The current era of college sports and roster construction has its share of complaints, but there are many ways to build an exciting roster. The transfer portal makes success as much art as science.
Consider the teams that reached the College Football Playoff semi-finals last season.
Transfer Portal Success: A Varied Approach
One team eventually won the whole thing with a semi-proven quarterback, line transfers and the remnants of a huge batch of players who followed their coach. Another reached the final thanks to an experienced quarterback, key transfers and heavy continuity. One was led by a former Division II quarterback and a roster constructed by one of the most portal-dependent coaches in the business. Another made it to the semis in large part due to old-fashioned, blue-chip recruiting, despite some important transfers.
Mileage has varied significantly among those with huge transfer classes and tiny transfer classes. No surefire approach has emerged. This makes it an art.
Analysing Standout Transfer Classes
The teams that brought in the most high-profile classes of the 2026 cycle are known. After analysing each team’s new additions, some transfer classes stand out, based on returning production and other calculations. Pure quality is part of it, but unique approaches are also considered.
Among those considered are:
- QB Drew Mestemaker, North Texas (4,379 passing yards, 34 TDs)
- RB Caleb Hawkins, North Texas (1,804 yards from scrimmage, 29 total TDs)
- WR Wyatt Young, North Texas (1,264 receiving yards, 10 TDs)
The transfer class includes almost 5,000 incoming passing yards from Mestemaker and Grant Jordan (UMass). More than 3,600 incoming rushing yards come from Hawkins, Tre Page III (Tarleton State) and others. More than 4,500 incoming receiving yards come from Young, Miles Coleman (North Texas), Chris Barnes (Wake Forest) and others.
Five FBS starting offensive linemen are included, plus a potential FCS gem in Shaun Torgeson (Portland State). Fourteen defenders who started FBS games last season have been added, including most of North Texas’ best — DE Keviyan Huddleston, LB Ethan Wesloski, CB Kollin Lewis.
Lane Kiffin’s Portal Strategy
Lane Kiffin is one of the most portal-dependent coaches in the business. Kiffin explains how his new Tigers’ roster looks as spring practice continues. He highlighted how Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt is performing.
Eric Morris’ Move
Eric Morris led North Texas to its best season ever. He then made his first OSU p