Last year, we saw a revival in the MAC, and it was a season that ended with a surprise. This year should feature plenty of fluctuation thanks to our MAC Transfer Portal Rankings, and we just might see a new team compete for a conference title because of this list.
2024 MAC Transfer Portal Rankings
12) Miami (OH) Redhawks
Total Transfers: Two
Top Offensive Transfer: Dylan Downing, RB
Top Defensive Transfer: N/A
Chuck Martin has a good thing going, and his staff trusts their recruiting enough to limit how many transfers they need. After an 11-3 season that featured an upset win in the MAC Championship Game, the Redhawks have their sights set on repeating in 2024.
While their transfer class isn’t overly impressive, the Redhawks still addressed some areas of need. Dylan Downing comes from Purdue and should push for the starting spot at running back. His teammate, Mondrell Dean, should do the same for the defensive line.
Miami (OH)’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Mondrell Dean, EDGE, Purdue
- Dylan Downing, RB, Purdue
11) Western Michigan Broncos
Total Transfers: Seven
Top Offensive Transfer: Jordin Parker, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Anterio Thompson, DL
Lance Taylor struggled in his first season with the Broncos but didn’t see it as a reason to overhaul the roster. He added several players who saw limited time, with some posting promising stats.
Jordin Parker caught just six passes last year for New Mexico State, but he turned that into 235 yards (a 39.2 yards per catch average) and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Bugs Mortimer (UL-Monroe) and the experienced tight end Chris Toudle (NC State) will join him in the passing attack.
On defense, Western Michigan brings in a few players that saw the field, but not a ton. Anterio Thompson (Iowa) and Popeye Williams (Louisville) join the defensive line, with linebacker Domanick Moon (Purdue) and safety Ryan Raybuck (Saint Anselm) joining the units behind them.
Western Michigan’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Jordin Parker, WR, New Mexico State
- Anterio Thompson, DL, Iowa
- Domanick Moon, LB, Purdue
- Popeye Williams, EDGE, Louisville
- Bugs Mortimer, WR, UL-Monroe
- Ryan Raybuck, S, Saint Anselm
- Chris Toudle, TE, NC State
10) Buffalo Bulls
Total Transfers: Eight
Top Offensive Transfer: Taji Johnson, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Oliver Bridges, CB
Buffalo’s taken some hits in the last few years. Now they enter a new area with Maurice Linguist gone after a 3-9 season. A program that once competed for conference titles finds itself in a weird place, and new head coach Pete Lembo wants to get it back on track.
While the transfer portal hemorrhaged talent out of Buffalo the last couple of years, they continue to add pieces to replace them. Players such as wide receiver Taji Johnson (Boston College) and tight end Preston Daniel (Florida State) don’t have a ton of production, but they bring Power Five experience to the offense.
Defensively, there’s not much experience coming, but those players have potential. Oliver Bridges saw the field briefly for Cincinnati, and EDGE Kobe Stewart (Samford) could be a star on the line.
Buffalo’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Taji Johnson, WR, Boston College
- Oliver Bridges, CB, Cincinnati
- Preston Daniel, TE, Florida State
- Kobe Stewart, EDGE, Samford
- Byron Floyd, LS, Pittsburgh
- SaVeon Brown, S, Western Michigan
- Cameron Carson, K, UMass
- Tristan Souza, DL, Washington State
9) Central Michigan Chippewas
Total Transfers: Five
Top Offensive Transfer: Solomon Davis, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Nolan Ziegler, LB
Jim McElwain enters year six at Central Michigan hoping to get his team back to a bowl game for the first time since 2021. There weren’t a ton of glaring needs on the roster, but the Chippewas still added pieces to all three phases of the game.
Adding an Iowa quarterback doesn’t usually spark excitement for any team, but Joe Labas does bring some intrigue to the position. His teammate Brenden Deasfernandes joins the Chips at corner, and the highlight of the class is linebacker Nolan Ziegler from Notre Dame.
Central Michigan’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Nolan Ziegler, LB, Notre Dame
- Joe Labas, QB, Iowa
- Brenden Deasfernandes, CB, Iowa
- Solomon Davis, WR, Valparaiso
- David Chapeau, P, ECU
8) Northern Illinois Huskies
Total Transfers: Seven
Top Offensive Transfer: Kenji Lewis, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Marco Pretto, LB
It took a little time, but Northern Illinois kept adding to its transfer portal class. A few departures this offseason created vacancies, but the staff did a good job replacing them.
First, they got Trayvon Rudolph to return from the portal, but they also added receivers Kenji Lewis (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and Andrew McElroy (St. Thomas). Lewis’ teammate Jalen Macon comes to potentially be the quarterback of the future for the offense.
Northern Illinois’ Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Marco Pretto, LB, Fordham
- Jake Appleget, TE, Nebraska
- Kenji Lewis, WR, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Chrisitan Fuhrman, LB, Southeast Missouri State
- Kiwaun Davis, CB, Washington State
- Jalen Macon, QB, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Andrew McElroy, WR, St. Thomas
7) Toledo Rockets
Total Transfers: Six
Top Offensive Transfer: Jakob James, OT
Top Defensive Transfer: Lance Dixon, S
Toledo didn’t hit the portal hard, but they added a few pieces that can come in immediately and start for them if things go right. After getting upset in the MAC Championship, this season’s goal is revenge.
MORE: Top 10 Transfer Portal Departures from the MAC
With the number of veterans in the secondary, everyone knew this offseason would result in the departure of multiple starters. Fortunately, the staff addressed that through the transfer portal. Four defensive backs join the Rockets roster, including former five-star safety Lance Dixon from West Virginia.
Toledo’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Terrell Crosby, S, Iowa State
- Jakob James, OT, Ohio State
- Allen Jones, OT, Prairie View A&M
- Ezekiel Blake, CB, Youngstown State
- Jadarrius Perkins, CB, Florida
- Lance Dixon, S, West Virginia
6) Bowling Green Falcons
Total Transfers: Eight
Top Offensive Transfer: RJ Garcia II, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Justin Eklund, LB
Bowling Green made some more additions recently, but none were bigger than the capture of safety C.J. Brown (Northern Illinois). He was a big-time playmaker for the Huskies in his four seasons there, and now he is getting a fresh start with the Falcons. Linebacker Justin Eklund (San Jose State) is another name to watch.
On offense, the addition of former Kansas State receiver RJ Garcia II was a surprise, and Bowling Green also got Malcolm Johnson Jr. from Auburn.
Bowling Green’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Justin Eklund, LB, San Jose State
- RJ Garcia II, WR, Kansas State
- Malcolm Johnson Jr., WR, Auburn
- Zach Long, K, Troy
- Ja’Corey Benjamin, CB, Texas Southern
- C.J. Brown, S, Northern Illinois
- Nick Reimer, OT, Middle Tennessee
- Edward Rhambo, CB, Northern Arizona
5) Ball State Cardinals
Total Transfers: Nine
Top Offensive Transfer: Chase Harrison, QB
Top Defensive Transfer: George Udo, S
Ball State looks to turn things around in 2024, and their transfer portal class should certainly help in those efforts. The offense added to its passing attack with a quarterback and two wide receivers.
Marshall transfer quarterback Chase Harrison looks to take over the starting role, while receivers Trey Firestone (Purdue) and Justin Bowick Jr. (Eastern Ilinois) should do the same out wide.
On defense, former Cincinnati and BYU safety George Udo adds an instant impact player to the secondary. Linebacker Norman Massey (UL-Monroe) and defensive lineman Riley Tolsma (Hillsdale College) do the same up front.
Ball State’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Chase Harrison, QB, Marshall
- Yaser Alawadi, OT, Western Illinois
- Trey Firestone, WR, Purdue
- Luke Dalton, OT, Cincinnati
- Norman Massey, LB, UL-Monroe
- Justin Bowick Jr., WR, Eastern Illinois
- George Udo, S, Cincinnati
- Riley Tolsma, DL, Hillsdale College
4) Kent State Golden Flashes
Total Transfers: 12
Top Offensive Transfer: Sebastian Brown, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Dallas Branch, CB
It’s tough to win at Kent State, but the staff is doing everything it can to bolster the roster with talent. The secondary was the focus of this transfer portal class, with five players joining that unit.
MORE: History of the Kent State Golden Flashes Mascot
Safeties Malcolm Folk (Syracuse) and Kaleb Moody (Harvard) should immediately step in and compete for starting spots. Cornerback Dallas Branch was a great player for San Diego State, and he should secure a starting spot quickly.
Kent State’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- JD Sherrod, QB, Troy
- Sebastian Brown, WR, Michigan State
- Kameron Olds, EDGE, Buffalo
- Jaylen Dotson, CB, Monmouth
- Hunter Hopperton, TE, Rhode Island
- Luke Fulton, LB, Kentucky
- Stanley King, WR, Northwestern State
- Mason Woods, LB, Towson
- Malcolm Folk, S, Syracuse
- Kaleb Moody, S, Harvard
- Dallas Branch, CB, San Diego State
- Conner Muldowney, TE, Tiffin University
3) Akron Zips
Total Transfers: Seven
Top Offensive Transfer: Ben Finley, QB
Top Defensive Transfer: Nate Kapongo, DL
A surprise in the rankings, the Akron Zips continue pushing towards improvement after inconsistent results on the field. Joe Moorhead’s staff found players that should immediately step in and compete, starting with the offense.
Cal quarterback Ben Finley joins the Zips to give them more of a consistent passer. Akron also brings another Minnesota running back in Marquese Williams, after the Cam Wiley experiment ended, and Michigan State running back Jordon Simmons joins him in the backfield.
Defensively, the Zips only brought in two players, though defensive lineman Nate Kapongo (New Hampshire) and cornerback Paul Lewis III (Cornell) give them quality options.
Akron’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Marquese Williams, RB, Minnesota
- Max Whisner, TE, Missouri
- Ben Finley, QB, Cal
- Nate Kapongo, DL, New Hampshire
- Dayne Shor, OT, UConn
- Paul Lewis III, CB, Cornell
- Jordon Simmons, RB, Michigan State
2) Ohio Bobcats
Total Transfers: 15
Top Offensive Transfer: Charles Ross, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Jacob Proche, CB
After a double-digit win season in 2023, Ohio must identify multiple new starters on both sides of the ball. They didn’t waste time addressing those needs, as they landed 15 players from the transfer portal.
A healthy dose of players from the FCS level lead this class, and they come to campus with a chip on their shoulders. Tackle Tigana Cisse is a name to watch on the offensive line, and Northern Colorado transfer Dustin Johnson brings good size to the secondary.
Wide receiver Charles Ross (San Jose State) brings 69 catches, 893 yards, and 4 touchdowns to the wide receiver room. The Bobcats also added two tight ends in Beau Blankenship (Marshall) and Saint Francis (PA) transfer Jake Bruno.
Ohio’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Charles Ross, WR, San Jose State
- Anthony Tyus III, RB, Northwestern
- Tigana Cisse, OT, Idaho
- Colby Garfield, LS, ECU
- Jacob Proche, CB, Coastal Carolina
- Jacob Lewis, K, Minnesota
- Beau Blankenship, TE, Marshall
- CJ Doggett, DL, Cincinnati
- Coleman Owen, WR, Northern Arizona
- Dustin Johnson, S, Northern Colorado
- Blake Leake, LB, Bucknell
- Trent Allen, IOL, Davenport
- Jake Bruno, TE, Saint Francis (PA)
- Ben McNaboe, DL, North Dakota
1) Eastern Michigan Eagles
Total Transfers: 14
Top Offensive Transfer: Cole Snyder, QB
Top Defensive Transfer: JT Killen, LB
Chris Creighton did it again. He continues to overachieve in a tough situation, and Eastern Michigan has high hopes for 2024 thanks to this transfer portal class.
The staff started by addressing the passing attack, bringing in five players that will help that part of the offense. Buffalo transfer quarterback Cole Snyder had a down year in 2023, but he looks to return to his 2022 form, where he threw for 3,030 yards and 18 touchdowns. Minnesota transfer Drew Viotto should challenge him.
MORE: College Football’s Best Transfers of All Time
Catching passes for them will be tight end Johnathan Odom, who comes from Florida at 6’6″ and 250 pounds. Wide receivers Tyler Walton (Ohio) and Porter Rooks (NC State) were big additions.
On defense, Coastal Carolina transfer JT Killen joins the Eagles’ defense and brings multiple years of experience. Joining him at linebacker is Kent State transfer Luke Murphy.
Eastern Michigan’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Delbert Mimms III, RB, NC State
- Dylan Shelton, DL, Indianapolis
- Drew Viotto, QB, Minnesota
- Jefferson Adam, EDGE, Iowa State
- Blake Bustard, OT, Wayne State
- Jonathan Odom, TE, Florida
- Tyler Walton, WR, Ohio
- Porter Rooks, WR, NC State
- Bryce Liewellyn, S, Charleston Southern
- James Djonkam, EDGE, Arizona State
- Cole Snyder, QB, Buffalo
- JT Killen, LB, Coastal Carolina
- Jack Storey, IOL, Hope
- Luke Murphy, LB, Kent State
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!