Just when it looked like the winter college football transfer portal was winding down, college football's greatest coach retired and sparked a whole new wave of movement.
More than 2,000 players entered the portal in December, including several high-profile quarterbacks and a few former top recruits. Then, following the College Football Playoff National Championship, Alabama coach Nick Saban announced his retirement which, by rule, allowed Crimson Tide players a 30-day window to transfer.
Saban's departure, Bama's hiring of Washington coach Kalen DeBoer and UW's hiring of Arizona coach Jedd Fisch sent players from three highly ranked teams into the portal.
Five-star QB Julian Sayin and star freshman defensive back Caleb Downs left Alabama for Ohio State in the span of a few days. That came after Oregon and Ole Miss put together massive, and impressive, transfer classes.
Which move was best? Which player will have an impact on the upcoming College Football Playoff race? Which team still has questions to answer? Our experts break down all that's happened so far in the portal.
Jump to a section:
Best additions | QB fits
Surprise moves | Teams that filled needs
CFP impact | Spring questions
What was the best signing from the portal?
Tom VanHaaren: Alabama QB Julian Sayin to Ohio State. This is a pick for the future more than it is for the upcoming season. Ohio State has completely changed the quarterback room in one offseason by signing Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, five-star prospect Sayin, and incoming ESPN 300 freshman Air Noland. The staff went from losing starter Kyle McCord with no real options to one of the better quarterback rooms in the country. And a succession plan that features players who could better lead OSU's offense.
Adam Rittenberg: Alabama safety Caleb Downs to Ohio State. Downs gives an ascending Buckeyes defense a proven playmaker in the back end for at least the next two seasons. Although Georgia appeared to be the likeliest destination for Downs, Ohio State's impressive personnel push led the Alabama transfer to pick the Buckeyes. Downs became the first true freshman in Alabama history to lead the team in tackles (107), while showcasing his playmaking prowess with two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a punt return touchdown. Ohio State's defense made significant strides last season under veteran coordinator Jim Knowles, but still needed more players who could affect games in the back end. Downs joins a loaded safety group that returns Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles, who is also a candidate to play linebacker.
Tom Luginbill: Texas A&M DT Walter Nolen to Ole Miss. Nolen, the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 ESPN 300, had four sacks this fall as a disruptive force in the middle for the Aggies. Ole Miss has proved it can compete with the big boys, but everything begins and ends up front on both sides of the ball. Nolen produces at a high level. He competes, can play multiple spots along the front and could become a leader on defense as Ole Miss looks to be a factor in the expanded 12-team playoff.
Which QB transfer will have the biggest impact in 2024?
Luginbill: Dillon Gabriel at Oregon. Gabriel has been playing for so long he's practically an AARP member. He brings a wealth of experience and, over the past two seasons at Oklahoma, he amassed 55 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. His style -- quick decisions, decisive accuracy and feel for the RPO game -- is a perfect match for the Ducks, and they should not see a drop-off in offensive production with the addition of receiver Evan Stewart coming over from Texas A&M and Division II All-America running back Jay Harris who rushed for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns on 244 carries last fall for Northwest Missouri State. Gabriel is going to have really good players around him and will hold off UCLA transfer Dante Moore for one year.
VanHaaren: Gabriel. With the Ducks moving to the Big Ten next season and needing to replace a ton of talent -- namely a Heisman finalist in Bo Nix -- Gabriel is the type of player who can take over the Ducks' offense and be successful. He is efficient and accurate. Gabriel had a career-high completion percentage (69.3%) in 2023 to go along with an 87 QBR, which was fourth in the country.
Rittenberg: Cameron Ward at Miami. Ward, who received significant transfer interest around the country, appeared NFL-bound before changing course and picking the U. Miami couldn't take the next step with Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback, but Ward could truly thrive in the Air Raid-style system under coordinator Shannon Dawson. Miami finished 42nd nationally in pass offense in 2023 but should easily rise into the top 25 with Ward at the helm. I'm also really excited to see what Aidan Chiles can do at Michigan State after following coach Jonathan Smith there.
Which QB transfer was most surprising?
Luginbill: Jordan McCloud leaving James Madison. I think McCloud overplayed his hand and overevaluated his worth based off the stellar season the Dukes had in 2023. Statistically, he was quite strong this past fall, throwing for 3,657 yards and 35 touchdowns, but did not play in 2022. I'm not saying he doesn't have value -- especially for someone in the spread offense -- but this is a very crowded quarterback transfer class with a lot of guys who produced at Power 5 programs. McCloud has yet to find a new landing spot.
VanHaaren: Malachi Nelson going to Boise State. It's rare to see USC coach Lincoln Riley miss on a quarterback target or lose one, so it was a surprise when Nelson decided to transfer. He was the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class and had an opportunity to keep learning under Riley and compete for the starting job in 2024. Even if Nelson wasn't ready for the 2024 season, he still had four years of eligibility and time to continue to grow. He then decided to transfer to Boise State, which was yet another surprise given his stature and prominence during the recruiting process. It gives Boise State a quarterback the program hasn't had before and gives Nelson an opportunity to develop without the spotlight on him.
Rittenberg: Maalik Murphy going to Duke. I didn't see Murphy ending up at Duke after two years as a backup in Texas. USC seemed like a potential landing spot for Murphy, a former ESPN 300 recruit from Gardena, California. He also could have selected a program with more continuity than Duke, which brings in a new coaching staff led by Manny Diaz, and will have other changes on offense. The move certainly could work out well for both sides, but I thought Murphy would end up in the SEC or Big Ten.
What school best filled its biggest needs?
VanHaaren: Ole Miss. The Rebels essentially transformed their entire defense in one offseason. The Rebels' defense ranked 71st in yards allowed per game, 58th in yards allowed per play, No. 73 in rush yards allowed per game and No. 75 in pass yards allowed per game. Despite those numbers, the team finished 11-2, only losing to Alabama and Georgia. The staff recognized the need on defense and added Texas A&M defensive tackle Walter Nolen (a top-five player in the portal and former No. 1 recruit), Florida edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, and Arkansas linebacker Chris Paul Jr., among a few others. That is a lot of talent to add to a team that is returning a ton on offense.
Rittenberg: Louisville. I love what the Cardinals have done in the portal. Although the Cardinals made a surprising run to the ACC title game in coach Jeff Brohm's first year, their poor end to the 2023 season -- losses to rival Kentucky, Florida State in the ACC championship and USC in the Holiday Bowl -- showed that the roster needed upgrades. Louisville's offense should improve under Brohm, an elite playcaller, but the team added several veterans in quarterback Tyler Shough (Texas Tech), running back Peny Boone (Toledo) and wide receiver Caullin Lacy (South Alabama), who had 91 receptions for 1,316 yards last season. The Cardinals' defense also should benefit from the additions of linemen Tyler Baron (Tennessee) and Thor Griffith (Harvard), as well as defensive back Wesley Walker (Tennessee). The team also did well with some value additions to help depth.
Luginbill: Ole Miss. The Rebels know they can score, but how can they beat the likes of Alabama and Georgia? Load up on defense. On top of the additions on the defensive front, they've upgraded the secondary as well. The Rebels added safety Key Lawrence from Oklahoma, Michigan corner Amorion Walker and corner Trey Amos from Alabama.
Amos participated in all 14 games for Alabama as a freshman in 2023. Amos was one of the most highly regarded cover players in Alabama's secondary, so this is a big move.
Pick an under-the-radar transfer who will shape the 2024 College Football Playoff race
Luginbill: Oregon State WR Silas Bolden at Texas. The Longhorns might be losing some key parts of its offensive attack to the NFL draft -- the highest-profile prospect being receiver Adonai Mitchell. However, while the focus has been on the addition of receiver Isaiah Bond from Alabama, Bolden could be a Swiss Army knife in the offense. Coach Steve Sarkisian loves players who can line up in multiple spots to create mismatches. Bolden can contribute as a ball carrier on jet sweeps and end arounds. He's a speedy space player who gives QB Quinn Ewers another threat on the perimeter.
VanHaaren: Houston WR Matthew Golden at Texas. I don't know how many fans nationally have heard of Houston wide receiver Golden, who might be overlooked in Texas' transfer receiver haul. Golden has had 13 touchdown receptions the past two seasons and despite playing in just nine games this season, he had 404 yards and six receptions. Texas is losing Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, the team's top-two leaders in receiving yards and touchdowns. Golden, Bond and Bolden will help replace that production and will be vital to Texas' success in the SEC and getting back to the playoff.
Rittenberg: Clemson WR Beaux Collins at Notre Dame. I'm excited to see what Clemson transfer Collins brings to Notre Dame's passing game, which has lacked production at wide receiver and been overly reliant on its tight ends. He's a former top-50 recruit who had 510 yards on 38 receptions last year for Clemson, recording four or more catches in six games. Collins will catch passes from another ACC transfer, Duke's Riley Leonard, as new Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock tries to ignite a passing game that finished 48th nationally last fall.
What team has the most questions to answer in the spring portal?
Rittenberg: Washington. The Huskies were gutted by the coaching change, especially since it occurred in mid-January. The top six offensive linemen from a group that won the Joe Moore Award have departed, either to the NFL draft or to other college programs. Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad transferred to archrival Oregon. The depth chart for new coach Jedd Fisch doesn't resemble the one that Washington took into the national championship game against Michigan. Although Fisch kept quarterback Will Rogers, the Mississippi State transfer who reentered the portal following Kalen DeBoer's departure, he and his staff will have to make some smart choices in the spring portal as Washington gears up for its Big Ten arrival.
Luginbill: Alabama. The month of January hasn't been kind to the Crimson Tide, following the coaching change as DeBoer and his staff watched multiple high-profile players and starters -- many of whom are future high NFL draft choices -- enter the portal. The real question that needs to be asked at the end of the spring for Alabama is who else on this roster might look to depart? Secondly, will spring transfers actually be an upgrade over what Alabama currently has on their roster? You don't replace a Caleb Downs with another Caleb Downs -- they don't exist. Alabama needs to keep this roster intact following spring football and then add to it with upgrades if they are available.
VanHaaren: Michigan. Speaking of Downs, given all that Ohio State has added recently in the transfer portal with Downs, quarterback Will Howard and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, it begs to ask where Michigan will stack up in 2024. The Wolverines are losing starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy; star running back Blake Corum; offensive linemen Zak Zinter, LaDarius Henderson and Trevor Keegan; as well as linebacker Junior Colson, corner Mike Sainristil and a handful of other impact players. The staff doesn't have a clear replacement at quarterback at the moment and has utilized the transfer portal in the past to fill holes along the offensive line. As it stands, Michigan has added Northwestern guard Josh Priebe and Maryland linebacker Jaishawn Barham, but more is going to be needed to compete at the highest level again in 2024.