Top FBS College Football Transfers to Watch in 2026 Season
The 2026 college football season is creeping up on us. The transfer portal has been wild again, shaking up rosters all over the country.
Big-name transfers are set to make waves right out of the gate. Fans and analysts are buzzing, wondering who’ll actually live up to the hype.
Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, defensive beasts—there’s a lot to watch. Let’s dive into the most intriguing FBS college football transfers for 2026.
Key Quarterback Transfers
Quarterbacks, as usual, are grabbing the headlines. A handful of them have found new homes, and expectations are sky-high.
Josh Hoover | Indiana from TCU
Josh Hoover walks into a pressure cooker at Indiana. The last guy in his spot went undefeated, won the Heisman, took home a national title, and was drafted No. 1 overall.
Everyone’s curious if Hoover can measure up—or even come close.
Sam Leavitt | LSU from Arizona State
Sam Leavitt heads to LSU, thankfully without the drama that followed Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge. He’s already proven he can take a team to the College Football Playoff.
LSU fans are hoping he brings that magic with him.
Darian Mensah | Miami (FL) from Duke
Darian Mensah’s got a tough gig at Miami, stepping in after Carson Beck and Cam Ward both lit it up. The pressure’s real, especially for a team fresh off a CFP title game appearance.
Drew Mestemaker | Oklahoma State from North Texas
Drew Mestemaker led everyone in passing yards last year and decided to follow his coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. After a brutal 1-11 season, the Cowboys are desperate for a turnaround.
Mestemaker’s arm just might be the answer.
Running Backs to Watch
Running backs are always grinding, and this year a few have landed in spots where they could really make a difference.
Cam Cook | West Virginia from Jacksonville State
Cam Cook ran wild at Jacksonville State, racking up 5.9 yards a carry. Now he’s back in the Big 12 with West Virginia, hoping the momentum sticks—and that he doesn’t slip back into old habits from his TCU days.
Makhi Hughes | Houston from Oregon
Makhi Hughes is on his third team—Tulane, Oregon, and now Houston. He’s got two great seasons and one not-so-great one under his belt.
Maybe this is where he finally puts it all together.
Dylan Edwards | Kansas from Kansas State
Dylan Edwards has bounced around the Big 12, now landing at Kansas after stops at Colorado and Kansas State. The Sunflower Showdown’s going to be a little extra spicy this year.
Will Edwards finally hit his stride? That’s the hope.
Wide Receivers Poised for Breakout Seasons
Receivers can flip a game in a heartbeat. A few transfers here could be game-changers for their new squads.
Parker Livingstone | Oklahoma from Texas
Parker Livingstone leaving Texas for Oklahoma? That’s going to sting in Red River Showdown week. His Longhorn experience could bring fresh energy to the Sooners’ offense.
Cam Coleman | Texas from Auburn
Cam Coleman’s got the tools to be one of the best in the country. Pair him with Arch Manning and, well, maybe Texas fans can start dreaming big again.
Nick Marsh | Indiana from Michigan State
Nick Marsh heads to Indiana to fill the shoes of breakout star Omar Cooper Jr. If he clicks, the Hoosiers might just stay near the top.
Offensive Linemen with High Expectations
Linemen don’t get much love, but let’s be real—they’re the foundation. Two transfers in particular are worth keeping an eye on.
Jordan Seaton | LSU from Colorado
Jordan Seaton is moving up, leaving Colorado for LSU and the SEC. If he holds his own, he could be the first lineman off the board in the 2027 NFL draft.
He’ll have to prove it against some nasty competition, though.
Jacarrius Peak | South Carolina from NC State
Jacarrius Peak lands at South Carolina, teaming up for what could be one of the top tackle duos in the country. He’s battled injuries, but if he stays healthy, the Gamecocks might climb out of last year’s 4-8 pit.
Defensive Stars Ready to Shine
Defense still wins championships, right? A few big-time transfers could shake things up on that side of the ball.
Princewill Umanmielen | LSU from Ole Miss
Princewill Umanmielen follows Lane Kiffin to LSU, and fans are expecting fireworks. He was the top edge rusher in the portal, and now he’s got the SEC spotlight.
Damon Wilson II | Miami (FL) from Missouri
Damon Wilson II is in Miami to take over for Rueben Bain Jr., who was a consensus All-American. After breaking out at Missouri, Wilson’s got to keep the Hurricanes’ pass rush dangerous.
Tawfiq Thomas | Georgia Tech from Colorado
Tawfiq Thomas’s move to Georgia Tech comes with a bit of baggage—he made some waves on social media. He’ll need to back up the talk, especially when facing Colorado in the opener.
Linebackers with Big Shoes to Fill
Linebackers are moving around too, and a few landings could be difference-makers for their new defenses.
TJ Dottery | LSU from Ole Miss
TJ Dottery joins LSU, teaming up with Whit Weeks. This duo could anchor the Tigers’ defense if things click.
Austin Romaine | Texas Tech from Kansas State
Austin Romaine is off to Texas Tech, stepping in for Heisman finalist Jacob Rodriguez. Being the No. 2 linebacker in the portal comes with a lot of eyes—and a lot of pressure.
Rasheem Biles | Texas from Pitt
Rasheem Biles heads to Texas after two strong years at Pitt. The SEC is a different beast, though, and Biles will have to step up when it counts.
Cornerbacks and Safeties to Watch
The secondary is always a wild card. Several transfers here could have an immediate impact.
DJ McKinney | Notre Dame from Colorado
DJ McKinney leaves Colorado, where he played under Deion Sanders, for Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman. He’ll need to adjust fast if the Irish want to make a playoff push.
Rickey Gibson III | Texas A&M from Tennessee
Rickey Gibson III heads to Texas A&M after missing last season. If he gets back to form, he could be a difference-maker for the Aggies’ defense.
A.J. Harris | Indiana from Penn State
A.J. Harris is on his third team in as many years, now at Indiana. He’s taking over for First-Team All-American D’Angelo Ponds, so the expectations are sky-high.
Koi Perich | Oregon from Minnesota
Koi Perich lands at Oregon, where folks are already comparing him to last year’s standout safety Dillon Theineman. Perich can play both sides of the ball, which adds a little extra intrigue.
Terry Moore and Earl Little Jr. | Ohio State from Duke and Florida State
Ohio State picked up two safeties from the ACC to help replace Caleb Downs. Terry Moore and Earl Little Jr. have some big shoes to fill, since Downs was easily one of the top defensive players in college football the last couple of years.
Want to dig deeper into transfers? Take a look at the full list of impactful transfers. The 2026 season could get wild—there’s a lot to watch for.
