Five Most Important Big Ten Transfer Additions
The transfer portal chaos continues to increase as NIL becomes more prominent in college football, especially in the Big Ten and SEC.
The top Big Ten teams got richer by landing some of the top players in the portal. Two of Purdue’s best players landed elsewhere in the conference. Oregon added three of the top 15 players in the portal.
Here are the top five transfers into Big Ten schools, according to On3’s top transfer portal prospects list.
1. QB Nico Iamaleava – Tennessee to UCLA
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava‘s departure from Tennessee was one of the top transfer portal stories of the spring. After a chaotic departure from the Vols, Iamaleava landed at UCLA. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound quarterback was the second-highest rated player in the 2025 portal cycle behind Carson Beck, leaving Georgia to Miami.
Iamaleava was the first true and redshirt freshman to be Tennessee’s starting quarterback. He recorded 2,616 passing yards with a 64 completion percentage. As a freshman, he averaged 201.2 passing yards per game and 28 rushing yards. He was a finalist for the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year honor and a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist.
UCLA finished 14th in the Big Ten in its first season in the conference. Iamaleava will give them a boost they desperately needed. Nebraska and quarterback Dylan Raiola will go head-to-head with UCLA in Pasadena, Calif. on Nov. 8.
2. OT Isaiah World – Nevada to Oregon
Isaiah World was the top offensive tackle in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-8, 309-pound senior was an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention twice but is expected to rise to a first-round draft pick.
World started 36 games over three seasons at Nevado. He redshirted in 2021. World allowed one sack, two QB hits and 12 total hurries last season. Pro Football Focus gave him an 82.4 pass blocking grade in 2024, which is ranked 11th amongst 2024 starting tackles.
If he can do that in the Big Ten, he will be one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
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3. S Dillon Thieneman – Purdue to Oregon
Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman was the top safety in the portal and landed at Oregon.
As a sophomore in 2024, the 6-foot-0, 207-pound safety led the Big Ten defensive backs with 104 tackles. He recorded six pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Thieneman led Purdue with a team-high six punts returned for 67 yards.
He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media. He was a third-team All-American pick by AP after his freshman season. Thieneman was also the 2023 Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
4. RB Makhi Hughes – Tulane to Oregon
The Ducks landed the top running back in the portal, along with the top offensive tackle and safety. Makhi Hughes was a beast at Tulane. He was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the top running back in college football.
Hughes rushed for 1,401 yards with 265 carries as a sophomore in 2024. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound back also had 176 receiving yards and averaged 9.3 yards per carry. He rushed for 15 touchdowns and had two receiving TDs.
PFF named Hughes the fifth-best returning running back in college football.
5. TE Max Klare – Purdue to Ohio State
The top tight end in the transfer portal went to Ohio State, the defending national champions. Max Klare was a force for the Boilermakers. As a sophomore, he picked up 685 receiving yards on a team-high 51 catches and four touchdowns. He was a Third Team All-Big Ten selection by league coaches.
Klare was second in the Big Ten and eighth in FBS in receiving yards by a tight end. The 6-foot-4, 236-pound tight end could thrive in a high-power offense with promising young QB Ethan Williams. Klare should be a solid replacement for Gee Scott Jr., who is now with the New England Patriots.
