The transfer portal has officially taken over college football. More than 4,000 players entered during the 15-day window, and the impact is impossible to ignore. Of the four teams that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, three had more transfer portal starters than players they originally recruited out of high school.
Clearly, portal success is now directly tied to on-field success. So who won the cycle, and who took it on the chin?
Winner: Indiana Hoosiers
The rich keep getting richer. While Indiana continues its magical run on the field, the off-field momentum is just as strong. The Hoosiers brought in Josh Hoover from TCU, a quarterback who had once been committed to Indiana during his high school recruitment. He fits the offense perfectly and will be surrounded by plenty of weapons after Nick Marsh and Shazz Preston chose to stay in Bloomington.
Add in several other impact additions, and it’s easy to see why Indiana may be a “new blood” with some staying power.
Loser: Iowa State Cyclones
The loss of Matt Campbell has been disastrous for Iowa State. The Cyclones saw a mass exodus, losing 54 players to the portal and an estimated $7 million in NIL value. With Jimmy Rogers now taking over, this roster will look completely different next season, and not in a good way. This feels like a full reset, and the short-term outlook is rough.
Winner: Texas Tech Red Raiders
That Texas Tech oil money is already paying dividends. Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, the Red Raiders leaned hard into the portal and reloaded. Brendan Sorsby, the #1 rated QB in the portal, comes in from Cincinnati, and they also shored up the defensive front with players like Adam Trick and Trey White.
This does not feel like a one-year spike. Texas Tech looks positioned to build something sustainable.
Loser: Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama will still be very good, but the depth losses are real. One of the biggest reasons the SEC has felt more balanced in recent years is the shrinking talent gap, and Alabama is experiencing that firsthand. Players who once waited their turn are now heading elsewhere for immediate opportunities.
The Tide will still be in the mix next year, but injuries could expose cracks much faster than in years past.
Winner: Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Nittany Lions will be fascinating to watch next season with James Franklin now leading the program. The transfer class is stacked with former Penn State players and key outside additions, resulting in a top-five portal class nationally. This roster looks deeper, more experienced, and better prepared to compete right away.
Loser: Utah Utes
Kyle Whittingham’s retirement and subsequent move to Michigan clearly took a toll on the Utah program. Not only did he take a significant portion of the roster with him to Ann Arbor, but Salesi Moa, a cornerstone of Utah’s high school recruiting class, also jumped ship. Utah typically builds through the trenches, but it may take some time before they return to their usual standard.
Winner: Oklahoma State Cowboys
It was no secret that Eric Morris would bring offensive talent with him from North Texas, and he delivered. Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, and Wyatt Young all followed him to Stillwater. That alone earns Oklahoma State a “winner” label, but additional portal additions should help stabilize the roster after a disastrous final stretch under Mike Gundy.
Now comes the real test, translating it to the field.
Loser: James Madison Dukes
A playoff-caliber roster was gutted following Bob Chesney’s departure. Billy Napier worked to retain some of the talent, but too much of it walked out the door. The 2026 Dukes will look nothing like the team that made the CFP just a month ago.
Winner: LSU Tigers
LSU is thriving in the portal, and it’s not hard to see why. Recruiting becomes much easier at a blue-blood program, especially with Lane Kiffin now running the offense. Sam Leavitt, the #2 rated QB in the portal, headlines the class, with Eugene Wilson III, Jayce Brown, and Winston Watkins providing elite weapons on the perimeter.
With Blake Baker’s defensive success paired with Kiffin’s offensive firepower, the ceiling in Baton Rouge remains incredibly high.
Loser: NC State Wolfpack
CJ Bailey staying put was the lone piece of good news. Nearly everything else around him is gone. Hollywood Smothers, Noah Rogers, and Jacarrius Peak all departed, stripping the offense of its core. Replacing that level of production will be extremely difficult in one cycle.
Winner: Wisconsin Badgers
Luke Fickell finally had resources to work with, and it showed. Wisconsin attacked the portal aggressively, landing impact players across the roster, including quarterback Colton Joseph from Old Dominion. If this level of spending continues, the Badgers may finally be on their way back to national relevance.
Loser: Duke Blue Devils
Losing Darian Mensah hurt, but the timing made it worse. While most programs had time to adjust, Duke was left scrambling late in the cycle. That puts them behind the eight ball heading into next season, especially at quarterback.
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