USC transfer LB Matai Tagoa’i signs with Arizona

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USC transfer linebacker Matai Tagoa’i has signed to play with USC in the 2026 season, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. He played one season with the Trojans and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Tagoa’i appeared in eight games as a true freshman this past season and recorded four tackles. He also had a forced fumble and will look to carve out an even bigger role with the Wildcats.

Tagoa’i played high school football for San Clemente (CA), where he was a four-star prospect in the 2025 class. He ranked as the No. 109 overall player and No. 6 linebacker according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

As a transfer, Matai Tagoa’i ranks as the No. 27 linebacker to enter the portal so far according to On3. He is the eighth transfer player that Arizona has added so far this offseason as well as the first transfer linebacker.

The Wildcats are coming off of a 9-4 finish this past year, which marked their second season in the Big 12. They’ve also lost eight players through the transfer portal this offseason and it will be interesting to see what the final number ends up at.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

More on the transfer portal in 2026

The 15-day transfer portal this winter will be the only window, opening Jan. 2 and closing on Jan. 16. The NCAA opted to eliminate the spring transfer portal window for football, meaning this will be the only opportunity for student athletes to enter their names.

The move to a one-time-only portal is supposed to allow schools to finish their season with their entire team before the transfer portal opens. As has been the previous standard, athletes on College Football Playoff teams still playing would have 5 days beginning the day after their team’s final game to enter the transfer portal.

This season’s CFP semifinals took place Jan. 8 and 9. The CFP national championship game between Miami and Indiana is scheduled for Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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