NCAAF · 1 year ago

Which 15 Teams Improved the Most in the Transfer Portal?

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

15. Texas Longhorns
The most significant need for Texas was to replenish the skill groups on offense, which they nailed. Amari Niblack is an intriguing addition at tight end. Isaiah Bond, Silas Bolden, and Matthew Golden form a trio of solid wide receivers to help Quinn Ewers keep the offense elite. On defense, they supplemented the secondary with a veteran safety, bringing in Andrew Mukuba from Clemson. Trey Moore and Tiaoalii Savea are solid additions to help restock the talent on the defensive line.

- Texas’ CFP National Title Odds: +750 (third-highest)
1. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin strikes again. "The Portal King" and the Ole Miss Rebels have gone all-in for 2024. The Oxford faithful are gearing up for a College Football Playoff push this coming season. Ole Miss knew they were weak on the defensive side of the ball, so they added No. 1 transfer Walter Nolen, along with edge rushers Tyler Baron and Princely Umanmielen. They also added a handful of capable secondary players to improve a poor pass defense. The offense got a boost, and Antwane "Juice" Wells joined from South Carolina. If he can stay healthy, Ole Miss might have the best group of pass-catchers in the nation.

Ole Miss National Championship Odds: +1500
2. Louisville Cardinals
Jeff Brohm had a successful first season, and the Louisville Cardinals went portal shopping to plug gaps in hopes of building. The quarterback addition, Tyler Shough, is perhaps uninspiring, but the weapons they added for Shough to work with are anything but. Caullin Lacy is a bonafide No. 1 wideout, transferring in from South Alabama. He's joined by Ja'Corey Brooks, Mark Redman, and Tanner Koziol. They also picked up two valuable and hard-to-find starting-level offensive linemen. Additional players like lockdown corner Corey Thornton, and linemen Thor Griffith and Jordan Guerad will help the defense. The Cardinals brought in quantity (15) and quality.

Louisville National Championship Odds: +12000
3. North Carolina State Wolfpack
This list is not a ranking of who had the highest-rated transfer classes. It's a list of which teams improved the most, and North Carolina State's Dave Doeren did some serious work to plug potential holes and set the Wolfpack up to be in contention for an ACC crown. Grayson McCall is a good fit for Doeren's offense at quarterback, and they also added a few weapons to work with. Tight end Justin Joly is an exciting piece from UConn, and Jordan Waters was an excellent get from Duke. The Wolfpack raided Maryland and landed two impact defensive players, Corey Coley Jr. and Tamarcus Cooley.

NC State National Championship Odds: +25000
4. Colorado Buffaloes
It should be no surprise to see Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes on this list. Colorado added nearly 20 players via the portal, turning the roster over again. They hope the offensive line can perform much better than it did in 2023, and they brought in four potential starters up front. At wide receiver, Will Sheppard committed from Vanderbilt, and he gives them a very exciting tandem along with Travis Hunter. Sheppard is a potential high-end NFL Draft pick. The defense needs a lot of work, and Deion Sanders hopes he's improved it with DJ Lundy (LB from Florida State) and Justin Mayers. Colorado is hoping they have added seven or eight starters from the portal.

Colorado National Championship Odds: +30000
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Remember, this is a list of teams that have improved, and new IU football coach Curt Cignetti has flipped the Indiana football roster and expects immediate results. There is quantity and quality as the Hoosiers brought in nearly 20 players from the portal to help at every level. Kurtis Rourke will start at quarterback after being the MAC Player of the Year in 2022. IU majorly upgraded at wide receiver with Elijah Sarratt, Miles Cross, Myles Price, and Ke'Shawn Williams all added. Zach Horton is now IU's best tight end after an All-Sun Belt campaign at James Madison, and the Hoosiers added four running backs to the mix. The offensive line brought in three veterans that will likely all start, and the defense has at least four new starters from the portal.

Indiana National Championship Odds: +100000
6. Texas A&M Aggies
Any coaching change will see a potentially significant roster flip, and that has been the case for Texas A&M. Mike Elko's squad lost a lot to the portal, but they also had several meaningful incomings. Texas A&M has added 23 players via the portal, including eight four-star transfers. Former Purdue edge rusher Nic Scourton was one of the top pass rushers available, and he'll be in College Station in 2024 along with former Alabama corner Dezz Ricks and Florida linebacker Scooby Williams. The Aggies have added a handful of starters.

Texas A&M National Championship Odds: +3000
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes were not expected to dabble in the portal beyond the quarterback position, but that has changed in the past couple of weeks. They grabbed Will Howard to lead the offense and handed him a new offensive lineman (Seth McLaughlin from Alabama) and a new running back (Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss). Things took off when Nick Saban retired as top transfer prospect and possibly the best safety in the country, Caleb Downs, joined the Buckeyes. Ohio State grabbed his teammate to add to the quarterback room as former five-star quarterback Julian Sayin also moved to Columbus.

Ohio State National Championship Odds: +500
8. Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks do not have a considerable transfer class, but the ones they did get will be impactful. Top wide receiver Evan Stewart recently joined, and he'll bolster an offense anchored by new quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Former five-star quarterback Dante Moore is waiting in the wings, securing the position's future. The defense got a solid addition, with Houston defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell committed. Oregon is one of the favorites to win the Big Ten.

Oregon National Championship Odds: +1200
9. Michigan State Spartans
New head coach Jonathan Smith brought some highly-touted players to East Lansing, landing Michigan State on this list. Aidan Chiles is the jewel of the class, manning the quarterback position for at least the next two seasons. Tight end Jack Velling is a potential All-Big Ten player, and the Spartans added a pair of offensive line starters.

Michigan State National Championship Odds: +50000
10. Southern California Trojans
Lincoln Riley's USC Trojans need a significant culture shift, particularly on defense. They have a new defensive coordinator, and the Trojans are focused on improving the defense in the transfer portal. Kamari Ramsey is a potential All-Big Ten safety joining the Trojans from UCLA. In addition, USC added a trio of defensive linemen plus defensive back John Humphrey. Running back Jo'Quavious Marks moves to USC from Mississippi State and will likely start immediately.

USC National Championship Odds: +4000
11. Florida State Seminoles
The 2024 haul is not near last season’s incoming transfer class, but Florida State still did quite well. They are bringing in a pair of potential starters on the offensive line with Jacob Rizy (Harvard), Richie Leonard (Florida), and Terrence Ferguson (Alabama). Shawn Murphy is a potentially good player at linebacker (also, Alabama), and they added multiple high-ceiling defensive linemen to bolster that group. DJ Uiagalelei will likely start at quarterback, and the success of the season could be determined by how well he adjusts to the Seminoles offense.

- Florida State’s CFB National Title Odds: +2000
12. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks lost a lot to the transfer portal but added some solid players and depth. The revolving door at running back continues as they bring Oscar Adaway from North Texas and Rocket Sanders from Arkansas. They also brought in three solid wide receivers, a few offensive linemen to try and improve the offense, and a pair of quarterbacks that will compete with the returning players (mainly LaNorris Sellers). The biggest questions come on defense, and they will be hoping players like Bangally Kamara, Monkell Goodwine, and Gilber Edmond can fill massive voids.
13. Missouri Tigers
The incoming portal class for Missouri is about quality, not necessarily quantity. The Tigers added Darris Smith from Georgia and Toriano Pride from Clemson, with both expected to start. On offense, one of the top linemen available was Cayden Green, and he should start for Missouri after leaving Oklahoma. Marcus Carroll was a highly productive running back at Georgia State, and he’ll need to fill the hole left in the lineup by the departure of Cody Schrader. The hype surrounding the Tigers only grows with this incoming class.

- Missouri’s CFP National Title Odds: +3500
14. Syracuse Orange
New head coach Fran Brown is known as a great high school recruiter, but he dipped into the portal to add to the roster. There are multiple potential starters on defense, with Isaiah Hastings (Alabama), Dion Wilson (New Mexico State), Darian Chestnut (LSU), Fadil Diggs (Texas A&M), and Devin Grant (Buffalo) plus several decent offensive pieces. Kyle McCord is the headliner at quarterback after leaving Ohio State. He got a couple of new weapons with four-star wide receiver Yazeed Haynes and Jackson Meeks, both coming from Georgia.
15. Texas Longhorns
The most significant need for Texas was to replenish the skill groups on offense, which they nailed. Amari Niblack is an intriguing addition at tight end. Isaiah Bond, Silas Bolden, and Matthew Golden form a trio of solid wide receivers to help Quinn Ewers keep the offense elite. On defense, they supplemented the secondary with a veteran safety, bringing in Andrew Mukuba from Clemson. Trey Moore and Tiaoalii Savea are solid additions to help restock the talent on the defensive line.

- Texas’ CFP National Title Odds: +750 (third-highest)
1. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin strikes again. "The Portal King" and the Ole Miss Rebels have gone all-in for 2024. The Oxford faithful are gearing up for a College Football Playoff push this coming season. Ole Miss knew they were weak on the defensive side of the ball, so they added No. 1 transfer Walter Nolen, along with edge rushers Tyler Baron and Princely Umanmielen. They also added a handful of capable secondary players to improve a poor pass defense. The offense got a boost, and Antwane "Juice" Wells joined from South Carolina. If he can stay healthy, Ole Miss might have the best group of pass-catchers in the nation.

Ole Miss National Championship Odds: +1500

Which 15 Teams Improved the Most in the Transfer Portal?

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