The 2026 college football season didn’t start with a kickoff — it started with the transfer portal.
In a roundabout way, the 2026 season officially began when the transfer portal opened, giving programs across the country a chance to reshape their rosters. This year’s portal class is the strongest since the system was introduced in 2018 — and it clearly shows how NIL and fan-powered funding now drive roster movement.
With elite quarterbacks headlining the class, along with premium edge rushers, receivers, and defensive backs, the coming weeks resemble college football’s version of NFL free agency. Millions of NIL dollars are in play, with top quarterbacks commanding valuations near $5 million and elite players at other positions reaching seven figures.
Below are the RallyFuel Top Transfer Portal Players for 2026, including projected NIL value context and predicted landing spots.
RallyFuel Top Transfer Portal Players (2026)
Brendan Sorsby — Quarterback
Former School: Cincinnati
In two seasons at Cincinnati, Sorsby established himself as one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, passing for 5,613 yards and rushing for 1,027 more. He has legitimate NFL Draft options, but another college season could be extremely lucrative.
- Projected NIL Value: ~$5 million
- Predicted Landing Spot: Texas Tech
After a rough College Football Playoff exit, Texas Tech is expected to make an aggressive push to upgrade its roster — starting at quarterback.
Sam Leavitt — Quarterback
Former School: Arizona State
Leavitt’s 2025 season was limited by a foot injury, but his 2024 performance still makes him the top pure passer in the transfer portal.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Florida
With a new coaching staff in place, Florida could make a statement by landing an experienced quarterback to stabilize the offense.
Cam Coleman — Wide Receiver
Former School: Auburn
Despite playing with five different starting quarterbacks, Coleman posted 93 receptions for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns over two seasons.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Texas
Coleman reportedly wants a national title contender and an elite quarterback — a pairing that could unlock Arch Manning’s full potential.
Issac Brown — Running Back
Former School: Louisville
Brown is the most complete running back in the portal. As both a runner and receiver, he’s a threat to score any time he touches the ball.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Miami
A return to South Florida makes sense, and the Hurricanes are looking for a true home-run threat.
Byrum Brown — Quarterback
Former School: South Florida
Brown led USF to a 9–4 season in 2025, throwing for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for over 1,000 yards.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Auburn
A reunion with former USF coach Alex Golesh could help Auburn stabilize quickly at the most important position.
John Henry Daley — Edge Rusher
Former School: Utah
Daley recorded 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in his first season as a full-time starter, making him the top edge defender in the portal.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Michigan
Elite edge rushers are scarce, and Michigan is expected to prioritize pass-rush production.
Chaz Coleman — Edge Rusher
Former School: Penn State
Coleman flashed significant upside as a freshman and has schools lining up based on long-term pass-rush potential.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Ohio State
Ohio State heavily recruited him out of high school and is unlikely to miss out this time.
Mateen Ibirogba — Defensive Tackle
Former School: Wake Forest
After transitioning from edge rusher to interior lineman, Ibirogba became one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the portal.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Notre Dame
Notre Dame is expected to push hard to upgrade its defensive line.
Drew Mestemaker — Quarterback
Former School: North Texas
Mestemaker led the nation in passing in 2025, throwing for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Indiana
With Fernando Mendoza headed to the NFL, Indiana is expected to pursue another high-end quarterback to maintain its momentum.
Koi Perich — Safety
Former School: Minnesota
One of the most versatile athletes in college football, Perich has played safety, receiver, and returner — but his best position is on defense.
- Predicted Landing Spot: Ohio State
With Caleb Downs leaving for the NFL, Ohio State needs an immediate replacement on the back end.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
Why the 2026 Transfer Portal Matters
This transfer portal cycle confirms that NIL is no longer just about collectives or single donors. The programs that win moving forward will be the ones that activate fans at scale, creating sustainable NIL support that helps land — and keep — elite players.
The portal has officially become college football’s most important offseason battleground.
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