College Football Transfer Portal 2025-26: Ranking the Top 10 Available Quarterbacks (So Far)

Josh Hoover, TCU

The 2025-26 college football season may not yet be officially done, but the transfer portal has created an early offseason full of activity in recent weeks. Quarterbacks who have fallen out of favor at their most recent stops, or see an opportunity to land significant NIL money elsewhere have entered the portal and begun a recruitment process that is going to have a huge impact on the National Title race. More dominoes will fall in the coming weeks but with most of the big names already in the portal, these are the ten to keep a close eye on as the offseason marches on.

1. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State to TBD

(2025 Stats: 1,628 passing yards, 306 rushing yards, 15 total TD, 3 INT)

The 2025 campaign wasn't quite the encore Arizona State was hoping for after breaking through and reaching the College Football Playoff in 2024. Yet, the Sun Devils still managed to go 8-4 overall and 6-3 in a vastly improved Big 12, despite suffering through injuries all season long. Among those injuries was quarterback Sam Leavitt, who was shut down for the season in early November for foot surgery. Even with the lingering health questions, which are likely to keep him sidelined through the spring, Leavitt has drawn the attention of some of the sport's top programs, including several currently in the College Football Playoff. Originally beginning his career at Michigan State, Leavitt took off in the Sun Devil offense last fall, throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with five more on the ground. His numbers understandably took a dip this past season with how much time he missed, but he's proven he can make pro-ready throws and command a top offense. The expectation is that the 2026 season will be his last, as he hopes to play for a National Title contender before heading off to the NFL. Being an Oregon native and with the Ducks likely shopping for a Dante Moore replacement, they appear to be the early frontrunner. However, teams like Miami, LSU, and Texas Tech are also likely to be in the mix in his recruitment process.

Transfer Prediction: Oregon

2. Josh Hoover, TCU to TBD

(2025 Stats: 3,472 passing yards, 31 total touchdowns, 13 INT)

College Football Playoff 2025-26 Prediction

Gunner Stockton, Georgia

First Round

Byes: (1) Indiana Hoosiers, (2) Ohio State Buckeyes, (3) Georgia Bulldogs, (4) Texas Tech Red Raiders

(9) Alabama Crimson Tide @ (8) Oklahoma Sooners

It's a rematch in the first game of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. Oklahoma outlasted the Crimson Tide the first time the two met in mid-November, in a game that essentially vaulted them into the field. Now, Alabama is looking for vengeance on the road in Norman. 

Contrary to what we became so accustomed to during the Lincoln Riley years, it's the defense that sets the tone for this Sooners team. They allow just under 14 points per contest, and have the nastiest front seven in the country. But, can the offense do enough to beat Alabama for a second time? Amazingly, Oklahoma came out victorious despite just 212 yards of total offense and after going 3-13 on third down. John Mateer has not been himself since his thumb injury, but the ground game too has lacked the bite necessary to complement the defense.

Three turnovers are what doomed Alabama during the first matchup, but they looked the better team. It will be interesting to see how they respond after the SEC Championship Game loss, a game that wasn't very competitive. Was that the type of loss that will serve as an extra layer of motivation for a Playoff run, or an indication this team has completely faded down the stretch? I find myself leaning towards the former, because this team is far too talented to go down without a fight. Oklahoma may be able to muck this one up, but it's tough to beat any team twice during a season in this modern age of college football.

The Pick: Alabama, 27 Oklahoma, 20

(10) Miami Hurricanes @ (7) Texas A&M Aggies

Two teams playing in their first ever College Football Playoff, these two programs are eager to prove themselves on the grand stage. A&M suffered quite the hiccup with a loss to Texas on Black Friday in a game that exposed some notable flaws. The Aggies struggled to run the ball, couldn't stop the Longhorns the other way, and weren't as physical as they needed to be.

Miami suffered a few rough moments themselves in the middle part of the season, but the season-opening Notre Dame win and four straight victories to conclude the year was enough for them to gain entry into the field. This is a team with a clear X-factor: quarterback Carson Beck is going to make or break their fortunes. He threw six interceptions in their two losses this year, which came by a combined nine points. If he can't take care of the ball in this one, the Aggies are most certainly the type of opportunistic team that will capitalize on those mistakes.

For A&M, the offensive story has been an inconsistent one. Marcel Reed has plenty of moments of brilliance and the receivers are an explosive group, but there remains plenty of streakiness in his game. I also worry about this offensive line facing down the fearsome Hurricane defensive front, with Rueben Bain Jr. and company ready to show out. You also have to wonder how the staff shakeups are going to play out for the Aggies. Offensive coordinator Colin Klein is staying on through the Playoff after accepting the head coaching job at his alma mater, Kansas State. The same is true of defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. But, you have to think the fact both have one foot out the door is going to have an impact, and it's not a challenge the Hurricanes are dealing with.

The Pick: Miami, 31 Texas A&M, 28

(11) Tulane Green Wave @ (6) Ole Miss Rebels

Much like Texas A&M, these two teams are in major transition mode. Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall is officially moving on to Florida, but he's always sticking around for the College Football Playoff. The same can't be said of Lane Kiffin, who is officially gone and has taken several members of the Ole Miss staff with him. 

Despite the turnover in Oxford, we do have a clear picture of what this Rebel team will look to do on Saturday. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss leads a high-flying offense that includes star tailback Kewan Lacy and an abundance of options on the perimeter. Even without Lane in town, this is a group that has looked the part all season long and has to be eager to show out against a good Tulane defense - but one that ultimately is a Group of Five defense.

Springing an upset of the 11-1 Rebels will require some magic from the Green Wave and BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff at quarterback. The team leader in passing and running, Retzlaff has been a major addition to the roster after coming over late in the offseason. Retzlaff has a deep group of receivers to throw the ball to, with five different players eclipsing 300 yards on the season. But, it's an offense that lacks a ton of star power, and you do wonder whether Retzlaff is going to have the support he needs to make something happen.

This is a game that is also a rematch - with Ole Miss winning the first meeting in dominant fashion, 45-10. Tulane will have an opportunity to right their wrongs and will have more time to prepare, but there's such a difference on the depth chart between these two. Perhaps this stays close into the second half, but I still see Ole Miss running away with it eventually.

The Pick: Ole Miss, 41 Tulane, 21

(12) James Madison Dukes @ (5) Oregon Ducks

NFL Mock Draft 2026: Edition 2 (Early Edition)

Dante Moore, Oregon

 1. Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Surrounding Cam Ward with more talent to work with would be the traditional route for a team like the Titans, but I figure the franchise would be hard-pressed to pass up on a talent like Arvell Reese near the top of the Draft. It's not often you see a player at 6'4", 245 pounds move the way Reese does, and he's set the tone for a historically good Ohio State defense all season long. Already Reese is in good position to be the first player off the board next spring, and he's almost sure to blow folks away with his physical gifts in the pre-Draft process.

2. New York Giants

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

It's the Buckeyes going 1-2 here, as the Giants shore up their secondary with safety Caleb Downs. Downs was a high-profile recruit who began his career at Alabama and he played from Day One. Yet, he's elevated his play since arriving in Columbus, demonstrating jaw-dropping range, elite closing speed, and a high football IQ. He's one of the best safety prospects we've seen in a long, long time.

3. New Orleans Saints

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Tyler Shough has performed better than expected since taking over as the starting QB for the Saints, but is the 26-year old really the face of the future for New Orleans? It feels like the Saints will invest in a new signal-caller early on next spring, and Fernando Mendoza fits the bill. He's got the collegiate production to back it up, with a Heisman likely coming his way, and at 6'5" with a strong arm, he has the physical tools. 

4. Las Vegas Raiders

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

College Football Picks 2025: Week Fifteen (Championship Week)

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Current Picks Record: 69-47

Upset: 5-11

Superdogs: 6-4

Locks: 7-6

Big Ten Championship Game: (#2) Indiana Hoosiers @ (#1) Ohio State Buckeyes (Indianapolis)

Line: Ohio State -4

O/U: 47.5

The lone remaining undefeated teams in FBS ball collide this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ohio State has been on a march towards a second National Title, but they get their greatest test of the fall in this game against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers are no lovable underdog this year - they've dominated all season long, and look the part of a National Title frontrunner.

Both of these teams boast elite defenses, but it's still the quarterbacks likely to steal the show in this one. Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza are locked in a battle for the Heisman, with the winner of this game almost sure to become the national favorite. Sayin has looked in complete control in his first season as starter, shredding defenses to the tune of 3,065 yards an 30 touchdowns. It helps that he is throwing to arguably college football's premier receiver corps, headlined by Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. The pair has been banged up late this fall, but appear to be 100 percent at the right time, and you wonder if they have another gear set to unleash now. Smith was impressive all 2024 long, but it was the postseason were he made a name for himself as college football's best receiver - do we see a similar story this time around? Tight end Max Klare offers an awfully impressive complementary piece, and the passing game shouldn't overshadow how impressive the Buckeye rushing attack has been down the stretch. Freshman Bo Jackson has really emerged as the guy for the Buckeyes, as he nears the 1,000 yard mark in his first season of college ball. He's crossed the century mark in four of Ohio State's last five games, and has to be hungry to show what he can do against one of the nation's top defenses. You do have to wonder how Indiana is going to play this one on this side of the ball. The front seven is absolutely elite, a disciplined and violent group that rarely makes mistakes. Yet, this is the toughest challenge yet for the secondary, who hasn't seen a passing offense of this caliber yet this season. The closest thing they came to was likely Oregon, but the Ducks don't have a Smith or Tate on the outside, at least not yet (Dakorien Moore may get there). The Hoosiers are going to make the Buckeyes fight for everything up front, but you do wonder if a breakdown or two on the back-end could break this game wide open.

We've seen Indiana's offense hit another level this season after an impressive 2024, thanks in large part to the addition of Mendoza. Last year's signal-caller, Kurtis Rourke, was rock-solid, a veteran who put the team in position to win games. But, Mendoza is a legit NFL talent with the arm to burn opposing defenses down the field, something he's done early and often in 2025. He benefits from a deep group of playmakers around him, with Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt the top weapons at receiver, while Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black lead the ground attack. Hemby and Black are a pair of powerful runners that can carve up a defense, often setting up speedster Khobie Martin, or sucking in the defense for Mendoza to do his damage over-the-top. This will be a challenge for Indiana in that this Buckeye defense doesn't make the mistakes of other defenses. The Hoosiers are going to need to play a crisp game of football on this side of the ball, and likely be okay playing field position for a decent chunk of this game. You also have to wonder what things look like up front - the Hoosiers have given Mendoza ample protection all season long, but Ohio State is relentless. There may not be a Chase Young or Bosa brother along the Buckeye D-Line this year, but they'll come at you in waves. Add in Caleb Downs on the back-end, essentially the quarterback of this defense, they are impressive in everything they do.

Indiana may not have the endless collection of blue-chip recruits Ohio State has, but they're every bit as good of a football team as the Buckeyes. I get the feeling this is going to be a tight, low-scoring affair into the second half, until Ohio State is able to turn on the burners and separate. Their passing attack is just an advantage when you reach this point of the season, and I'm not entirely convinced the Hoosiers are ready to slow down the two-headed monster of Smith and Tate over four quarters.

The Pick: Ohio State, 28 Indiana, 21

SEC Championship Game: (#3) Georgia Bulldogs @ (#9) Alabama Crimson Tide (Atlanta)

Line: Georgia -2.5

O/U: 48.5