Devils to a first-ever CFP berth last season, his numbers regressed in 2025, as he dealt with injuries. His season was ultimately cut short after a season-ending foot injury in late October. 

MORE: Explaining the sometimes strange bond linking Dylan Raiola to Patrick Mahomes

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Transfer portal rankings 2026 by position

Other notable names expected to enter the portal include Texas running back CJ Baxter, Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards, Auburn receiver Cam Coleman, Colorado receiver Omarion Miller, and Louisville defensive lineman AJ Green.

Quarterback 

2. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

Wide Receiver 

Running Backs 

2. Dylan Edwards, Kansas State

Tight End 

Offensive lineman

Defensive linemen

EDGE rushers

Linebackers

Defensive backs 

Kickers/punters 

The NCAA transfer portal officially opened for all college football players on Friday. It is open for a two-week window that runs until Jan. 16.

Of the thousands of players across college football who have decided to enter the transfer portal, the quarterbacks have dominated the headlines in the weeks following the end of the regular season. Several Power Four quarterbacks are on the move, but multiple Group of Five quarterbacks are looking to increase their national exposure in 2026.

One of the Group of Five quarterbacks who has entered the portal is former East Carolina starter Katin Houser. He will have one season of eligibility remaining at his third school.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder started his college football career with Mel Tucker at Michigan State in 2022. He appeared in a blowout victory against Akron, completing a two-yard pass and rushing for 13 yards.

Houser appeared in 11 of the Spartans’ 12 games in 2023. He finished the season with 1,130 passing yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. Michigan State fired Tucker with cause in the middle of the 2023 season, and Houser transferred out the following offseason.

East Carolina acquired Houser from the portal to start the 2024 season. Houser played in only nine games while recovering from a wrist fracture, passing for 2,006 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, and rushing for 170 yards and four touchdowns.

Houser started the entirety of the 2025 regular season for the Pirates. He threw for 3,300 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for 181 yards and nine touchdowns.

While Houser is not receiving quite the level of attention as some Power Four quarterbacks on the move, there are still Power Four schools with an interest in him. Pete Nakos of On3 reported that two schools are eyeing Houser as a potential starter out of the portal.

Arkansas

A coaching change from Sam Pittman to Ryan Silverfield will see Arkansas lose and gain considerable numbers of players in the 2026 portal cycle. At quarterback, Taylen Green’s eligibility has expired, and Trever Jackson and Grayson Wilson have both entered the portal.

There still remains a possibility that 2025 second-stringer KJ Jackson enters the transfer portal, and Houser could slide into the starting role. Even if Jackson stays, Houser’s experience could likely open up a competition for the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback role next season.

Illinois

Transfer quarterback acquisitions have been crucial in Illinois’ rise during Bret Bielema’s tenure. Brandon Peters (Michigan), Artur Sitkowski (Rutgers) and Tommy DeVito (Syracuse) were all featured in Bielema’s first two seasons. Luke Altmyer (Ole Miss) just finished a three-season run as the Fighting Illini’s starter.

Altmyer will not be the only loss for Illinois at quarterback, as Ethan Hampton’s eligibility is set to expire after five seasons of college football. Houser’s competition for the starting job at Illinois would be very unproven should he choose to transfer there.

With thousands of players around the country entering their names in the college football transfer portal over the past couple of days, one individual’s journey certainly stands out from the rest.

Former four-star recruit and Florida signee, Jaden Rashada, was once ranked as the No. 73 player in the country and the No. 6 quarterback in the class of 2023.

However, after an NIL deal worth a reported $13 million fell apart, Rashada’s career took its first of many turns. In May of 2024, Rashada opted to sue former Florida coach Billy Napier and a donor, alleging they defrauded him out of over $13 million.

Rather than playing for Florida, Rashada started his career at Arizona State. In Tempe, Rashada threw for 485 yards with four touchdowns and three picks across three games before an injury ended his season.

Rashada then opted to transfer to Georgia for the 2024 season, where he sat behind Carson Beck and Gunner Stockton, never making an appearance.

Looking for a more straightforward path into the field, Rashada transferred to Sacramento State before this season to play for first-year head coach Brennan Marion. Rashada opened the year as the starter, but ended up suffering an undisclosed injury and being replaced by Cardell Williams.

On Saturday, On3 confirmed that Rashada will be looking for his fourth program, as the 2023 class of quarterbacks continues to be one of the most well-traveled.

“Sacramento State QB Jaden Rashada plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, reports,” wrote On3 on X.

Using On3’s recruiting rankings, Texas signal-caller Arch Manning and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed are the only two quarterbacks from that class who ranked within the top-20 who have not transferred or entered their names into the NCAA transfer portal.

Being that Rashada has been a relative miss at each of his stops, it is unclear what kind of market he will attract. It seems his best opportunity to be a starter would be to remain at the FCS level or transfer to a Group of 5 program that needs a quarterback.

There is also a scenario where he essentially signs up to be a backup and follows Marion to Colorado, as the now-former Sac State head coach accepted an offer to be the offensive coordinator for Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes.

As a recruit, Rashada held offers from programs such as Cal, Ole Miss, Miami, Oregon, UCLA and Colorado, among others.

One of the highest-ranked wide receivers in the college football transfer portal is already attracting notable interest from a trio of elite programs heading into the 2026 offseason.

Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh has been connected to three different college football programs as he scouts a new school, and has some notable visits scheduled as he looks for a new school, according to multiple reports.

What schools are in contention? The best team in the country is said to be interested, as is the team that played for the national title a year ago, and an SEC blue blood that just made a major coaching change.

Who’s in the mix for Nick Marsh?

Notre Dame first emerged as a candidate for Marsh coming into the portal, and the wide receiver is reported to be on campus for a visit with the Fighting Irish, according to 247Sports’ Allen Trieu.

Wide receiver is believed to be a position of considerable need for Notre Dame coming into this offseason.

While the Irish bring back some solid talent at wideout, the departure into the draft of team-leading pass catcher Malachi Fields, himself a transfer from Virginia this past year, will put a serious dent into Notre Dame’s returning receiving production.

Marcus Freeman signed a new extension to remain the head coach at Notre Dame amid rumors that he was being considered for an NFL position, but he’ll face some stiff competition for Marsh.

No. 1 team also involved

Even as the undefeated Hoosiers continue to embark on an historic season, they’re getting an early start on the transfer portal market, and are said to be in the mix for Marsh ahead of next season, according to Trieu.

Indiana is scouting at least one wide receiver and potentially two as it prepares to lose Elijah Sarratt, E.J. Williams, Jr., and Jonathan Brady, and Omar Cooper may consider entering the NFL Draft, as well.

Most of Indiana’s focus in the portal may be at the quarterback position as it’s expected Fernando Mendoza is preparing to enter the NFL Draft, and the school has already been connected to highly-considered transfers.

SEC powerhouse in the mix

After undergoing the most consequential regime change in college football this cycle, Lane Kiffin and LSU are also in consideration for Marsh out of the portal, according to On3.

Current reporting has not indicated that Marsh has a visit set with Kiffin and the Tigers, but they emerged as a potential school to watch that will express interest in the wide receiver.

LSU is about to lose Barion Brown, Chris Hilton, and Zavion Thomas at wide receiver, and target Aaron Anderson has elected to decline his final year of NCAA eligibility.

In addition to those losses, slot receiver Kyle Parker told On3 Sports that he intends to enter the transfer portal, a considerable loss for LSU’s receiving rotation.

Kiffin and LSU are prepared to marshal their donors to invest some serious money in whatever skill players they can bring on, according to insiders.

Highly-regarded player

Since his intention to enter the college football transfer portal became public knowledge, analysts were quick to rate him as one of the most important players at his position.

Marsh is currently listed as the No. 6 overall ranked wide receiver in the 2026 NCAA transfer portal cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite.

The former Spartans pass catcher is regarded even more by On3 Sports analysts, who rank him as the fourth-best player at the position in the current transfer class.

Two productive seasons

Marsh is coming off a personal-best effort this past season, catching 59 passes for 662 yards with six receiving touchdowns while averaging 11.2 yards per reception.

He led the team in catches, yards, and touchdown catches this fall, finishing with multiple receptions in 12 games and was named an honorable All-Big Ten selection by coaches and the media.

A year ago, the Detroit native had 41 catches for 649 yards and three touchdowns, averaging just under 16 yards per catch.

In the last two seasons, Marsh has 100 receptions for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns.

Read more from College Football HQ

Former Virginia starter Anthony Colandrea told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on December 26 that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens at midnight on Friday, January 2, following a career-best season at UNLV.

In his breakout year leading the Rebels, Colandrea threw for 3,459 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also adding 127 carries for 649 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores.

His play earned him Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and All-Mountain West recognition as UNLV posted a 10-4 record, including a 6-2 mark in conference play under first-year head coach Dan Mullen.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Colandrea began his collegiate career at Virginia, where he started games as a freshman in 2023 and remained a key contributor during the 2024 season before transferring to UNLV ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Before committing to Virginia, Colandrea was a three-star recruit and the No. 72 quarterback in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the 2023 class out of Lakewood High School, choosing the Cavaliers over offers from Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, South Florida, and Florida Atlantic.

Now one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks on the transfer market (1,151 rushing yards across three seasons), Colandrea has already drawn interest from multiple programs, with On3’s Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong naming Tennessee and Florida State on Friday as early teams to watch.

With Tennessee, Colandrea would gain immediate SEC exposure, a higher level of competition, and a program in search of an experienced quarterback who can stabilize the offense and win quickly.

The Vols finished 8-5 overall and 4-4 in SEC play in 2025, marking the program’s lowest win total since 2021, and the quarterback situation remains uncertain as senior starter Joey Aguilar weighs his options. 

Florida State, meanwhile, is a program that values athletic, pro-style dual-threat quarterbacks and offers significant national visibility, along with a track record of recent success under head coach Mike Norvell. 

Norvell was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading the Seminoles to an undefeated 13-0 regular season and an Orange Bowl appearance.

In both cases, the combination of a potential starting opportunity, stronger supporting talent, and increased visibility represents the primary upside compared with remaining at UNLV. 

The NCAA transfer window will run from January 2 through January 16. 

While there is no firm public timeline for a commitment, recruiting and visit activity typically accelerates immediately after the portal opens, with teams often moving to secure transfers within days or a few weeks.

Read More at College Football HQ

• 4,000-yard QB linked to two major college football programs in transfer portal

• Two college football programs going ‘head-to-head’ to land $2.4 million QB

• No. 1 transfer portal QB heavily linked to three major college football programs

• Two unexpected college football teams emerge as contenders for $2 million QB

Transferring from Texas to Oklahoma should be considered a war crime.

PublishedJanuary 3, 2026 4:18 PM EST•UpdatedJanuary 3, 2026 4:18 PM EST

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I’ve been bemoaning the slow death of college football as we all know it for a long time now, certainly longer than I have been at OutKick.

Every time I think we have hit rock bottom, something else happens that makes me reevaluate just how much further the sport I love so dearly has yet to fall.

With the insanity of an unregulated transfer system and NIL in place, college football looks unrecognizable to what it used to be even a decade ago.

RELATED: Transfer Portal A Circus Before It Even Opened

Something else that’s really stuck in my craw lately is the rapidly diminishing importance of rivalry games.

We all know about USC and Notre Dame canceling their annual series, or the Big Ten implementing a nonsensical “rivalry” series between a bunch of schools that have next to no historical or geographical basis of hatred, but the transfer portal has offered a new way to make rivalries nearly meaningless.

With this year’s transfer portal less than two days old, players are already lining up their visits to their next potential school, and a few visits have raised my (and several others’) eybrow.

What are we even doing here, folks?

Look, I can reluctantly admit that kids should be allowed to transfer wherever they want, although I still think, barring extenuating circumstances, they should have to sit for a year, but this is insane.

DJ Lagway was smoking a celebratory cigar in the FSU locker room after blowing them out in Doak Campbell a little over a year ago, and now he’s viewing them as a potential landing spot?

Meanwhile, you have a guy like Longhorns wide receiver Parker Livingstone transferring to Texas’ most hated rival, the Oklahoma Sooners?

Florida and Florida State hate each other, as do Texas and Oklahoma, so all of this just feels gross.

It’s nothing new, either.

Another Florida player, running back Trevor Etienne, famously transferred to Georgia before the start of the 2024 season, but it just feels like it’s becoming more frequent.

I remember how big of a deal it was when Brock Berlin transferred from the Gators to the Miami Hurricanes and then beat his former team the following year.

Berlin was seen as Judas in Gainesville, but now he is considered just another casualty of the portal era of college football.

I miss when rivalries used to mean something to the players, not just the fans.

It makes college football feel less personal, which was one of the things that distinguished it from the NFL.

I want my rivalries to mean something. I want my college football back.