The College Football Playoff and transfer portal are heating up at the same time, and one program is leading the pack in both categories. With the college football transfer portal opening up on January 2, 2026, several top players have already found new homes.
Oregon, Indiana, Ole Miss and Miami are all trying to balance preparing for the College Football Playoff while also landing players in the transfer portal. Indiana has a chance to win a national championship and also land the top college football transfer portal class.
The Hoosiers currently have On3’s top-ranked class in the country, landing eight transfers while only losing one player. Indiana is in danger of losing top billing with Texas Tech chasing down the Hoosiers at No. 2 in the rankings with nine transfers, but the Red Raiders have also lost 18 players as of January 6.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest college football news.
Indiana Landed Ex-TCU QB Josh Hoover to Replace Fernando Mendoza
Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover headlines Indiana’s transfer portal class. Hoover is expected to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza who is one of the top prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
Additional names to know at Indiana include former Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh, ex-Miami tight end Brock Schott and a pair of former Kansas State pass rushers Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi. Indiana is making all this happen while preparing for a rematch against Oregon in the Peach Bowl. Head coach Curt Cignetti does not appear concerned that the transfer portal will impact the team’s play against the Ducks.
“I don’t think that’s going to present a problem for us in terms of our preparation,” Cignetti said of the transfer portal ahead of the team’s College Football Playoff clash against Oregon, per Sports Illustrated. “The thing about the portal guys, they’re a little different than the high school guys. They don’t need 48 hours on campus.
“It’s usually one night, they’re making a business decision. They’re normally older guys. They’ve been through it. They know what they’re looking for. Either you’re a fit or you’re not.”
College Football Rumors: Landing a Star Quarterback in the Transfer Portal Is Expensive
Landing a top quarterback like Hoover in the portal is becoming increasingly expensive. Texas Tech signed Cincinnati signal-caller Brendan Sorsby to a lucrative new $5 million deal, per On3’s Pete Nakos.
The deep-pocketed Red Raiders made the move amid Lane Kiffin’s push for LSU to snag the quarterback. Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt could soon land a similar lucrative contract.
“Viewed as the most experienced starting quarterback on the market, Sorsby was set to command in the $4 to $5 million range, sources had said,” Nakos wrote in a January 4, 2026, story titled, “Texas Tech to make Brendan Sorsby top-paid QB in 2026.” “His deal with Texas Tech for the 2026 season will be right around the $5 million mark, sources said.
“The deal will make him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the history of college football. Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck inked a deal with Miami last year with a base around $3 to $3.5 million, but with incentives could hit the $5 to $6 million range. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah earned $4 million in 2025 after transferring in from Tulane.”
College Football Playoff Team Lands No. 1 Ranked Transfer Portal Class Amid Haul