In today’s college football, if you are not using the transfer portal, you are falling behind. Teams that have refused to utilize the portal or are not using it to its full potential are struggling to compete. Meanwhile, the teams below have taken a massive leap this year due to immense success in the portal this offseason.
Colorado Buffaloes
Coach Prime knew that if he wanted to succeed at his new school, he would have to change some things up after a 1-11 record for the Buffs last season. Sanders completely flipped the roster. Led by his son and superstar two-way player Travis Hunter, CU is 3-2 coming off a near comeback at home against USC. Shedeur has been steady behind a shaky o-line and has been great for the Buffs aside from a tough game in Eugene. Hunter, expected to be back from injury in a couple weeks, will have an immediate impact on both sides of the ball for Colorado.
Texas State
Texas State finds themselves first in the Sun Belt-West thanks in large part to two star transfers. QB T.J. Finley started his career at LSU before heading to Auburn for two seasons with little success at both places. Finley has exploded with the Bobcats, throwing for 1,393 yards and 10 touchdowns to get the Cats off to a 4-1 start. RB Ismail Mahdi gashed Southern Miss for 89 and 3 TDs as well as a 100-yard kickoff return. The Holy Cross transfer has assisted Finley in leading the Bobcats to a hot start.
The Ducks may have the best defensive transfer class in the country. With the addition of DBs Khyree Jackson (Alabama), Tysheem Johnson (Ole Miss), and Evan Williams (Fresno State), Oregon’s secondary has been much improved to start the year. Former 5-star edge Jordan Burch (South Carolina) has been able to supply pressure for a revamped Ducks pass rush. They face their toughest test yet on the road at UW November 14th, but a win could vault the Ducks into the top 5 of the AP polls.
Louisville
The surprise of the ACC to start the year is Jack Plummer and the Louisville Cardinals. Jeff Brohm’s team is 5-0 to start the year and sits atop the ACC, despite being projected to finish eighth in the preseason poll. Plummer followed his coach from Purdue following a stint at Cal last season, and has thrown for 1,406 and 11 TDs to start the year. Following a 1,000-yard season at Georgia State, WR Jamari Thrash is putting up big numbers for the Cards with 444 yards and five touchdowns. They face their toughest test to date this Saturday at home against ND.
Florida State
CFP hopes are high in Tallahassee, and after getting through Clemson, the Noles are looking for their best season since Jameis Winston was on campus. Transfer WR Keon Coleman has been exceptional for FSU so far with 256 yards and 6 touchdowns. The former MSU star is joined by Jaheim Bell (South Carolina). The ultra-utility man has been effective in Mike Norvell’s offense, and the Noles hope to continue their success to reach the CFP for the first time since 2014.
