9 best transfers in college football for 2026
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The transfer portal has become one of the quickest ways for college football teams to improve. A single transfer can solve a glaring weakness, help a struggling program get back on track or turn a strong team into a serious national championship contender. That was clear during the 2026 transfer cycle.
Several of college football’s biggest stars changed schools after standout seasons. A few reunited with coaches at their new programs, while some secured record-breaking NIL deals showing their worth. These moves were about much more than adding talent. They shifted the balance of power, giving teams a much better chance of reaching the College Football Playoff.
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Quarterbacks make up much of this year’s list because they can transform an offense almost immediately. But many offensive tackles, pass rushers and skill-position players also found new homes. Their arrivals filled crucial needs and gave coaches proven talent, rather than waiting for younger players to develop.
So, let’s have a look at the nine biggest college football transfers for the 2026 season.
9. Josh Hoover, QB (TCU to Indiana)
Josh Hoover gives Indiana one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the Big Ten. The former TCU star entered the portal with a strong 247Sports transfer rating of 0.9400 after previously throwing for more than 4,000 yards.
Indiana needed a proven replacement for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, and head coach Curt Cignetti found exactly that. Hoover brings experience, leadership and the ability to carry an offense through the air. His arrival raises the ceiling for the defending national champion Hoosiers. It also gives Indiana a much better chance to compete in high-scoring Big Ten games.
8. Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE (Ole Miss to LSU)
LSU wanted more consistency on defense, and Princewill Umanmielen checks every box. The former Ole Miss EDGE has been one of the most reliable pass rushers in college football.
Umanmielen followed head coach Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU after recording nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his only season for the Rebels.
Unlike many edge rushers, he stays on the field in every situation. That makes him a valuable three-down defender. LSU should benefit from his ability to pressure quarterbacks while holding up against the run.
7. Darian Mensah, QB (Duke to Miami)
Darian Mensah made one of the biggest moves of the portal cycle. After leading Duke to its first outright ACC title since 1962, he left the program despite a reported $8 million extension offer. Instead, he chose ACC rival Miami.
Mensah already knows how to win tough games. He has focused on improving his mechanics while working with Miami before the season. That experience should help him settle into the offense easily. His arrival turns the Hurricanes into one of the strongest CFP contenders in the country after Miami advanced to the title game in 2025 behind departed QB Carson Beck.
6. Damon Wilson II, EDGE (Missouri to Miami)
Miami also landed a major defensive upgrade by adding Damon Wilson II. The former five-star recruit finally broke through at Missouri during the 2025 season.
Wilson finished with 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 54 quarterback pressures. Those numbers made him one of the top EDGES in the portal.
Miami needed pass-rushing help after losing Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain, who combined for 22 sacks last season. Wilson fills that gap immediately. Alongside Marquise Lightfoot, he gives defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman a dangerous EDGE duo.
5. Cam Cook, RB (Jacksonville State to West Virginia)
Cam Cook had a huge season at Jacksonville State in 2025. He led the nation with 1,659 rushing yards, averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 16 rushing touchdowns. His outstanding season earned him Conference USA Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors, making him one of the top players in the transfer portal.
Before that, Cook spent two seasons at TCU, where he showed potential but never became a consistent star. In 2024, he led the Horned Frogs with 460 rushing yards and nine touchdowns but averaged just 3.9 yards per carry. Now, he’s back in the Big 12 after transferring to West Virginia, where he’ll be a key part of Rich Rodriguez’s run-first offense.
The biggest question is whether Cook can carry over the success he had at Jacksonville State or if he’ll struggle again.
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4. Drew Mestemaker, QB (North Texas to Oklahoma State)
Drew Mestemaker moved from North Texas to Oklahoma State after the former walk-on enjoyed one of the best seasons in the country.
He led the entire FBS with 4,379 passing yards while throwing 32 touchdown passes and averaging 9.46 yards per attempt. Along the way, he won the Burlsworth Trophy and earned American Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Oklahoma State finished 1-11 last season before hiring Eric Morris, Mestemaker’s coach at North Texas, as head coach. Mestemaker now becomes the face of the rebuild. His production and familiarity with Morris’ system should give the Cowboys one of the most explosive passing attacks in the Big 12.
3. Sam Leavitt, QB (Arizona State to LSU)
Sam Leavitt arrived at LSU as one of the highest-rated players in the portal. Reports also say he secured a $6 million NIL deal during the move.
Leavitt led Arizona State to a Big 12 crown and the CFP in 2024 before a foot injury limited him to seven games in 2025. His biggest strength is playmaking. Leavitt can escape pressure and create big plays with both his arm and his legs. Although his clean-pocket passing numbers still need work, LSU believes his athletic ability can change games.
Adding left tackle Jordan Seaton from Colorado to protect him only makes the move more valuable. Together, they give LSU a real chance to compete for an SEC title and a CFP spot.
2. Cam Coleman, WR (Auburn to Texas)
Cam Coleman gives Texas the elite outside receiver it needed.
The 6-foot-3, 201-pound playmaker reportedly landed an NIL deal worth at least $3 million. Texas struggled with deep passing and drops last season. Coleman addresses both issues.
His size, strength and improved physique make him a dangerous target on the outside. Pairing him with quarterback Arch Manning gives Texas one of the best passing combinations in the country and strengthens the Longhorns’ push for the SEC title.
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1. Jordan Seaton, OT (Colorado to LSU)
Jordan Seaton tops the list because good offensive tackles are hard to find, and LSU landed the best one available.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound lineman started all 13 games as a true freshman at Colorado in 2024 and earned Freshman All-American honors. A lower-body injury limited him to nine games in 2025, but he still received All-Big 12 second-team recognition.
LSU reportedly signed Seaton to a record-breaking NIL deal worth more than $4 million, the biggest ever for an offensive lineman. That investment shows how important he is to the Tigers’ plans.
His arrival gives LSU the blindside protector needed for new quarterback Leavitt. More importantly, it upgrades the offensive line to a championship-level unit. No transfer is expected to have a bigger impact on the 2026 season than Seaton.
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