The 2025 season officially ended with Indiana hoisting the trophy in a rain-soaked Atlanta, but for the rest of the country, the real “National Championship” was played over the last three weeks in the transfer portal.
As of February 3, 2026, the winter window has effectively closed, and the dust has settled on a frenzy that saw over 3,500 players change addresses. From Lane Kiffin’s massive haul in Baton Rouge to the “Opt-Out Strategy” in South Bend, here are the teams that look the most dangerous heading into the 2026 campaign.
1. LSU: The “Portal King” Moves to the Bayou
If there were any doubts about Lane Kiffin taking his “Portal King” title with him from Ole Miss to LSU, they were erased by mid-January. LSU secured the consensus #1 portal class in the country, highlighted by three massive splashes:
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Sam Leavitt (QB, Arizona State): The top-ranked player in the portal. Leavitt brings a dual-threat dynamic that Charlie Weis Jr. has been craving for this offense.
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Jordan Seaton (OT, Colorado): Winning the battle for Seaton was the biggest “statement” move of the cycle. LSU effectively secured the best blindside protector on the market.
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Princewill Umanmielen (Edge, Ole Miss): Kiffin didn’t just move to LSU; he brought his best pass rusher with him.
2. Notre Dame: The “Focus Window” Paid Off
In perhaps the boldest move of the 2025 season, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame opted out of their bowl game to focus entirely on roster construction. Analysts like Josh Pate have already rewarded them with the Preseason #1 spot for 2026.
They didn’t just take “guys”—they took elite, system-specific starters:
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The Ohio State Pipeline: Landing WRs Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter from Columbus gives CJ Carr two elite, NFL-ready targets.
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The Front Seven: Adding Keon Keeley (Edge, Alabama) and Francis Brewu (DL, Pitt) makes this arguably the most physical defensive line in the country.
3. Indiana: The Victory Lap
Curt Cignetti didn’t spend much time celebrating Indiana’s 2025 National Title before reloading. The Hoosiers are the rare champion that actually upgraded at key positions through the portal.
By landing Josh Hoover (QB, TCU)—the leading active returning passer in college football—and Nick Marsh (WR, Michigan State), the Hoosiers have ensured that their high-flying offense won’t skip a beat. They look less like a “one-hit wonder” and more like the new Big Ten powerhouse.
Key QB Carousel Moves (Quick Hits)
The 2026 season will be defined by signal-callers in new jerseys. Here’s who moved the needle:
| Player | From | To | Impact |
| Dylan Raiola | Nebraska | Oregon | The heir apparent to the Lanning era; perfect for the Ducks’ vertical scheme. |
| Darian Mensah | Duke | Miami | The “U” finally gets a veteran winner to stabilize the post-Carson Beck era. |
| Byrum Brown | USF | Auburn | A massive 1,000-yard rusher at QB who finally gives Hugh Freeze his “ideal” weapon. |
| Rocco Becht | Iowa State | Penn State | A high-floor veteran to bridge the gap in Happy Valley. |
The Sleeper: Texas Tech
While the heavyweights traded five-stars, Texas Tech quietly put together a Top-5 portal class. By landing Brendan Sorsby (QB, Cincinnati) and a trio of defensive starters from the SEC, Joey McGuire has the Red Raiders poised to be the “Big 12 version of 2025 Indiana.” They have veteran experience at 18 of 22 starting positions.
