Schools with highest college football transfer portal departures

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Schools with highest college football transfer portal departures

With the transfer portal window now closed, the full picture of roster movement is clear. Many programs saw heavy losses because of coaching changes. Others dealt with exits due to playing time or system changes. Some schools managed the damage quickly. Others now face long rebuilds. Here is a breakdown of the schools with the most transfer portal departures. (Via CFB)

10. California (35 departures)

10. Cal (35 departures)
California Golden Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) reacts after making a fourth quarter touchdown against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Hawaii Bowl at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

Cal fired Justin Wilcox and hired Tosh Lupoi from Oregon. That move triggered roster turnover. A total of 35 players entered the portal. The Bears kept their most important player in quarterback Jaron Kaewe Sagapolutele. He impressed as a freshman in 2025. Cal added 31 new transfers to stabilize the roster. Keeping the starting quarterback helped limit the impact.

9. Auburn (36 departures)

9. Auburn (36 departures)
Auburn Tigers quarterback Ashton Daniels (12) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

Auburn made a coaching change by firing Hugh Freeze. That decision caused major exits. The biggest loss was wide receiver Cam Coleman, who transferred to Texas. Other departures included Kayin Lee, Kensley Louidor Faustin, Horatio Fields, Amaris Williams, Xavier Chaplin and Malik Blocton. New coach Alex Golesh rebuilt quickly. He added 39 transfers, including 13 from USF. Quarterback Byrum Brown followed Golesh and is expected to lead the offense.

8. Florida State (36 departures)

8. Florida State (36 departures)
Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1) runs against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida State finished 5-7 in 2025 and placed 13th in the ACC. That season led to heavy movement. A total of 36 players entered the portal. Key exits included Earl Little Jr., Lawayne McCoy, Randy Pittman, Edwin Joseph and Justin Cryer. Mike Norvell responded by adding 22 transfers. Quarterback Ashton Daniels and running back Tre Wisner are set to lead the offense in 2026.

7. Michigan State (37 departures)

7. Michigan State (37 departures)
Michigan State Spartans running back Brandon Tullis (7) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Michigan State fired Jonathan Smith and hired Pat Fitzgerald. The coaching change caused 37 players to leave. Losses included Makhi Frazier, Aisea Moa, Chance Rucker, Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic stayed and finished the season as the starter. The Spartans added 28 transfers. Wide receiver KK Smith and center Trent Fraley were key additions.

6. Arkansas (38 departures)

6. Arkansas (38 departures)
Arkansas Razorbacks kicker Scott Starzyk (80) misses a field goal attempt during the third quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 31-17. Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Arkansas fired Sam Pittman during the season and hired Ryan Silverfield from Memphis. That move led to 38 portal entries. Jaheim Singletary and Jac’Qawn McRoy were among the top departures. Silverfield rebuilt fast by adding 41 new transfers. Arkansas ranked eighth in the On3 Team Transfer Portal Rankings. New players included Steven Soles from Kentucky and Jasper Parker from Michigan.

5. Mississippi State (38 departures)

5. Mississippi State (38 departures)
Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) looks for an open receiver during the second quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bank of America Stadium. Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Mississippi State also had 38 players leave. Jeff Lebby enters his third year as head coach. The Bulldogs lost several starters, including Jayvin James to Alabama and Zack Owens to Missouri. Jayven Williams transferred to BYU, while Kedrick Bingley Jones went to Alabama. Quarterback KaMario Taylor stayed and is expected to start in 2026. Mississippi State added 24 transfers, including seven offensive linemen. Wide receiver Marquis Johnson joined from Missouri.

4. West Virginia (44 departures)

4. West Virginia (44 departures)
West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Max Brown (6) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Milan Puskar Stadium. Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

West Virginia continued reshaping its roster under Rich Rodriguez. The Mountaineers lost 44 players to the portal and added 34 new ones. Quarterback Michael Hawkins transferred from Oklahoma and is expected to start. Experience was lost on the offensive line with Donovan Haslam heading to Tennessee. Wide receiver Cam Vaughn transferred to Miami. The program remains in rebuild mode.

3. Penn State (46 departures)

3. Penn State (46 departures)
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) looks to throw during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.

Penn State fired James Franklin in October. That move opened the door for mass departures in January. A total of 46 players left the program. New coach Matt Campbell kept linebacker Tony Rojas and cornerback Daryus Dixson. Several players followed Franklin to Virginia Tech. Twelve Penn State players transferred to Blacksburg, including quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer and tight end Luke Reynolds.

2. Iowa State (54 departures)

2. Iowa State (54 departures)
Iowa State’s Chase Sowell (0) scores a touchdown as Oklahoma State’s Eric Fletcher (13) defends in the first half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Iowa State Cyclones. Credit: SARAH PHIPPS-Imagn Images

Iowa State saw 54 players enter the portal after Matt Campbell left for Penn State. His exit ended a long era with the Cyclones. Top players who left included Rocco Becht, Benjamin Brahmer, Marcus Neal and Jeremiah Cooper. Campbell brought 23 Iowa State players with him to Penn State. Jimmy Rogers was hired from Washington State to replace him. He added 48 new players to stop the losses. Replacing that level of talent will be difficult.

1. Oklahoma State (64 departures)

Oklahoma State’s Zane Flores (6) throws a pass in the second half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Iowa State Cyclones at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday Nov. 29, 2025.

Oklahoma State led the nation with 64 transfer portal exits. Mike Gundy was fired three games into the 2025 season. That move opened a 30 day portal window for players. A second window in January raised the total even higher. New coach Eric Morris arrived from North Texas and rebuilt the roster fast. He added 54 new transfers. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins followed him from North Texas. Notable losses included Wendell Gregory, Jaylen Lloyd and Noah McKinney.

Conclusion

The transfer portal changed the direction of many programs this cycle. Coaching changes caused the largest waves of exits. Oklahoma State and Iowa State were hit the hardest. Penn State and West Virginia also saw major losses. Other teams balanced departures with strong transfer classes. How well these schools recover will shape the 2026 season.

The post Schools with highest college football transfer portal departures appeared first on The Big Lead.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos