Ranking top transfer portal QBs, including Brendan Sorsby, Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway
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Ranking top transfer portal QBs, including Brendan Sorsby, Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The transfer portal is open, and that means the quarterback shuffle begins.
How many quarterbacks will switch FBS schools from Jan. 2-16? It's shaping up to be a massive shuffle at the most important position. How much does it matter?
The last four Heisman Trophy winners were transfers – including three quarterbacks in Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (2025), LSU's Jayden Daniels (2023) and USC's Caleb Williams (2022). Five of the eight quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round were transfer quarterbacks – and as many as five of those teams could be looking for a new QB in 2025.
Two five-star quarterbacks from the class of 2024 – Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway – are among the most notable players switching teams in this cycle, but they are not the highest-ranked QBs in our rankings.
A look at our transfer portal QB rankings, which are subject to change over the next 15 days.
SN AWARDS: 2025 All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
1. Brendan Sorsby
2026 eligibility: Fifth-year senior
2025 stats at Cincinnati: 2,800 yards, 27 TDs, 5 INTs
Sorsby – a two-time transfer who also played at Indiana – had a breakout season for the Bearcats. He averaged 48.3 rushing yards and had nine rushing TDs this season. Sorsby ranked 21st in the FBS with a 155.2 passer rating – and that included a 128.4 mark against ranked teams. That experience would pay off for a playoff contender.
Landing spot? Sorsby landed with Texas Tech, and that makes sense. Sorsby is a Dallas native who played at Lake Dallas High School. That also keeps Sorsby in the Big 12, where he will be expected to lead the Red Raiders back to the College Football Playoff.
2. Dylan Raiola
2026 eligibility: Junior
2025 stats at Nebraska: 2,000 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs
Raiola was a five-star prospect in the class of 2024 – and there is high upside with his potential in the right offense. He took 27 sacks this season at Nebraska, but he's solid in the intermediate passing game (60.4% on throws between 11-20 yards according to Pro Football Focus). Raiola also had 16 TDs and four interceptions with a clean pocket. We like the upside with a new fit.
Landing spot? Raiola committed to Oregon, which could be a sign Dante Moore declares for the 2026 NFL Draft. What if Moore stays?
3. Sam Leavitt
2026 eligibility: Redshirt junior
2025 stats at Arizona State: 1,628 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs
Leavitt led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman, and he is 16-4 as a starter the last two seasons. He averaged 371.5 rushing yards and five rushing TDs each of the last two seasons, but he suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2025. According to PFF, Leavitt had a 40% completion percentage on passes of more than 10 yards this season.
Landing spot?Leavitt landed with LSU and is in line to be the starting quarterback for first-year coach Lane Kiffin. Given Kiffin's track record with QBs, Leavitt should be in line for success in the SEC.
4. Byrum Brown
2026 eligibility: Fifth-year senior
2025 stats at USF: 3,158 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs
Brown led the nation in total offense with 347.2 yards per game. He averaged 268.5 passing yards in the matchups with Florida and Miami – which proved he can play against Power 4 competition. He also had 1,008 rushing yards and 14 TDs. It will be a jump to play in a major conference, but Brown will bring experience to the position for one season.
Landing spot?Brown committed to Auburn. A reunion with Alex Golesh at Auburn makes the most sense and seems to be picking up steam, especially with Jackson Arnold and Deuce Knight in the transfer portal.
5. Josh Hoover
2026 eligibility: Fifth-year senior
2025 stats at TCU: 3,472 yards, 29 TDs, 13 INTs
Hoover also could declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. He averaged 3,711 passing yards, 28 TDs and 12 interceptions the last two seasons for TCU. Hoover has 17 TDs and eight interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more the last two seasons, according to PFF. Hoover has only played against two ranked teams the last two seasons – and he averaged 251 yards with two TDs and five interceptions in those games.
Landing spot? Hoover transferred to Indiana, which is a logical fit for the veteran quarterback. Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza have thrived under Curt Cignetti as first-year transfers, and Hoover would likely see an increase in production in the down-field passing game.
6. Drew Mestemaker
2026 eligibility: Redshirt sophomore
2025 stats at North Texas: 4,379 yards, 34 TDs, 9 INTs
Mestemaker – a 6-foot-4, 211-pound quarterback – thrived in Eric Morris’ offense and had a 62.5% completion percentage against the blitz. He had a 63.8% completion percentage with four TDs and six interceptions against ranked teams.
Landing spot: Mestemaker is following Morris to Oklahoma State and has committed to the Cowboys. This was an expected move, and Mestemaker should be able to have success in the Big 12, even if there will be a learning curve in Year 1.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
7. DJ Lagway
2026 eligibility: Junior
2025 stats at Florida: 2,264 yards, 16 TDs, 14 INTs
Lagway struggled with interceptions at Florida. He was up against a brutal schedule this season. Of those 14 interceptions, 11 were in a clean pocket. Lagway needs to improve on that at the next stop, but there is talent and experience if he cleans that up.
Landing spot? Lagway is still taking visits, and the last one was at Baylor. Lagway is a Willis, Texas, native, and the Bears were in on his recruitment. He could have a resurgence in that offense.
8. Deuce Knight
2026 eligibility: Redshirt freshman
2025 stats at Auburn: 259 yards, 2 TDs
Knight was the No. 6 quarterback in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports.com. He made one start this season at Auburn, and he had 289 passing yards, 162 rushing yards and four total TDs against Mercer. The 6-foot-4, 217-pound quarterback has a high upside in the right offense, and he could be a star for multiple seasons depending on the landing spot.
Landing spot?Knight committed to Ole Miss, where he could be the starter in 2026. Trinidad Chambliss is suing the NCAA, which did not grant him a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility.
9. Rocco Becht
2026 eligibility: Fifth-year senior
2025 stats at Iowa State: 2,584 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs
Becht – a three-year starter – had a 24-12 record with Iowa State. The Cyclones lost receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins to the 2025 NFL Draft, and that impacted Becht this season. Becht struggled with interceptions in the second half of the season, but he remains a solid option in the portal given his experience.
Landing spot? Becht followed Iowa State coach Matt Campbell to Penn State and gives the Nittany Lions a veteran quarterback to make the transition with. Becht has 64 TDs and 27 interceptions in his career. Becht is one of 16 Cyclones headed to State College.
BENDER: Will Matt Campbell do better than James Franklin at Penn State?
10. Alonza Barnett III
2026 eligibility: Fifth-year senior
2025 stats at James Madison: 2,806 yards, 23 TDs, 8 INTs
Barnett is one of the most dynamic players in the portal. He led James Madison to the College Football Playoff, and he added 589 rushing yards and six TDs. He had 273 passing yards, 45 rushing yards and three total TDs in the 51-34 loss to No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff.
Landing spot?Barnett committed to UCF, which gives second-year coach Scott Frost an interesting QB to build around. Frost's first tenure at UCF was successful because of quarterback McKenzie Milton. Could Barnett provide that kind of boost?
Ed Zurga/Getty Images
11. Beau Pribula
2026 eligibility: Fifth-year senior
2025 stats at Missouri: 1,941 yards, 11 TDs, 9 INTs
Pribula had success in his first season as a starter at Missouri. He is a mobile threat who had a 6-2 record as a starter, but he had ups and downs against ranked teams. Pribula had a 105.5 passer rating, two TDs and four interceptions in those games.
Landing spot?Pribula committed to Virginia, where he will have a chance to start for the Cavaliers. Will he have the same success as Chandler Morris?
12. Colton Joseph
2026 eligibility: Redshirt junior
2025 stats at Old Dominion: 2,624 yards, 21 TDs, 10 INTs
Joseph had 1,007 rushing yards and 13 TDs for Old Dominion this season and was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. He's a dual-threat talent who had 179 rushing yards and two TDs in the season-opener for Indiana. Will he be able to make the jump to stardom at Power 4 school in one season?
Landing spot?Joseph landed with Wisconsin, where he becomes an intriguing fit with coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers have total 23 TDs and 23 interceptions the last two seasons. Joseph could be a sleeper QB in the Big Ten.
DECOURCY: Marcus Freeman's return to ND a win for college football
13. Aaron Philo
2026 eligibility: Redshirt sophomore
2025 stats at Georgia Tech: 373 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Philo was the presumed successor to Haynes King after backing him up the past two seasons. He saw action in five games as a true freshman but was more limited as a sophomore as King stayed healthy. Philo is a skilled runner who broke Trevor Lawrence's Georgia state high school record for passing yards.
Landing spot?Philo landed with Florida and Buster Faulkner, his offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech who joined Jon Sumrall's staff. With Lagway in the portal, Florida is in need of a QB, and Philo could be ready to compete for a starting job.
14. Aidan Chiles
2026 eligibility: Senior
2025 stats at Michigan State: 1,392 passing yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs
Chiles was a highly-recruited quarterback at Oregon State, but it did not pan out the last two seasons with the Spartans. He's 8-12 as a starter. Chiles is a boom-or-bust on deep passes – he was 10 of 33 on passes of 20 yards or more for 344 yards, four TDs and no interceptions, according to PFF. There is talent – but will he find the right spot to unlock it?
Landing spot? Chiles signed with Northwestern, where he is paired with David Braun and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. That should lead to an increase in production.
15. Jackson Arnold
2026 eligibility: Senior
2025 stats at Auburn: 1,309 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs
Jackson does have a five-star pedigree, but he could not make it work at either Oklahoma or Auburn. He has taken 64 sacks the past two seasons. For all those sacks, however, he has just two interceptions while under pressure the last two seasons, according to PFF.
Landing spot? Arnold has not committed to a school yet. West Virginia is among the schools listed by Pro Football Network, and a move back to the Big 12 could jump-start Arnold's career and help Rich Rodriguez get the Mountaineers back on track. Mountaineers quarterbacks combined for 10 TDs and 11 interceptions in 2025.
16. Kenny Minchey
2026 eligibility: Redshirt junior
2025 stats at Notre Dame: 196 passing yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
The former four-star backed up Sam Hauser, Riley Leonard and CJ Carr at Notre Dame the last three years. Minchey and Carr had a tight battle in fall camp. Minchey offers mobility and a good arm but has yet to get significant experience.
Landing spot?Minchey committed to Nebraska out of the portal, but then flipped to Kentucky. He will have a chance to compete for a starting job right away. Minchey has just 29 pass attempts for his career, but it comes with a 79.3% completion percentage.
17. Lincoln Kienholz
2026 eligibility: Senior
2025 stats: 139 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
Kienholz pushed Julian Sayin for the starting job at Ohio State in fall camp, and he has three years of experience as a backup. He has good size at 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds and was used in run packages at times for the Buckeyes and had 66 rushing yards with a pair of TDs. He will compete for a starting job at the next destination.
Landing spot?Kienholz committed to Louisville, where he's an interesting fit with Jeff Brohm. The Cardinals' leading passer averaged 3,026 yards, 20 TDs and eight interceptions the last three seasons.
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