2026 Transfer Portal - General

[NDWarrior]

I would add ASU to the list.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Tim Prister just said that IU paid more for Marsh than ND paid Love

For a business school that is ridiculous

This shouldn't surprise anyone...

The loss of Jeremiah Love at Notre Dame, without going to the Portal, results in a quality running back in Aneyas Williams taking over. A kid that had tons of good offers out of high school and has shown glimpses of being really good.

The loss of Elijah Surratt at Indiana, without going to the Portal, results in a barely passable boundary WR taking over that would play a part in reverting Indiana back to a .500 Big 10 team.

Indiana has to break the bank for the best players they can find in the Portal because they can't attract talented kids out of high school.

Indiana is set to lose 16 starters off this year's squad. They only return 6 projected starters, which means they have no choice but to go to transfer portal because they don't have much in the way of talent to develop internally. They also have a ton of Rev Share / NIL money available because when you are set to lose 16 guys, who do you have to pay?

By comparison, ND is set to lose 7 starters off this year's squad. They return 9/11 starters on defense and 6/11 starters on offense, totaling 15 starters. ND is essentially returning as many starters as Indiana is losing. The bulk of ND's Rev Share / NIL is being used to retain ND's own best players. Indiana's is being used to attract replacements.

I wouldn't dream of trading ND's projected starting group for Indiana's... Would you?

 

[RudyVerse]

So you’re under the assumption that every portal addition will hit 100% of the time?

No, but I’m under the assumption missing your top target ensures 100% failure. And they are picking off our guys right now.

And portal guys WILL naturally hit more often than high school kids since they’ve played at this level.

It’s like down playing missing on a 5 star because “who knows if they’ll pan out”. I’d much rather find out with said 5 star on our roster.

 

[arrowryan]

No, but I’m under the assumption missing your top target ensures 100% failure. And they are picking off our guys right now.

And portal guys WILL naturally hit more often than high school kids since they’ve played at this level.

It’s like down playing missing on a 5 star because “who knows if they’ll pan out”. I’d much rather find out with said 5 star on our roster.

Nick Marsh wasn’t a 5 star, nor has he played like one. Everyone misses on top targets. They are top targets for a reason and everyone wants them.

Does it suck that ND probably miscalculated opening weekend? Yeah. But let’s not act like there aren’t other guys still on the board.

 

[IrishLax]

Miami has a ton of high school talent. It’s mainly just been QB the portal. And then this season specifically the secondary because last years guys stunk. Even then I think by seasons end 2 ended up being HS recruits.

53.6% of starts for Miami were by transfers, per the Athletic. Of CFP teams, Ole Miss was the most mercenary team, followed by Indiana (with notable asterisk that it includes a bunch of JMU guys in this equation) and then Texas Tech. Miami is next.

Most teams were between 30% and 45%, Ohio State at 28% and Georgia the main outlier at 10%. For reference, I believe ND would be around 10%-15% as well depending on how many starts some of the rotational guys were credited with.

 

[Blazers46]

Also worthy to note Cig has experience paying players before paying players was legal… he comes from Alabama so I can assume the obvious. Hes out NIL-ing ND because this is new to ND… this is my random copium as of 12:25p today.

 

[RudyVerse]

 

[JamIrish]

Miami has a ton of transfers...some aren't first year transfers but half their two deep are transfers. All 4 of the semi finalist are loaded with transfers. Even Oregon's has ten starters who are transfers. Check out this site and look at how many of the 4 team's players have a "TR" next to their name.

2026 Oregon Ducks Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.

www.ourlads.com

Beck-Georgia
Bauman-Tulane
Bell-JUCO
Brockermeyer-TCU/Bama
Daniels-Liberty/LSU
Marion-BYU

Blay-LA Tech
Mesidor-WVA
Toure-Rutgers
Thomas-Tenn/Middle Tenn
Poyser-JSU
O'Connor-Wazzu
K.Scott-Auburn

 

[Dale]

Miami has a ton of transfers...some aren't first year transfers but half their two deep are transfers. All 4 of the semi finalist are loaded with transfers. Even Oregon's has ten starters who are transfers. Check out this sight and look at how many of the 4 team's players have a "TR" next to their name.

2026 Oregon Ducks Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.

www.ourlads.com

Beck-Georgia
Bauman-Tulane
Bell-JUCO
Brockermeyer-TCU/Bama
Daniels-Liberty/LSU
Marion-BYU

Blay-LA Tech
Mesidor-WVA
Toure-Rutgers
Thomas-Tenn/Middle Tenn
Poyser-JSU
O'Connor-Wazzu
K.Scott-Auburn

Yeah 4 in the secondary makes a huge difference plus multi year guys like Bell and Mesidor.

Freaking Mesidor is a 24 year old COVID guy who has been at Miami for 4 years now. Insane.

 

[IrishLax]

Lincoln Riley is the anti-Cignetti:

 

[BeauBenken]

Lincoln Riley is the anti-Cignetti:

According to someone in the replies he was injured on the one catch he had and out for the rest of the season.

 

[RudyVerse]

KK Smith to the portal. Kind of bummed about this one.

 

[CanadalovesND]

He had a few nice moments last year.

Although the Portal opened just days ago, it seems like if he knew he was going to transfer out, I'm surprised he wouldn't have done it earlier.

 

[Dale]

How the f does a former stud recruit from Mater Dei end up at post-Campbell Iowa State

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

KK Smith to the portal. Kind of bummed about this one.

Yeah, this sucks
not from a "on-the-field" perspective
but for the "how this sport is going" perspective

We'll get someone close to his talents probably. Just musical chairs.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Wonder how long it will be before we start seeing portal flips? Commit early in the period and then flip to another team later in the period after being offered more money.

 

[Huntr]

lul

 

[CanadalovesND]

lul

Not to be confused with Times Square in NYC.

 

[ab2cmiller]

lul

Maybe it's the cold weather. He may never lose another November game again if he plays in Texas.

 

[NDWarrior]

Just try and move me out da way!

 

[RudyVerse]

Is there a NCAA rule that kids have to notify coaching staff x-amount of days ahead of portal opening of their intent? Or are these kids just walking in day of, unannounced and dropping jersey's like in Rudy?

This seems like a reasonable rule to enforce so you're not leaving these staffs in a tail spin with unexpected transfers, further frustrating your top coaches out of college and into NFL.

Don't see why there can't there be a 2-week ahead of time rule where a kid has to notify of intent. No one loses in that case and at least gives the staffs a chance to game plan.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Wonder how long it will be before we start seeing portal flips? Commit early in the period and then flip to another team later in the period after being offered more money.

You know it's coming... Commit on a visit, but not sign anything. Announce the commitment but that you're still open to offers until X date in order to drive up the price.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Is there a NCAA rule that kids have to notify coaching staff x-amount of days ahead of portal opening of their intent? Or are these kids just walking in day of, unannounced and dropping jersey's like in Rudy?

This seems like a reasonable rule to enforce so you're not leaving these staffs in a tail spin with unexpected transfers, further frustrating your top coaches out of college and into NFL.

Don't see why there can't there be a 2-week ahead of time rule where a kid has to notify of intent. No one loses in that case and at least gives the staffs a chance to game plan.

Most players have an idea if they want to transfer out after the season. In NDs case, I dont know when they had their "financial" meetings with each player, but that certainly played a part in why some players made later decisions to transfer out.

 

[Chino Cherokee]

KK Smith to the portal. Kind of bummed about this one.

NO!! I really liked him!

 

[Chino Cherokee]

Could someone please explain something to me?

NIL money, or whatever money a university can pay an athlete: Do all schools have an equal amount of money to pay?

TIA

 

[Canes4theWin]

Is there a NCAA rule that kids have to notify coaching staff x-amount of days ahead of portal opening of their intent? Or are these kids just walking in day of, unannounced and dropping jersey's like in Rudy?

This seems like a reasonable rule to enforce so you're not leaving these staffs in a tail spin with unexpected transfers, further frustrating your top coaches out of college and into NFL.

Don't see why there can't there be a 2-week ahead of time rule where a kid has to notify of intent. No one loses in that case and at least gives the staffs a chance to game plan.

No there is not. I think coaches set the expectation that they want to have the chance to speak with them before they enter the portal.

 

[Irishnuke]

Not to be confused with Times Square in NYC.

Is that not Times Square in NYC?

 

[CanadalovesND]

Is that not Times Square in NYC?

Former Mayor Adams' budget cuts forced the city to downsize Times Square!

 

[JerseyIrishMan]

Is there a NCAA rule that kids have to notify coaching staff x-amount of days ahead of portal opening of their intent? Or are these kids just walking in day of, unannounced and dropping jersey's like in Rudy?

This seems like a reasonable rule to enforce so you're not leaving these staffs in a tail spin with unexpected transfers, further frustrating your top coaches out of college and into NFL.

Don't see why there can't there be a 2-week ahead of time rule where a kid has to notify of intent. No one loses in that case and at least gives the staffs a chance to game plan.

Most programs have that conversation during end of year meetings which are scheduled at different times for different teams, but most usually take place around championship bowl week. Then coaches can get a sense for players plans.

Believe it's usually a 48 hour turnaround time between a player officially notifying staff and when they actually show up in the portal. Granted, many entries will do so with a no-contact tag, if they've already developed their exit plan.

Lot of work to be done on the CFB calendar.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Could someone please explain something to me?

NIL money, or whatever money a university can pay an athlete: Do all schools have an equal amount of money to pay?

TIA

The money comes from 2 pools.

Revenue Share is the product of the House settlement. It dictates that schools can pay an annual sum of $20.5 million students athletes at their respective schools. The money can be allotted to whichever sports / student athletes that school chooses. For example, it's been reported that approximately $17 million worth of that annual funding is set aside for Notre Dame football. All schools are bound by the same cap on that money until the year 2035.

NIL is seperate, unlimited and is governed through the NCAA clearing house. Collectives (think booster clubs on steroids) pool money to further incentivize players with cash and assets.

That's what makes it complicated. Players often get paid both Rev Share money + NIL money. The combination of the two equates to their total financial package. Therefore, depending on how much money exists in the NIL pool at each school, some places can definitely spend more than others.