Week 1 of the winter transfer portal set the chaos in motion, and Week 2 only built on the momentum. With most bowl games still on the horizon, rosters across the nation have already undergone dramatic transformations.
Winter Transfer Portal Winners | Week 2
Oklahoma Sooners
Did the Oklahoma Sooners lose practically their entire pass-catching corps? Yes. But what they got in return was priceless.
Not only did Brent Venables hire Washington State Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and QBs coach John Kuceyeski, but he also earned a commitment from their star QB, John Mateer.
With the engine of the offense secured, the coaching staff can focus on building the rest of the roster, including the WR room, which began with Arkansas’ Isaiah Sategna and UAPB’s Javonnie Gibson.
North Carolina Tar Heels
We all know Bill Belichick is instantly one of — if not the — greatest minds to set foot on a college football field, but there were (and still are) question marks surrounding his ability to translate to the collegiate level.
Well, he’s hit the ground running in terms of recruiting, landing 11 transfers, including redshirt freshman QB Ryan Browne, who flashed in limited action with the Purdue Boilermakers.
There may not have been a big-name signing (yet), but Belichick has at least ensured UNC’s portal efforts didn’t skip a beat.
LSU Tigers
Although the LSU Tigers have had their share of losses (Sage Ryan to Ole Miss, CJ Daniels to Miami, etc.), they have hit their portal additions out of the park, landing Virginia Tech OL Braelin Moore, Mississippi State QB Michael Van Buren, Oklahoma WR Nic Anderson, Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane, and Florida DL Jack Pyburn.
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And that’s just within the last week, meaning Kentucky WR Barion Brown and Oklahoma TE Bauer Sharp don’t even factor in for this week’s winners and losers!
Arizona State Sun Devils
The Arizona State Sun Devils are gearing up for a College Football Playoff quarterfinal dual with the Texas Longhorns, but head coach Kenny Dillingham hasn’t ignored his team’s future outlook.
With RB Cam Skattebo out of eligibility, the Sun Devils will need a new workhorse in 2025, and Dillingham pegged Army’s true sophomore Kanye Udoh as just that. Udoh built on an impressive freshman campaign by taking 179 carries for 1,117 yards (6.2 ypa) and 10 TDs this season, owning the frame and short-area quickness to fill Skattebo’s shoes.
But wait, there’s more! Arizona State also signed former Fresno State WR Jalen Moss, who generated a 103-1,269-10 receiving line over the last two years and comes equipped with dangerous return ability.
Clemson Tigers
We’ve all heard about Dabo Swinney’s reluctance to dip into the transfer portal, but does the narrative have substance?
Swinney has signed just two transfer portal players since its inception in 2018:
- 2022: Northwestern QB Hunter Johnson
- 2023: Arizona State QB Paul Tyson
However, he’s seemingly changed his tune this year, earning commitments from Southeast Missouri State WR Tristan Smith and Purdue EDGE Will Heldt — the program’s first two non-QB transfers under Swinney. Whether they work out or not matters far less than the 55-year-old’s willingness to adapt, even if he’s a few years late.
Colorado Buffaloes
The Colorado Buffaloes have been active in the portal, as is customary under Deion Sanders, but their biggest move — by far — was landing Liberty QB Kaidon Salter. Yes, he’s coming off a down year, but his career body of work speaks for itself:
- Completion rate: 58.7%
- Passing yards: 5,887 (8.4 ypa),
- Passing TDs: 56
- INTs: 17
- Rushing yards: 2,013 (5.7 ypa)
- Rushing TDs: 21
Yet, the significance of Salter’s signing extends further, as he serves as a bridge to five-star QB Julian Lewis, allowing the freshman type to adapt to the college game.
Winter Transfer Portal Losers | Week 2
Washington State Cougars
Poor Cougars. The program is completely bereft of talent and leadership at the moment.
Not only did Arbuckle and Kuceyeski leave for Norman, but head coach Jake Dickert signed on for the same role with the Purdue Boilermakers. In addition to losing Mateer, the Cougs saw 25 other players enter the portal, with zero transfers coming in thus far.
USC Trojans
Is Lincoln Riley’s time in Southern California running out? The roster has taken a massive blow this offseason, with QB Miller Moss, WRs Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson, and DB Zion Branch entering the portal in its first week.
Week 2 hasn’t been any kinder, with DT Bear Alexander (Oregon) and WR Kyron Hudson (Penn State) joining the exodus.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Since the season ended, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have seen 24 players enter the portal, but the two who hurt the most came last week.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Backup QB Caden Veltkamp, who started most of the season due to starter TJ Finley suffering an injury, announced his decision to leave. Most believed that meant Finley would be back as QB1. Instead, he transferred to Tulane, leaving the Hilltoppers with uncertainty at the game’s most important position.
UCF Knights
The UCF Knights hired program hero Scott Frost to replace Gus Malzahn, which comes with its own questions. But the roster makeup is more concerning, with 17 transfers out and only three in.
The QB room is comprised of Jacurri Brown, Dylan Rizk, and Frost’s first QB transfer addition: FAU’s Cam Fancher. Yikes.
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