LSU’s Lane Kiffin is still in search of his next quarterback in Baton Rouge, but one star signal-caller will not be playing for the Tigers in 2026. Instead, one of the coveted star quarterbacks in the transfer portal signed with a College Football Playoff team over LSU.
The Tigers have been linked to Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby and other star quarterbacks in the latest college football transfer portal rumors. Despite visiting LSU, Sorsby opted to join Texas Tech.
“Sorsby arrived Friday night for a visit at Texas Tech, spending time with the coaching staff before departing Saturday night for LSU,” On3’s Pete Nakos wrote in a January 3, 2026, story titled, “Latest intel as QBs Brendan Sorsby, Sam Leavitt hold key transfer dominoes.”
“Sources tell On3 that Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis spent Saturday with the Rebels prepping for the College Football Playoff semifinal and has now flown back to Baton Rouge to meet with Sorsby. It shows just how much attention and effort Lane Kiffin is putting into landing Sorsby.”
Despite all the effort, LSU will have to look elsewhere after Sorsby landed a $5 million deal with Texas Tech, per Nakos.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest college football transfer portal news and rumors.
College Football Transfer Portal Rumors: LSU HC Lane Kiffin Turned His Attention to Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt
Kiffin and company are already on to the next portal target. On Monday, January 5, Arizona State’s touted quarterback Sam Leavitt arrived at LSU for an extended visit. Florida’s Eugene Wilson is also among the notable transfer portal visitors expected at LSU, per On3’s Shea Dixon.
“On Monday afternoon, LSU welcomes the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the portal to campus as Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt arrives for a multi-day stay,” Dixon detailed in a January 5, article titled, “LSU hosts ASU transfer QB Sam Leavitt – and multiple portal WR’s.”
“Leavitt, who has been high on Kiffin’s list of potential quarterback additions since he announced his intentions of transferring out of ASU, is coming off a visit to Kentucky. While on campus in Baton Rouge, Leavitt will be joined by a handful of talented transfer portal wide receivers.”
Star QB Brendan Sorsby Landed a $5 Million Deal With Texas Tech: Insider
It appears the price of a transfer portal quarterback just went up. Leavitt’s projected NIL value is $3.1 million, per On3. Yet, it would not be a surprise if the star quarterback landed a similar $5 million deal to Sorsby.
“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 noted in a January 4, 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.”
$5 Million Star QB Spurns Lane Kiffin & LSU in College Football Transfer Portal