NCAA Transfer Portal Team Rankings: Dec. 27

After opening a little over two and a half weeks ago, the NCAA Transfer Portal is still humming, with more than 2,200 total FBS scholarship players entering since December 9. In that same span, more than 700 have already committed to a new school — with the majority signed and ready to join their next program in January for spring workouts.

A handful of schools in particular have had a lot of success early on, nabbing key commitments at positions of need. Below are the top 10 teams currently in the team transfer portal rankings:

On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index utilizes the On3 (P)erformance score to measure a team’s production during the transfer process, compared relative against its roster and not a comparison against other schools. This proprietary algorithm determines if a school has improved its overall team talent, stayed the same, or declined in talent during the transfer window.

1. Texas Tech

Transfers in: 17
Transfers out: 14
Top addition: UCF DL Lee Hunter (No. 18 OVR, No. 1 DL)

Summary: There isn’t a program nationally who has been more aggressive during the first few weeks of the portal. Despite losing former five-star wideout Micah Hudson to Texas A&M, the Red Raiders have retooled at a number of key positions ahead of next season. Hunter is the prize of the group, but EDGE Romello Height (Georgia Tech), OT Howard Sampson (North Carolina), and RB Quinten Joyner (USC) — among others — are expected to be major contributors next season in Lubbock.

2. Ole Miss

Transfers in: 17
Transfers out: 14
Top addition: Arkansas TE Luke Hasz (No. 34 overall, No. 3 TE)

Summary: Lane Kiffin’s reputation as the ‘Portal King’ is well-established, and the Rebels continue to clean up with transfers. They already have their QB of the future in current backup Austin Simmons, but have added some major pieces around him. Receivers Deuce Alexander (Wake Forest) and De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State), and  Caleb Odom (Alabama) will provide Simmons with terrific weapons to throw to, and Hasz gives the Rebels’ offense another big piece. On the defensive side, Pete Golding and Co. have paired potential and proven production by grabbing CB Sage Ryan (LSU), LB Jaden Yates (Marshall), CB Jaylon Braxton (Arkansas) along with edge rushers Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska) and Da’Shawn Womack (LSU).

3. Michigan

Transfers in: 8
Transfers out: 21
Top addition: Alabama RB Justice Haynes (No. 22 OVR, No. 2 RB)

Summary: More than 20 players have departed the Wolverines’ roster into the portal after Sherrone Moore’s first season, but it’s hard to say any of them were major losses. On the flip side, they’ve upgraded in a big way at a few key positions. Alabama running back transfer Justice Haynes should be their clear RB1 next season after two years of splitting carries in Tuscaloosa. Safety T.J. Metcalf (Arkansas) should slide into a starting role, as should defensive lineman Damon Payne (Alabama) and receiver Donaven McCulley (Indiana). The biggest question mark for the Maize and Blue will be if Fresno State transfer quarterback Mikey Keene or Five-Star Plus+ QB signee Bryce Underwood starts the season opener.

4. Oregon

Transfers in: 6
Transfers out: 8
Top addition: Northwestern SAF Dillon Thieneman (No. 8 OVR, No. 1 SAF)

Summary: The nation’s No. 1 team and favorite to win the College Football Playoff doesn’t have many holes to fill on next year’s roster. Backup quarterback Dante Moore is set to take over for Dillon Gabriel, and the Ducks have very talented depth at the receiver and running back spots. The defensive secondary and lines of scrimmage have been their focus early, adding Thieneman, CB Theran Johnson (Northwestern), OT Alex Harkey (Texas State), OT Isaiah World (Nevada) and DL Bear Alexander (USC). They will be worth keeping an eye on after their season ends though, as more spots could potentially open up.

5. Missouri

Transfers in: 11
Transfers out: 13
Top addition: Louisiana-Monroe RB Ahmad Hardy, (No. 29 OVR, No. 1 RB)

Summary: After winning 20 games over the past two years, the Tigers have some wind at their back with prospects in the portal. They lost a number of key members of their 2024 recruiting class, but have largely replaced them with proven commodities. At the top of that list is Hardy, who was one of the nation’s leading rushers as a true freshman. QB Beau Pribula (Penn State) will compete for the starting job and brings a dynamic dual-threat ability. WR Kevin Coleman (Mississippi State) returns as one of the best wideouts in the SEC, while linebackers Mikai Gbayor (Nebraska) and Josiah Trotter (West Virginia) immediately upgrade the defense.

6. Florida State

Transfers in: 10
Transfers out: 20
Top addition: WR Duce Robinson (No. 7 OVR, No. 5 WR)

Summary: 2024 was a disaster for Mike Norvell and Co. on the field, and this offseason has seen plenty of departures from FSU’s program. Twenty players have already hit the portal, along with the contingent of graduating seniors. Despite that, they’ve been pretty targeted with their additions thus far. Robinson, a highly productive jumbo receiver at USC, fits into the mold of big FSU receivers from the past few seasons. Tight end Randy Pittman (UCF) will be another big target for quarterback transfer Thomas Castellanos (Boston College), who is one of the best dual-threat QBs in the nation. Along the defensive line, James Williams (Nebraska), and Deante McCray (Western Kentucky) will be expected to provide a strong pass-rushing presence.

7. LSU

Transfers in: 13
Transfers out: 17
Top addition: Oklahoma WR Nic Anderson (No. 13 OVR, No. 7 WR)

Summary: Following a disappointing season where the expectations were a College Football Playoff berth, Brian Kelly and the Tigers have gone back to the drawing board in the portal. With quarterback Garrett Nussmeier returning, they made receiver a huge priority and landed standouts Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky), along with tight end Bauer Sharp (Oklahoma). Upgrading the pass-rush was a must as well, and they looked to have done so with Patrick Payton (Florida State), Jack Pyburn (Florida), and Jimari Butler (Nebraska). Two plug-and-play additions in the secondary will also be key factors: Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech) and Ja’Keem Jackson (Florida).

8. Auburn

Transfers in: 14
Transfers out: 17
Top addition: Georgia Tech WR Eric Singleton Jr. (No. 2 OVR, No. 1 WR)

Summary: Auburn and Hugh Freeze learned their lesson from a year ago about adding a starter-level transfer quarterback. They landed two who will battle it out in the spring and summer: Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) and QB Ashton Daniels (Stanford). On top of that, they’ve added a trio of wideouts to go alongside standout freshman Cam Coleman with Taye Seymore (Georgia Tech), Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech) and Horatio Fields (Wake Forest).

9. Texas A&M

Transfers in: 9
Transfers out: 17
Top addition: Texas Tech WR Micah Hudson (No. 6 OVR, No. 4 WR)

Summary: Texas A&M identified two positions in the portal that needed improvement: The pass rush and receiving game. The Aggies have addressed those needs and more, adding EDGE T.J. Searcy (Florida), EDGE Samuel M’Pemba (Georgia) and EDGE Dayon Hayes (Colorado). On the offensive side, WR Micah Hudson (Texas Tech) has as much potential as any wideout in the portal after being a 2024 Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He’ll pair with very productive wideout Mario Craver (Mississippi State).

10. Kansas

Transfers in: 17
Transfers out: 9
Top addition: Alabama SAF Jahlil Hurley (No. 180 OVR, No. 11 SAF)

Summary: The Jayhawks had College Football Playoff hopes entering the season, but those were quickly dashed after a 1-5 start. With fifth-year quarterback Jalon Daniels returning, they’re now focused on turning 2025 into what 2024 was supposed to be. They’ve already landed 17 transfers after the first few weeks, headlined by Hurley, who was a top-50 overall prospect coming out of high school. In addition to him, they’ve addressed some significant needs along the offensive and defensive lines, as well as at receiver and in the defensive secondary.