What's New
Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Welcome to The Platinum Board! We are a Nebraska Cornhuskers news source and community. Please click "Log In" or "Register" above to gain access to the forums.

2025-26 #PortalSZN Thread

jaihawk said:
I think you're forgetting CoachKathy that was a mom that posted on Rivals back in the day. Can't remember who's Mom she was, but that lady was a smokeshow and was amply blessed.
Click to expand...
what are the rules GIF
 
Irv said:
Despite the money we are willing to spend, we have a hard time getting players to come here when they can go to schools with outstanding recent success, such as Colorado.
Click to expand...
Deion was the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year just a couple years ago. Hard to compete with that. (Although Colorado was 4-8 at the time the award was announced for, and I quote, "transforming a moribund Colorado football program. and breathing fresh life into the campus and transformed a community." Oops.)
 
www.nytimes.com

Grading the Big Ten’s transfer portal classes, from Indiana’s ‘A’ to Michigan State’s ‘D+’

The defending national champs filled some big holes in the portal, most notably at quarterback with the arrival of Josh Hoover from TCU.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

tl;dr: DONU B+

Nebraska​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/17
  • Career snaps added/lost: 14,865/3,948
  • Top players added: QB Anthony Colandrea (UNLV), WR Kwazi Gilmer (UCLA), OG Brendan Black (Cockeye State), edge Anthony Jones (UCLA), LB Owen Chambliss (San Diego State)
Matt Rhule began his tenure in Lincoln by signing significantly more high school recruits (64) than transfers (21) over his first two seasons. He’s flipped the script the last two offseasons, signing 31 recruits and 33 transfers, including his smallest recruiting class yet (11 signees) this winter. Ten of the incoming transfers started at least five games last season at FBS schools, including five at P4 programs. Three of those new additions are on the offensive line. Colandrea, a 30-game starter in his career and last season’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, could prove to be a better fit in Dana Holgorsen’s offense than Dylan Raiola. In all, Nebraska lost only two full-time starters to the portal in Raiola and defensive lineman Keona Davis (Miami). Eleven other full-time starters returned. That’s pretty good retention of key assets in today’s era for a middling Big Ten team.

Grade: B+


Grading the Big Ten’s transfer portal classes, from Indiana’s ‘A’ to Michigan State’s ‘D+’​

By Manny Navarro
Feb. 18, 2026 6:00 am CST

Six Big Ten schools made The Athletic’s ranking of the top 25 transfer portal classes.

Indiana, Penn State and Ohio State finished in the top 12. And two teams hoping to climb out of the Big Ten cellar, UCLA and Wisconsin, also made the cut.

How did everyone else do? Here’s a look at how every team in the league fared during the portal window.

Note: All portal player and snap count data is from Pro Football Focus and includes only snaps played at their offensive or defensive positions (not on special teams). Players and snaps added or lost are via the portal only (numbers do not include players lost due to exhausted eligibility or draft declarations).

Illinois​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 17/26
  • Career snaps added/lost: 13,868/9,952
  • Top players added: QB Katin Houser (East Carolina), OT Christian Martin (Colorado State), C Jake Renfro (Wisconsin), LB Robert Edmonson (Colorado State), S Lavon Williams (East Texas A&M)
The Illini have won 19 games over the last two seasons, but need to replace 16 full-time starters, including three lost to the portal. The biggest areas of need were the offensive and defensive lines. Five of the eight transfers on defense are linemen, but none arrive from P4 programs. Both of the transfer offensive linemen have been full-time starters. Bret Bielema added eight transfers in all who started at least six games last season, but none played for a Power 4 program in 2025. Houser, who is taking over for Luke Altmyer at quarterback, is 15-11 as a starter with 43 touchdowns and 22 interceptions over his career. He’ll have four receivers who started at least nine games last season to throw to, including portal additions Jayshon Platt (FAU) and Alex Perry (FIU).

Grade: C



Indiana​

  • 2025 record: 16-0
  • Portal players added/lost: 17/15
  • Career snaps added/lost: 14,125/4,400
  • Top players added: QB Josh Hoover (TCU), RB Turbo Richard (Boston College), WR Nick Marsh (Michigan State), edge Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State), CB A.J. Harris (Penn State)
Curt Cignetti has to replace 15 starters from the national championship team, including one who transferred— defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler (Baylor). Indiana filled all those needs with experienced and talented players — with the possible exception of at tight end. Nine of the portal additions started at least six games last season. Hoover, who takes over for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, is 19-12 in his career as a starter with 71 touchdown passes and 33 interceptions. Six of the eight portal additions on defense were signed from P4 programs, including three full-time starters.

Grade: A


Cockeye​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 14/8
  • Career snaps added/lost: 7,715/2,512
  • Top players added: RB LJ Phillips (South Dakota), WR Tony Diaz (Texas Rio-Grande Valley), edge Kahmari Brown (Elon), S Anthony Hawkins (Villanova), S Tyler Brown (James Madison)
Cockeye needed to replace eight starters on offense and nine on defense, including one lost via the portal in safety Koen Entringer (Louisville). Kirk Ferentz and his staff did enough to fill some holes at receiver, defensive line and in the secondary. Kahmari Brown, who had 12 sacks at Elon in 2025, was one of four defensive linemen added to the roster. Tyler Brown, who picked Cockeye over offers from UCLA, Florida State, LSU and Wisconsin, started 14 games for JMU last season. He’s expected to replace Entringer at strong safety. Diaz, who had SEC schools pursuing him, and Phillips, who ran for 1,921 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, are upgrades at receiver and running back.

Grade: B-

Maryland​

  • 2025 record: 4-8
  • Portal players added/lost: 11/16
  • Career snaps added/lost: 7,788/5,697
  • Top players added: WR Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (Old Dominion), TE Preston Howard (Auburn), DL Derrick LeBlanc (UCF), DL Lavon Johnson (Texas), CB Amari Jackson (Boston College)
Mike Locksley enters his seventh season in College Park with the same approach to roster building — bringing in more high school recruits (17) than transfers (11). Maryland lost 10 full-time starters from last year’s 4-8 team, including three to the portal. The biggest holes to fill were on the offensive line, receiver and defensive back. Jackson, a 28-game starter in his career, was the only P4 part-time starter added on defense, while Gladding was the only full-time starter added on offense. It’s clear Locksley is counting on a lot of young players to grow up quickly and become effective. But if that fails, there’s no doubt this approach will be questioned.

Grade: D+

Michigan​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/26
  • Career snaps added/lost: 8,142/11,010
  • Top players added: TE JJ Buchanan (Utah), edge John Henry Daley (Utah), DL Jonah Lea’ea (Utah), LB Nathaniel Staehling (North Dakota State), CB Smith Snowden (Utah)
The Wolverines have always used the portal to fill needs, with high school recruiting as their main source for roster building. Nothing changed with Kyle Whittingham taking over. What’s noteworthy is he brought four full-time starters from Utah at positions of need — tight end, defensive line and secondary. The problem could turn out to be that he just wasn’t able to bring over enough immediate help. In all, 16 players who started at least five games last season departed, including four via the portal. Outside of the four imports from Utah, Whittingham was able to bring in only two other full-time starters, Staehling and safety Chris Bracy (Memphis). So, some young players will need to step up in 2026.

Grade: B-

Michigan State​

  • 2025 record: 4-8
  • Portal players added/lost: 26/44
  • Career snaps added/lost: 22,090/14,858
  • Top players added: RB Cam Edwards (UConn), OT Ben Murawski (UConn), OT Robert Wright Jr. (Georgia Southern), LB Dion Crawford (Buffalo), S Michael Richard (Louisiana Tech)
Coaching changes often lead to mass exodus, and that’s what happened at Michigan State, with the Spartans losing eight full-time starters to the portal. Pat Fitzgerald signed 13 players who started at least five games last season, but five are from the FCS ranks, and only three played at other P4 schools last season. In all, Michigan State has to replace 15 starters from last year’s 4-8 team. Fitzgerald did a good job filling holes on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary, but receiver is the one glaring position where it feels like the Spartans could have done a better job adding proven experience.

Grade: D+

Minnesota​

  • 2025 record: 8-5
  • Portal players added/lost: 19/21
  • Career snaps added/lost: 8,204/4,782
  • Top players added: WR Zion Steptoe (Tulsa), WR Perry Thompson (Auburn), TE Kaden Helms (Oklahoma), edge TJ Bush (Cal), LB Andrew Marshall (Eastern Michigan)
After operating at a 50-50 clip between high school recruits and the portal last year, P.J. Fleck went heavier on high school recruits (31) this cycle and signed a top-30 class. The portal additions include 10 players who played at least 200 snaps last season, but only half did so for P4 programs. Fleck signed a trio of quality receivers who will help second-year starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, but he lost two high-end talents in his secondary in Koi Perich (Oregon) and cornerback Za’Quan Bryan (USF). It just feels like the Gophers sort of broke even.

Grade: B-

Nebraska​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/17
  • Career snaps added/lost: 14,865/3,948
  • Top players added: QB Anthony Colandrea (UNLV), WR Kwazi Gilmer (UCLA), OG Brendan Black (Cockeye State), edge Anthony Jones (UCLA), LB Owen Chambliss (San Diego State)
Matt Rhule began his tenure in Lincoln by signing significantly more high school recruits (64) than transfers (21) over his first two seasons. He’s flipped the script the last two offseasons, signing 31 recruits and 33 transfers, including his smallest recruiting class yet (11 signees) this winter. Ten of the incoming transfers started at least five games last season at FBS schools, including five at P4 programs. Three of those new additions are on the offensive line. Colandrea, a 30-game starter in his career and last season’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, could prove to be a better fit in Dana Holgorsen’s offense than Dylan Raiola. In all, Nebraska lost only two full-time starters to the portal in Raiola and defensive lineman Keona Davis (Miami). Eleven other full-time starters returned. That’s pretty good retention of key assets in today’s era for a middling Big Ten team.

Grade: B+


Northwestern​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/9
  • Career snaps added/lost: 8,576/2,665
  • Top players added: QB Aidan Chiles (Michigan State), RB Gavin Sawchuk (Florida State), TE Alexander Honig (UConn), OT Grant Seagren (Oklahoma State), LB Kobie McKinzie (Oklahoma)
David Braun hasn’t strayed from his approach of taking more high school recruits than transfers, but the number of portal additions has increased to the point where it’s closer to a 60-40 split than 75-25 as was the case in his first two years on the job. Northwestern lost 11 full-time starters to graduation/eligibility and two more to the portal, but retained nine other starters from last year’s roster. General manager Christian Sarkisian filled gaps by signing eight players who started at least seven games last season, including four from P4 programs. Chiles, Honig, Seagren and McKenzie should all step into key roles. But it’s tough to project marked improvement because none of the additions are exceptional. Chiles is 8-12 as a starter.

Grade: C+

Ohio State​

  • 2025 record: 12-2
  • Portal players added/lost: 17/37
  • Career snaps added/lost: 10,620/5,904
  • Top players added: WR Devin McCuin (UTSA), TE Hunter Welcing (Northwestern), DL James Smith (Alabama), edge Qua Russaw (Alabama), S Earl Little Jr. (Florida State)
Ohio State has typically built its roster primarily through high school recruiting, but Ryan Day dipped into the transfer market a bit more than usual this offseason after the Buckeyes suffered heavy losses via the portal and to the NFL Draft. Nine of the portal additions started at least five games last season, including five at P4 programs. Smith, Russaw, defensive tackle John Walker (UCF) and linebacker Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin) will help fill some big shoes in the front seven. But there’s no doubt defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be counting on some young players to elevate their level of play next season. Offensively, the Buckeyes added only one lineman, former Dartmouth offensive tackle Vasean Washington. We’ll see if Day should’ve done more there.

Grade: B

Oregon​

  • 2025 record: 13-2
  • Portal players added/lost: 13/29
  • Career snaps added/lost: 7,825/5,918
  • Top players added: QB Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), WR Iverson Hooks (UAB), OT Michael Bennett (Yale), DL D’Antre Robinson (North Carolina), S Koi Perich (Minnesota)
Perich is the only clearly defined star in Oregon’s portal class, which figures to include fewer impact players than the one Dan Lanning signed a year ago. Eight of those 11 transfers became full-time starters on a team that lost to Indiana in the national semifinals. Seven of those players arrived at Oregon as full-time starters at their previous stops. This year’s class features only four full-time starters from other FBS programs, with Raiola expected to be the quarterback-in-waiting for 2027. The good news is the Ducks need to replace only 10 starters from the 2025 team.

Grade: B


Penn State​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 36/47
  • Career snaps added/lost: 21,950/10,483
  • Top players added: QB Rocco Becht (Cockeye State), RB Carson Hansen (Cockeye State), TE Benjamin Brahmer (Cockeye State), edge Ikenna Ezeogu (Cockeye State), LB Kooper Ebel (Cockeye State)
Feel free to make all the jokes you want about Penn State becoming Cockeye State East. New coach Matt Campbell brought 23 players with him from Ames, including a dozen who started at least half of the games last season. There were only two other portal additions who started at least six games last season for teams not named Cockeye State: center Brock Riker (Texas State) and defensive tackle Keanu Williams (UCLA). Campbell was able to retain four players who started at least four games last season, but 21 other part-time starters are gone (14 ran out of eligibility or entered the draft and seven entered the portal). So, yes, we’re basically going to see how Cockeye State’s 2025 team fares in the Big Ten this coming season.

Grade: B+

Purdue​

  • 2025 record: 2-10
  • Portal players added/lost: 29/21
  • Career snaps added/lost: 16,549/8,469
  • Top players added: RB Jerrick Gibson (Texas), OL Boaz Stanley (South Carolina), edge Elo Modozie (Georgia), LB Jojo Hayden (Illinois), S Jaden Mangham (Michigan)
The Boilermakers, who have lost 18 conference games in a row, signed eight transfers who played last season in the Big Ten. Mangham, offensive lineman Micah Banuelos (USC) and defensive lineman Curt Neal (Illinois) are three of the notable intra-conference additions. In all, 20 of the 29 incoming transfers played at the P4 level last season. On the negative side, Purdue lost five players to the portal who started at least seven games last season.

Grade: C+

Rutgers​

  • 2025 record: 5-7
  • Portal players added/lost: 13/16
  • Career snaps added/lost: 12,139/9,045
  • Top players added: QB Dylan Lonergan (Boston College), TE Kameron Anthony (Ball State), edge Malachi Davis (Toledo), CB Kevyn Humes (Maryland), CB Bradlee Jones (Citadel)
There are a lot of holes for Greg Schiano to patch up after Rutgers finished at or near the bottom of the Big Ten in rushing defense, passing efficiency defense, scoring defense and sacks allowed. Five players who started at least five games last season left for other P4 programs, including cornerbacks Jacobie Henderson (Virginia) and Bo Mascoe (Texas). Lonergan, who was 2-7 as a starter at Boston College last season, and Humes were the only P4 starters signed out of the portal. Four transfers are moving up from the FCS ranks. The good news is Rutgers’ portal haul includes 10 players with double-digit career starts, and all 13 additions played 300 snaps or more last season.

Grade: C-

UCLA​

  • 2025 record: 3-9
  • Portal players added/lost: 41/24
  • Career snaps added/lost: 24,415/12,732
  • Top players added: WR Aidan Mizell (Florida), OL Riley Robell (James Madison), edge Sahir West (James Madison), LB Sammy Omosigho (Oklahoma), S Tao Johnson (Utah)
Bob Chesney brought 10 players with him from James Madison, including six who started at least 11 games. Most notable among that group are West, Wayne Knight, the Dukes’ leading rusher, and top receiver Landon Ellis. In all, the Bruins signed six players who started games last season at Power 4 schools, including Johnson, whose 36 career starts are the most of any player added to the roster.

Grade: B

USC​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 10/22
  • Career snaps added/lost: 6,811/3,798
  • Top players added: WR Terrell Anderson (NC State), DL Alex VanSumeren (Michigan State), edge Zuriah Fisher (Penn State), LB Deven Bryant (Washington), CB Jontez Williams (Cockeye State)
The Trojans invested a lot more resources into their top-rated high school recruiting class than their portal class, but the group of transfers wasn’t bad. The class includes five players who started at least five games for P4 schools last season, including three full-time starters on defense in VanSumeren, Fisher and Bryan. The question going forward will be if USC should’ve used more resources on players who could help immediately via the portal rather than a 35-member recruiting class that will likely include only a few immediate contributors.

Grade: B

Washington​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 13/22
  • Career snaps added/lost: 6,921/5,138
  • Top players added: RB Jayden Limar (Oregon), WR Christian Moss (Kennesaw State), OT Kolt Dieterich (Sam Houston State), DL Darin Conley (Ball State), CB Emmanuel Karnley (Virginia)
Jedd Fisch’s biggest offseason victory was holding onto quarterback Demond Williams. Otherwise, it was a ho-hum run in the portal for the Huskies, who had five players who started at least four games transfer out, notably linebacker Deven Bryant (USC) and receiver Raiden Vines-Bright (Arizona State). Nine other full-time starters need to be replaced, including three on the defensive line. That task will mostly fall on homegrown talent. After signing more transfers (29) than high school recruits (18) upon his arrival in Seattle two years ago, Fisch has gone the other way in back-to-back years. This year’s haul features only five players who were full-time starters in 2026, with Karnley the only one to come over from a P4 program.

Grade: C

Wisconsin​

  • 2025 record: 4-8
  • Portal players added/lost: 33/23
  • Career snaps added/lost: 18,208/13,289
  • Top players added: QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion), WR Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State), LB Bangally Kamara (Kansas), CB Javan Robinson (Arizona State), S Marvin Burks Jr. (Missouri)
Luke #2ndChoice went from bringing in 22 high school recruits and 22 transfers a year ago to going heavy on portal pickups this cycle (33) after suffering through back-to-back losing seasons. The Badgers had the second-worst scoring offense in the country and started four different quarterbacks in 2025. Joseph, a dynamic dual-threat who is 12-8 as a starter at Old Dominion and coming off winning the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award, is an ideal fit for Jeff Grimes’ offense. #2ndChoice signed seven defensive players, including four from Power 4 programs who started at least three games. This group will have to step in and fill holes on a defense that lost nine starters.

Grade: B
 
dom91932 said:
www.nytimes.com

Grading the Big Ten’s transfer portal classes, from Indiana’s ‘A’ to Michigan State’s ‘D+’

The defending national champs filled some big holes in the portal, most notably at quarterback with the arrival of Josh Hoover from TCU.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

tl;dr: DONU B+

Nebraska​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/17
  • Career snaps added/lost: 14,865/3,948
  • Top players added: QB Anthony Colandrea (UNLV), WR Kwazi Gilmer (UCLA), OG Brendan Black (Cockeye State), edge Anthony Jones (UCLA), LB Owen Chambliss (San Diego State)
Matt Rhule began his tenure in Lincoln by signing significantly more high school recruits (64) than transfers (21) over his first two seasons. He’s flipped the script the last two offseasons, signing 31 recruits and 33 transfers, including his smallest recruiting class yet (11 signees) this winter. Ten of the incoming transfers started at least five games last season at FBS schools, including five at P4 programs. Three of those new additions are on the offensive line. Colandrea, a 30-game starter in his career and last season’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, could prove to be a better fit in Dana Holgorsen’s offense than Dylan Raiola. In all, Nebraska lost only two full-time starters to the portal in Raiola and defensive lineman Keona Davis (Miami). Eleven other full-time starters returned. That’s pretty good retention of key assets in today’s era for a middling Big Ten team.

Grade: B+


Grading the Big Ten’s transfer portal classes, from Indiana’s ‘A’ to Michigan State’s ‘D+’​

By Manny Navarro
Feb. 18, 2026 6:00 am CST

Six Big Ten schools made The Athletic’s ranking of the top 25 transfer portal classes.

Indiana, Penn State and Ohio State finished in the top 12. And two teams hoping to climb out of the Big Ten cellar, UCLA and Wisconsin, also made the cut.

How did everyone else do? Here’s a look at how every team in the league fared during the portal window.

Note: All portal player and snap count data is from Pro Football Focus and includes only snaps played at their offensive or defensive positions (not on special teams). Players and snaps added or lost are via the portal only (numbers do not include players lost due to exhausted eligibility or draft declarations).

Illinois​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 17/26
  • Career snaps added/lost: 13,868/9,952
  • Top players added: QB Katin Houser (East Carolina), OT Christian Martin (Colorado State), C Jake Renfro (Wisconsin), LB Robert Edmonson (Colorado State), S Lavon Williams (East Texas A&M)
The Illini have won 19 games over the last two seasons, but need to replace 16 full-time starters, including three lost to the portal. The biggest areas of need were the offensive and defensive lines. Five of the eight transfers on defense are linemen, but none arrive from P4 programs. Both of the transfer offensive linemen have been full-time starters. Bret Bielema added eight transfers in all who started at least six games last season, but none played for a Power 4 program in 2025. Houser, who is taking over for Luke Altmyer at quarterback, is 15-11 as a starter with 43 touchdowns and 22 interceptions over his career. He’ll have four receivers who started at least nine games last season to throw to, including portal additions Jayshon Platt (FAU) and Alex Perry (FIU).

Grade: C



Indiana​

  • 2025 record: 16-0
  • Portal players added/lost: 17/15
  • Career snaps added/lost: 14,125/4,400
  • Top players added: QB Josh Hoover (TCU), RB Turbo Richard (Boston College), WR Nick Marsh (Michigan State), edge Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State), CB A.J. Harris (Penn State)
Curt Cignetti has to replace 15 starters from the national championship team, including one who transferred— defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler (Baylor). Indiana filled all those needs with experienced and talented players — with the possible exception of at tight end. Nine of the portal additions started at least six games last season. Hoover, who takes over for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, is 19-12 in his career as a starter with 71 touchdown passes and 33 interceptions. Six of the eight portal additions on defense were signed from P4 programs, including three full-time starters.

Grade: A


Cockeye​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 14/8
  • Career snaps added/lost: 7,715/2,512
  • Top players added: RB LJ Phillips (South Dakota), WR Tony Diaz (Texas Rio-Grande Valley), edge Kahmari Brown (Elon), S Anthony Hawkins (Villanova), S Tyler Brown (James Madison)
Cockeye needed to replace eight starters on offense and nine on defense, including one lost via the portal in safety Koen Entringer (Louisville). Kirk Ferentz and his staff did enough to fill some holes at receiver, defensive line and in the secondary. Kahmari Brown, who had 12 sacks at Elon in 2025, was one of four defensive linemen added to the roster. Tyler Brown, who picked Cockeye over offers from UCLA, Florida State, LSU and Wisconsin, started 14 games for JMU last season. He’s expected to replace Entringer at strong safety. Diaz, who had SEC schools pursuing him, and Phillips, who ran for 1,921 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, are upgrades at receiver and running back.

Grade: B-

Maryland​

  • 2025 record: 4-8
  • Portal players added/lost: 11/16
  • Career snaps added/lost: 7,788/5,697
  • Top players added: WR Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (Old Dominion), TE Preston Howard (Auburn), DL Derrick LeBlanc (UCF), DL Lavon Johnson (Texas), CB Amari Jackson (Boston College)
Mike Locksley enters his seventh season in College Park with the same approach to roster building — bringing in more high school recruits (17) than transfers (11). Maryland lost 10 full-time starters from last year’s 4-8 team, including three to the portal. The biggest holes to fill were on the offensive line, receiver and defensive back. Jackson, a 28-game starter in his career, was the only P4 part-time starter added on defense, while Gladding was the only full-time starter added on offense. It’s clear Locksley is counting on a lot of young players to grow up quickly and become effective. But if that fails, there’s no doubt this approach will be questioned.

Grade: D+

Michigan​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/26
  • Career snaps added/lost: 8,142/11,010
  • Top players added: TE JJ Buchanan (Utah), edge John Henry Daley (Utah), DL Jonah Lea’ea (Utah), LB Nathaniel Staehling (North Dakota State), CB Smith Snowden (Utah)
The Wolverines have always used the portal to fill needs, with high school recruiting as their main source for roster building. Nothing changed with Kyle Whittingham taking over. What’s noteworthy is he brought four full-time starters from Utah at positions of need — tight end, defensive line and secondary. The problem could turn out to be that he just wasn’t able to bring over enough immediate help. In all, 16 players who started at least five games last season departed, including four via the portal. Outside of the four imports from Utah, Whittingham was able to bring in only two other full-time starters, Staehling and safety Chris Bracy (Memphis). So, some young players will need to step up in 2026.

Grade: B-

Michigan State​

  • 2025 record: 4-8
  • Portal players added/lost: 26/44
  • Career snaps added/lost: 22,090/14,858
  • Top players added: RB Cam Edwards (UConn), OT Ben Murawski (UConn), OT Robert Wright Jr. (Georgia Southern), LB Dion Crawford (Buffalo), S Michael Richard (Louisiana Tech)
Coaching changes often lead to mass exodus, and that’s what happened at Michigan State, with the Spartans losing eight full-time starters to the portal. Pat Fitzgerald signed 13 players who started at least five games last season, but five are from the FCS ranks, and only three played at other P4 schools last season. In all, Michigan State has to replace 15 starters from last year’s 4-8 team. Fitzgerald did a good job filling holes on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary, but receiver is the one glaring position where it feels like the Spartans could have done a better job adding proven experience.

Grade: D+

Minnesota​

  • 2025 record: 8-5
  • Portal players added/lost: 19/21
  • Career snaps added/lost: 8,204/4,782
  • Top players added: WR Zion Steptoe (Tulsa), WR Perry Thompson (Auburn), TE Kaden Helms (Oklahoma), edge TJ Bush (Cal), LB Andrew Marshall (Eastern Michigan)
After operating at a 50-50 clip between high school recruits and the portal last year, P.J. Fleck went heavier on high school recruits (31) this cycle and signed a top-30 class. The portal additions include 10 players who played at least 200 snaps last season, but only half did so for P4 programs. Fleck signed a trio of quality receivers who will help second-year starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, but he lost two high-end talents in his secondary in Koi Perich (Oregon) and cornerback Za’Quan Bryan (USF). It just feels like the Gophers sort of broke even.

Grade: B-

Nebraska​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/17
  • Career snaps added/lost: 14,865/3,948
  • Top players added: QB Anthony Colandrea (UNLV), WR Kwazi Gilmer (UCLA), OG Brendan Black (Cockeye State), edge Anthony Jones (UCLA), LB Owen Chambliss (San Diego State)
Matt Rhule began his tenure in Lincoln by signing significantly more high school recruits (64) than transfers (21) over his first two seasons. He’s flipped the script the last two offseasons, signing 31 recruits and 33 transfers, including his smallest recruiting class yet (11 signees) this winter. Ten of the incoming transfers started at least five games last season at FBS schools, including five at P4 programs. Three of those new additions are on the offensive line. Colandrea, a 30-game starter in his career and last season’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, could prove to be a better fit in Dana Holgorsen’s offense than Dylan Raiola. In all, Nebraska lost only two full-time starters to the portal in Raiola and defensive lineman Keona Davis (Miami). Eleven other full-time starters returned. That’s pretty good retention of key assets in today’s era for a middling Big Ten team.

Grade: B+


Northwestern​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 16/9
  • Career snaps added/lost: 8,576/2,665
  • Top players added: QB Aidan Chiles (Michigan State), RB Gavin Sawchuk (Florida State), TE Alexander Honig (UConn), OT Grant Seagren (Oklahoma State), LB Kobie McKinzie (Oklahoma)
David Braun hasn’t strayed from his approach of taking more high school recruits than transfers, but the number of portal additions has increased to the point where it’s closer to a 60-40 split than 75-25 as was the case in his first two years on the job. Northwestern lost 11 full-time starters to graduation/eligibility and two more to the portal, but retained nine other starters from last year’s roster. General manager Christian Sarkisian filled gaps by signing eight players who started at least seven games last season, including four from P4 programs. Chiles, Honig, Seagren and McKenzie should all step into key roles. But it’s tough to project marked improvement because none of the additions are exceptional. Chiles is 8-12 as a starter.

Grade: C+

Ohio State​

  • 2025 record: 12-2
  • Portal players added/lost: 17/37
  • Career snaps added/lost: 10,620/5,904
  • Top players added: WR Devin McCuin (UTSA), TE Hunter Welcing (Northwestern), DL James Smith (Alabama), edge Qua Russaw (Alabama), S Earl Little Jr. (Florida State)
Ohio State has typically built its roster primarily through high school recruiting, but Ryan Day dipped into the transfer market a bit more than usual this offseason after the Buckeyes suffered heavy losses via the portal and to the NFL Draft. Nine of the portal additions started at least five games last season, including five at P4 programs. Smith, Russaw, defensive tackle John Walker (UCF) and linebacker Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin) will help fill some big shoes in the front seven. But there’s no doubt defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be counting on some young players to elevate their level of play next season. Offensively, the Buckeyes added only one lineman, former Dartmouth offensive tackle Vasean Washington. We’ll see if Day should’ve done more there.

Grade: B

Oregon​

  • 2025 record: 13-2
  • Portal players added/lost: 13/29
  • Career snaps added/lost: 7,825/5,918
  • Top players added: QB Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), WR Iverson Hooks (UAB), OT Michael Bennett (Yale), DL D’Antre Robinson (North Carolina), S Koi Perich (Minnesota)
Perich is the only clearly defined star in Oregon’s portal class, which figures to include fewer impact players than the one Dan Lanning signed a year ago. Eight of those 11 transfers became full-time starters on a team that lost to Indiana in the national semifinals. Seven of those players arrived at Oregon as full-time starters at their previous stops. This year’s class features only four full-time starters from other FBS programs, with Raiola expected to be the quarterback-in-waiting for 2027. The good news is the Ducks need to replace only 10 starters from the 2025 team.

Grade: B


Penn State​

  • 2025 record: 7-6
  • Portal players added/lost: 36/47
  • Career snaps added/lost: 21,950/10,483
  • Top players added: QB Rocco Becht (Cockeye State), RB Carson Hansen (Cockeye State), TE Benjamin Brahmer (Cockeye State), edge Ikenna Ezeogu (Cockeye State), LB Kooper Ebel (Cockeye State)
Feel free to make all the jokes you want about Penn State becoming Cockeye State East. New coach Matt Campbell brought 23 players with him from Ames, including a dozen who started at least half of the games last season. There were only two other portal additions who started at least six games last season for teams not named Cockeye State: center Brock Riker (Texas State) and defensive tackle Keanu Williams (UCLA). Campbell was able to retain four players who started at least four games last season, but 21 other part-time starters are gone (14 ran out of eligibility or entered the draft and seven entered the portal). So, yes, we’re basically going to see how Cockeye State’s 2025 team fares in the Big Ten this coming season.

Grade: B+

Purdue​

  • 2025 record: 2-10
  • Portal players added/lost: 29/21
  • Career snaps added/lost: 16,549/8,469
  • Top players added: RB Jerrick Gibson (Texas), OL Boaz Stanley (South Carolina), edge Elo Modozie (Georgia), LB Jojo Hayden (Illinois), S Jaden Mangham (Michigan)
The Boilermakers, who have lost 18 conference games in a row, signed eight transfers who played last season in the Big Ten. Mangham, offensive lineman Micah Banuelos (USC) and defensive lineman Curt Neal (Illinois) are three of the notable intra-conference additions. In all, 20 of the 29 incoming transfers played at the P4 level last season. On the negative side, Purdue lost five players to the portal who started at least seven games last season.

Grade: C+

Rutgers​

  • 2025 record: 5-7
  • Portal players added/lost: 13/16
  • Career snaps added/lost: 12,139/9,045
  • Top players added: QB Dylan Lonergan (Boston College), TE Kameron Anthony (Ball State), edge Malachi Davis (Toledo), CB Kevyn Humes (Maryland), CB Bradlee Jones (Citadel)
There are a lot of holes for Greg Schiano to patch up after Rutgers finished at or near the bottom of the Big Ten in rushing defense, passing efficiency defense, scoring defense and sacks allowed. Five players who started at least five games last season left for other P4 programs, including cornerbacks Jacobie Henderson (Virginia) and Bo Mascoe (Texas). Lonergan, who was 2-7 as a starter at Boston College last season, and Humes were the only P4 starters signed out of the portal. Four transfers are moving up from the FCS ranks. The good news is Rutgers’ portal haul includes 10 players with double-digit career starts, and all 13 additions played 300 snaps or more last season.

Grade: C-

UCLA​

  • 2025 record: 3-9
  • Portal players added/lost: 41/24
  • Career snaps added/lost: 24,415/12,732
  • Top players added: WR Aidan Mizell (Florida), OL Riley Robell (James Madison), edge Sahir West (James Madison), LB Sammy Omosigho (Oklahoma), S Tao Johnson (Utah)
Bob Chesney brought 10 players with him from James Madison, including six who started at least 11 games. Most notable among that group are West, Wayne Knight, the Dukes’ leading rusher, and top receiver Landon Ellis. In all, the Bruins signed six players who started games last season at Power 4 schools, including Johnson, whose 36 career starts are the most of any player added to the roster.

Grade: B

USC​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 10/22
  • Career snaps added/lost: 6,811/3,798
  • Top players added: WR Terrell Anderson (NC State), DL Alex VanSumeren (Michigan State), edge Zuriah Fisher (Penn State), LB Deven Bryant (Washington), CB Jontez Williams (Cockeye State)
The Trojans invested a lot more resources into their top-rated high school recruiting class than their portal class, but the group of transfers wasn’t bad. The class includes five players who started at least five games for P4 schools last season, including three full-time starters on defense in VanSumeren, Fisher and Bryan. The question going forward will be if USC should’ve used more resources on players who could help immediately via the portal rather than a 35-member recruiting class that will likely include only a few immediate contributors.

Grade: B

Washington​

  • 2025 record: 9-4
  • Portal players added/lost: 13/22
  • Career snaps added/lost: 6,921/5,138
  • Top players added: RB Jayden Limar (Oregon), WR Christian Moss (Kennesaw State), OT Kolt Dieterich (Sam Houston State), DL Darin Conley (Ball State), CB Emmanuel Karnley (Virginia)
Jedd Fisch’s biggest offseason victory was holding onto quarterback Demond Williams. Otherwise, it was a ho-hum run in the portal for the Huskies, who had five players who started at least four games transfer out, notably linebacker Deven Bryant (USC) and receiver Raiden Vines-Bright (Arizona State). Nine other full-time starters need to be replaced, including three on the defensive line. That task will mostly fall on homegrown talent. After signing more transfers (29) than high school recruits (18) upon his arrival in Seattle two years ago, Fisch has gone the other way in back-to-back years. This year’s haul features only five players who were full-time starters in 2026, with Karnley the only one to come over from a P4 program.

Grade: C

Wisconsin​

  • 2025 record: 4-8
  • Portal players added/lost: 33/23
  • Career snaps added/lost: 18,208/13,289
  • Top players added: QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion), WR Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State), LB Bangally Kamara (Kansas), CB Javan Robinson (Arizona State), S Marvin Burks Jr. (Missouri)
Luke #2ndChoice went from bringing in 22 high school recruits and 22 transfers a year ago to going heavy on portal pickups this cycle (33) after suffering through back-to-back losing seasons. The Badgers had the second-worst scoring offense in the country and started four different quarterbacks in 2025. Joseph, a dynamic dual-threat who is 12-8 as a starter at Old Dominion and coming off winning the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award, is an ideal fit for Jeff Grimes’ offense. #2ndChoice signed seven defensive players, including four from Power 4 programs who started at least three games. This group will have to step in and fill holes on a defense that lost nine starters.

Grade: B
Click to expand...
We're tied for 2nd best??? :shocked:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top