With the transfer portal in full swing, several major college football programs are still looking for a starting quarterback. With top-tier talent available and competition fierce, these teams are betting that the portal can deliver the game-changing QB they need to compete in 2025.
Which College Football Programs Need a Transfer Portal QB?
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines will be linked to nearly every transfer QB worth their salt. They just hired former North Carolina Tar Heels OC Chip Lindsey, pointing to at least a mild uptick in pass rate.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
The Wolverines earned a commitment from 2025 five-star QB Bryce Underwood, but a veteran addition would allow the true freshman a year or two of honing his craft.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners hired OC Ben Arbuckle and QBs coach John Kuceyeski away from the Washington State Cougars, but their issues stem much further.
There’s little for prospective signal-callers to like in the pass-catching department, with WRs Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, Brenen Thompson, J.J. Hester, Jaquaize Pettaway, and TE Bauer Sharp in the portal.
With Jackson Arnold off to the Auburn Tigers, the Sooners are left with true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. as the presumed starter. While he showed flashes, Brent Venables and Co. would do well to bring in competition for the position.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Not much went right for the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2024, as they finished with a 2-10 record in HC Jeff Lebby’s debut season. To make matters worse, true freshman Michael Van Buren Jr., who started seven games following Blake Shapen’s injury, left to be the backup for the LSU Tigers.
Many believed Lebby’s former protégé, Arnold, would join him in Starksville following his transfer announcement, but he chose Auburn instead.
Colorado Buffaloes
Out goes Shedeur Sanders. In comes…
Deion Sanders appears to be in it for the long haul, but the 2025 season will be his first as a collegiate head coach without his son running the offense. He’s known for abusing the portal for reinforcements, and he’ll need to do so again at QB with backups Destin Wade and Walter Taylor also departing Boulder.
Of course, the Buffs did flip Julian Lewis from USC, but Sanders could use some veteran leadership in the room.
Syracuse Orange
Kyle McCord and Michael Johnson Jr. are out of eligibility. Braden Davis and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson are in the portal.
Who is going to sling the rock for one of the pass-happiest offenses in the nation next year? That’s what Syracuse Orange HC Fran Brown needs to figure out, but hey, another former Ohio State Buckeyes signal-caller just hit the portal in Air Noland.
Alabama Crimson Tide
With Jalen Milroe likely departing for the NFL Draft, the Alabama Crimson Tide will need a new starting signal-caller.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Head coach Kalen DeBoer is a QB savant and could stick with current backup Ty Simpson. Yet, if the opportunity for an upgrade presents itself, expect DeBoer to jump on it.
Missouri Tigers
With the top two QBs on the depth chart — Brady Cook and Drew Pyne — out of eligibility, the Missouri Tigers will need an influx of talent at the position. However, HC Eli Drinkwitz will first have to retain OC Kirby Moore, whose name has been linked to several head coach openings.
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins suffered their worst season in five years, posting a 4-8 record. To add insult to injury, starting QB Billy Edwards Jr. entered the portal. Expect the Terps to be big players in the QB market, specifically for a veteran talent.
Washington State Cougars
It appeared as though the Cougs had a fighting chance of keeping John Mateer out of the portal, but they lost that fight. Without their starting QB, QBs coach, or OC, Washington State enters the offseason with massive offensive question marks.
California Bears
Fernando Mendoza became a campus hero in Berkeley, Calif., for his efforts on the field in 2024. And the night before he announced his decision to enter the portal, he was a featured guest at the Cal band’s annual banquet.
MORE: 2024 College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Replacing him won’t be easy, but at least former Ohio transfer CJ Harris is still on the roster with two years of eligibility remaining.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons pegged former Northern Illinois Huskies passer Ethan Hampton as their next starter, but after Dave Clawson stepped down from head coach to an advisor role, Hampton re-opened his recruiting.
The Group of Five
There are numerous Group of Five programs that will fight over the leftover QBs.
Most of their holes will be filled by lesser-known Power Four signal-callers looking for playing time, D1 bounce-backs from lower-division schools and JUCOs, or highly productive FCS passers looking to move up a level.
- Memphis Tigers
- Tulane Green Wave
- San Diego State Aztecs
- Fresno State Bulldogs
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- Ball State Cardinals
- Old Dominion Moncarchs
- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
- UAB Blazers
- Western Michigan Broncos
- Northern Illinois Huskies
- UL-Monroe Warhawks
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.