TJ Inman

Rich CIrminiello's Picks for Week 1 College Football Games

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/20-breakout-cfb-stars-to-know-for-the-2025-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breakout College Football Stars to Know for the 2025 Season</a>
It was well-known in college football circles that Auburn was amassing funds to go “all in” for the 2025 college football season. The Tigers had a talented young core of high school recruits in 2024 and supplemented that with a terrific transfer haul during this portal window. A quarterback was a must, and they will be counting on Hugh Freeze to get the most out of either <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jackson-arnold/21212">Jackson Arnold</a> or Stanford transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ashton-daniels/33768">Ashton Daniels</a>. They added a pair of starting offensive linemen and then snagged <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eric-singleton/30019">Eric Singleton</a>, the top wide receiver in the market, from Georgia Tech. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/horatio-fields/24652">Horatio Fields</a> is a good addition at wideout from Wake Forest, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/preston-howard/47803">Preston Howard</a> is a capable tight end from Maryland. The defense added help at each level, with defensive back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/raion-strader/21440">Raion Strader</a> standing out in particular. Auburn kicks off the 2025 season with Baylor in Waco and has SEC games against Oklahoma, Texas A&amp;M, Georgia, Missouri, and Alabama, but the Tigers will be a team to keep an eye on in a make-or-break campaign for Freeze.
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1. Auburn Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-running-backs-for-the-2025-college-football-season-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Running Backs for 2025</a>
It has to be somewhat difficult for LSU fans to sit and watch Notre Dame run to an appearance in the National Championship Game after missing the playoffs in back-to-back years with the Irish’s former head coach leading the program in Baton Rouge. Brian Kelly has been busy, and LSU is loading up in the transfer portal to fix their ailing defense. Blake Baker’s defense added three impact pass rushers, with FSU transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/patrick-payton/19664">Patrick Payton</a> highlighting the additions. They then added a pair of top-ten transfer corners in <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mansoor-delane/28877">Mansoor Delane</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jakeem-jackson/44021">Ja’Keem Jackson</a> to help a woeful pass defense. The offense was not ignored as highlight-reel wide receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/barion-brown/28559">Barion Brown</a> joined from Kentucky, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/nic-anderson/21183">Nic Anderson</a> was added from Oklahoma. LSU then got a pair of interior linemen that should help improve the running game. The clash at Clemson to open the 2025 season is one of the most interesting games in the country early next year.

2. LSU Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-oregon-ducks-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Oregon Ducks Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
The Oregon Ducks were the No. 1 team in the country for much of the 2024 season. Their quest for a national title ended much earlier than they had hoped, but the Ducks will have a shot to make another run in 2025. It has been a quality-over-quantity approach for Dan Lanning in the transfer portal, and Oregon has added some potentially impactful pieces to its roster. The offensive line got a significant boost, with three of the highest-rated linemen on the market coming to Eugene. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/makhi-hughes/30832">Makhi Hughes</a> is an awesome get from Tulane and will be one of the best running backs in the country next season. The defense did not add much, but safety <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dillon-thieneman/26377">Dillon Thieneman</a> was a recruiting win over Ohio State, and well-traveled defensive lineman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/bear-alexander/36408">Bear Alexander</a> adds depth in the trenches.

3. Oregon Ducks

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-offensive-linemen-in-college-football-for-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Offensive Linemen for 2025</a>
Texas Tech’s boosters must have sensed an opportunity to make some noise in the restructured Big 12 because the Red Raiders went big in the transfer portal. Despite losing five-star wideout <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/micah-hudson/20912">Micah Hudson</a>, Lubbock's roster improved in the past month. Texas Tech surprisingly landed ten of the top 125 players in 247Sports’ rankings. They focused primarily on improving a broken pass defense, adding five players to the secondary and three highly-rated defensive linemen. On offense, they added talented tight end <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/terrance-carter/22575">Terrance Carter</a> from Louisiana and dynamic running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/quinten-joyner/36466">Quinten Joyner</a> from USC. The Red Raiders might not win the Big 12, but it won’t be because of a lack of talent.

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-25-college-football-quarterbacks-for-the-2025-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Quarterbacks for 2025</a>
Georgia Tech suffered a blow when <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eric-singleton/30019">Eric Singleton</a> left for Auburn, but the Yellow Jackets responded with an excellent number of incoming transfers. They added good pieces on the defensive line and at linebacker to add bulk to the trenches and then brought depth to the secondary with a pair of quality cornerbacks. The offense will miss Singleton, but the combination of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eric-rivers/36290">Eric Rivers</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/debron-gatling/33370">Debron Gatling</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dean-patterson/36362">Dean Patterson</a> will try to offset that loss. Don’t expect a drop-off for Brent Key’s squad.
Matriculate down the field with SportsGrid’s FREE Top <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/picks">College Football Picks</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/player-props">College Football Player Prop Picks</a> weekly!

5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-wrs-for-the-2025-college-football-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Wide Receivers for 2025</a>
Year 1 in College Station for Mike Elko got off to a strong start but petered out and ended in disappointment. The Texas A&amp;M Aggies continue the roster transition under the new coaching staff with another good transfer class. The offense needed to get more dynamic, and A&amp;M hopes they have done so with the addition of former NC State do-everything weapon, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kevin-concepcion/16994">KC Concepcion.</a> They also brought in Houston wide receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jonah-wilson/23950">Jonah Wilson</a>, plus former five-star Texas Tech receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/micah-hudson/20912">Micah Hudson</a> and four-star Mississippi State receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mario-craver/31198">Mario Craver</a>. That’s an infusion of talent at wide receiver unmatched by anyone in the country. The defense added four defensive linemen, edge rushers, and former UGA corner <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/julian-humphrey/22606">Julian Humphrey</a>.

6. Texas A&M Aggies

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Matt Rhule’s Nebraska team broke a long bowl drought but lost many players to the portal. It is debatable how many of those players were ones Nebraska wanted to keep, and the staff got to work on upgrading the roster with incoming additions. The receiving room was upgraded as <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dane-key/28516">Dane Key</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/nyziah-hunter/49655">Nyziah Hunter</a> signed on with Big Red. Those two, plus the returning <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/isaiah-neyor/37712">Isaiah Neyor</a>, give Nebraska a chance to surround quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-raiola/37686">Dylan Raiola</a> with real weapons. Former five-star edge rusher <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/williams-nwaneri/32813">Williams Nwaneri</a> was a good get, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dasan-mccullough/21146">Dasan McCullough</a> is a bet on his upside.

7. Nebraska Cornhuskers

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The Oklahoma Sooners were a disappointment in their first year in the SEC. They also lost a good chunk of talent when the portal opened, but they were gradually impressed with the players they are bringing in. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/marvin-jones/19706">Marvin Jones Jr.</a> is a significant talent from Florida State, and he’s joined on defense by solid linebacker <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kendal-daniels/47866">Kendal Daniels</a>. The offense has been the focus as the Sooners landed quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/john-mateer/20580">John Mateer</a>, pairing him with his offensive coordinator from this past season. Receivers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/keontez-lewis/24819">Keontez Lewis</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/josiah-martin/49537">Josiah Martin</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/isaiah-sategna/27504">Isaiah Sategna</a> will be an upgrade over what they lost. The Sooners need to add offensive line help, but they upgraded in a big way at quarterback, making them a winner.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

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The 2024 season was a disaster in every conceivable way for the Florida State Seminoles. Head coach Mike Norvell went from an extension to the hot seat in near-record time and needs a strong 2025 campaign to remain in Tallahassee. The staff has changed, and the roster will look much different again. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/thomas-castellanos/20776">Thomas Castellanos</a> is far from perfect but should be an upgrade at quarterback, especially under new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. A pair of well-regarded offensive linemen (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/luke-petitbon/24643">Luke Petitbon</a> chief among them) are arriving and will start immediately, and receivers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/duce-robinson/36493">Duce Robinson</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/squirrel-white/38651">Squirrel White</a> were good additions. The defensive additions are not quite as strong, but I like edge rushers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/james-williams/37618">James Williams</a> from Nebraska and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jayson-jenkins/38667">Jayson Jenkins</a> from Tennessee. They have lower ceilings than guys like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/marvin-jones/19706">Marvin Jones Jr.</a> (that FSU lost in the portal) but higher floors and actual production.

9. Florida State Seminoles

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-indiana-hoosiers-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Indiana Hoosiers Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
The odds are against the Indiana Hoosiers replicating the school’s best-ever season and returning to the College Football Playoff for a second straight season. Still, Curt Cignetti and his staff are going to try. The Hoosiers lost no major contributors to the portal. Still, they did have some serious losses to graduation (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kurtis-rourke/39213">Kurtis Rourke</a>, top two running backs, top slot receiver, stud linebacker <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jailin-walker/42348">Jailin Walker</a>, and top interior defensive linemen). As any IU fan could have hoped, they immediately and aggressively filled those positions.
Indiana added one of the top transfer quarterbacks, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fernando-mendoza/49656">Fernando Mendoza</a>, from Cal, and a pair of excellent running backs, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/roman-hemby/47800">Roman Hemby</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lee-beebe/44492">Lee Beebe</a>. They added depth to the offensive line with two potential starters and a pair of solid receivers from Michigan and Appalachian State.
The secondary will be one of the nation’s best after adding Dylan Gandy, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/louis-moore/48373">Louis Moore</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/amariyun-knighten/17565">Amariyun Knighten</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/devan-boykin/17083">Devan Boykin</a> to an already loaded group. They also got a pair of all-conference interior defensive linemen that will start right away. It may not be the fairy tale season they had in 2024, but the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers will be just as talented.
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10. Indiana Hoosiers

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Ole Miss was “all in” for the 2024 season, but it's fair to call their campaign disappointing. The Rebels missed the College Football Playoff and suffered some inexcusable losses. There are many pieces to replace, but Lane Kiffin is not shy about going big in the transfer portal and has brought in another excellent class.
The defensive line needed retooling, and talented pass rushers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dashawn-womack/51376">Da’Shawn Womack</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/princewill-umanmielen/37629">Princewill Umanmielen</a> needed to produce to their potential. The primary focus was the offense. The Rebels added five wide receivers, two tight ends, two running backs, and four offensive linemen, with Arkansas transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/patrick-kutas/27466">Patrick Kutas</a> likely the best of the bunch.
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11. Ole Miss Rebels

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Transfer portal success in the Magnolia State is not limited to Oxford. After a rough first season in Starkville, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby turned to the portal to try and fill the deficiencies in the Bulldogs’ roster. The class consists of 24 incoming transfers, and it is a bet on the sheer quantity that will result in some “hits” that can help Mississippi State escape the basement of the league. They are counting on Florida State transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/luke-kromenhoek/19637">Luke Kromenhoek</a> to be ready to contribute immediately at quarterback and gel with the wholly revamped receiver room. My favorite addition is South Alabama running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fluff-bothwell/42399">Fluff Bothwell</a>. He will be a star in Starkville.

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Missouri was a playoff contender, at least on paper, until the latter portions of the 2024 season. Still, on the field, they were lucky to beat anyone with a pulse as <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/brady-cook/32692">Brady Cook</a> struggled to stay healthy. The Tigers turn to Penn State transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/beau-pribula/49470">Beau Pribula</a> to step in at quarterback and elevate his play in a full-time role. Former Georgia edge rusher <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/damon-wilson/22652">Damon Wilson II</a> is the headliner addition on defense, and they loaded up on offensive linemen in hopes of keeping Pribula protected.

13. Missouri Tigers

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Things are getting a bit tense in Madison as the Luke Fickell era has gotten off to a less-than-stellar start, and there are questions about how well Wisconsin can compete in the larger Big Ten during the NIL era. Fickell knows things need to be picked up in 2025 and brought in 18 transfers this window. Former Maryland quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/billy-edwards/47730">Billy Edwards Jr.</a> and former San Diego State starter <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/danny-oneil/27847">Danny O’Neil</a> are coming in to try to fix the quarterback position. Idaho Vandals receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mark-hamper/37455">Mark Hamper</a> is an interesting addition, and they have replenished the defensive line.

14. Wisconsin Badgers

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Sam Pittman survives for another season in Fayetteville, and the Arkansas Razorbacks are bringing in 22 transfers to replenish a roster that lost quite a few contributors. The class consists of seven pass catchers, two running backs, and five new offensive linemen. That means the Hogs have 14 new offensive transfers to mesh with coordinator Bobby Petrino.
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15. Arkansas Razorbacks

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The South Carolina Gamecocks return quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lanorris-sellers/33348">LaNorris Sellers</a> and star edge rusher <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-stewart/33435">Dylan Stewart</a> and have a group that will be considered for the top ten in preseason polls. This incoming transfer class is not nearly as high-volume as the one brought in last offseason, but the ten additions addressed some key needs and helped round out a talented roster.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaylen-brown/32725">Jaylen Brown</a> from Florida State should pair well with Stewart as a pass rusher, and Utah State transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/rahsul-faison/48687">Rahsul Faison</a> figures to be the starting tailback. The most interesting addition was quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/air-noland/38091">Air Noland</a> from Ohio State. The former five-star prospect sat all season and knew <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/julian-sayin/38120">Julian Sayin</a> beat him out, but he’s now behind budding star Sellers.

16. South Carolina Gamecocks

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The Miami Hurricanes have recruited well at the high school level under Mario Cristobal. Still, they have also utilized the transfer portal to accentuate the roster and, last offseason, brought in a star quarterback to turbo-charge the program's momentum. Of course, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cam-ward/22788">Cam Ward</a> could not solve the defensive issues, and Miami missed the College Football Playoff after a disastrous late loss to Syracuse.
They have dipped into the portal again with eight new players, including Georgia quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/carson-beck/22644">Carson Beck</a>. Beck is recovering from a shoulder injury but is still very talented. The rest of the class primarily focused on the defense as Miami landed four cornerbacks and a safety to revamp a secondary that was shelled in 2024.

17. Miami Hurricanes

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Jedd Fisch’s first season in Seattle did not quite meet expectations. Still, with the complete rebuild of the roster and coaching staff, it was always going to be an uphill battle after making the National Championship Game the season prior. Fisch has had a season to see the deficiencies and adjust to the Big Ten, and he got a decent haul in the transfer portal.
The class is led by former five-star wide receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/johntay-cook/41125">Johntay Cook</a> from Texas and cornerback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/tacario-davis/63995">Tacario Davis</a> from Arizona. The defense got much better, at least on paper, with Davis plus three potentially impactful defensive linemen and a trio of linebackers.

18. Washington Huskies

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Louisville’s transfer portal class is more about volume and addressing depth issues than top-end quality. The headliner is quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/miller-moss/36450">Miller Moss</a>, and he seems like a good fit for Jeff Brohm’s offense as the Cardinals continue to ride the transfer portal carousel at that position.
Brohm also landed a nice interior offensive lineman from his former employer (Purdue), and they are hopeful wide receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/bobby-golden/40847">Bobby Golden</a> can make the jump up from Akron. Louisville needs a few defensive transfers to improve a unit that needs to be better in 2025.

19. Louisville Cardinals

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Sticking in the Bluegrass State, we jump over to Lexington for the number 20 pick. The Kentucky Wildcats were gutted in the transfer portal, but they responded with some key additions that addressed a lot of holes.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kendrick-law/19420">Kendrick Law</a> (Alabama) and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/tru-edwards/29286">Tru Edwards</a> (Louisiana Tech) were good gets at wide receiver after significant departures at that position. The offensive line got a few nice players, including big tackle <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/alex-wollschlaeger/24070">Alex Wollschlaeger</a> from Bowling Green. They need quarterback transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/zach-calzada/29596">Zach Calzada</a> to play better than he has thus far in college.

20. Kentucky Wildcats

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No one knows how the Bill Belichick experiment will go in Chapel Hill, and the first portal class will not solve the mystery. However, the North Carolina Tar Heels landed a solid group from the portal, buoyed by a defensive exodus from Washington to North Carolina, following DC Stephen Belichick.
The Tar Heels brought at least three likely starters in from Washington. UNC also addressed the offensive line with five additions in that group. The most significant question mark comes on offense. They did not bring in any difference makers at receiver or running back, and quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ryan-browne/26431">Ryan Browne</a> was a backup for much of the year for a dreadful Purdue team.

21. North Carolina Tar Heels

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Alabama’s first season under Kalen DeBoer did not go as planned, as the Crimson Tide suffered disappointing losses to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Michigan. Any season that ends without a College Football Playoff appearance is a “down year” for Tide fans, and DeBoer is under pressure entering 2025.
They were very selective in the transfer portal, but I like the nine players who have been added. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/isaiah-horton/22779">Isaiah Horton</a> is an excellent addition at wide receiver from Miami, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cameron-calhoun/21781">Cameron Calhoun</a> was a much-needed boost at corner from Utah. They need <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kelby-collins/44145">Kelby Collins</a> to produce after transferring from Florida. Some deficiencies on the roster were not addressed, leaving the Tide below No. 20 in the rankings.

22. Alabama Crimson Tide

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The Michigan State Spartans had a very uneven and inconsistent first season under head coach Jonathan Smith. They dipped into the transfer portal to bring in sixteen new players ahead of his second season to try and reach a bowl game. No addition stands out, but many excellent players have been brought in.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/chrishon-mccray/31777">Chrishon McCray</a> is an interesting receiver from Kent State. He produced on a terrible team. Will that translate into an offense that needs more punch to help <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aidan-chiles/19819">Aidan Chiles</a>? The offensive line has to be better in 2025, so they hope a couple of the four OLs brought in will bolster that unit.

23. Michigan State Spartans

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Make no mistake: The USC Trojans lost many players to the transfer portal. That includes <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/emmanuel-pregnon/36413">Emmanuel Pregnon</a>, a standout offensive lineman, receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/zachariah-branch/36487">Zachariah Branch</a>, and running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/quinten-joyner/36466">Quinten Joyner</a>. After that negativity, Lincoln Riley and the Trojans rebounded pretty well.
They kept defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn despite overtures from Penn State and then added five four-star transfers in areas of need. USC is attempting to continue a transition to a more physical and defensive-minded football program, and they hope that this will be accomplished as the roster continues to churn.

24. USC Trojans

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Minnesota’s transfer class is better than Duke’s Mayo Bath. How big of a compliment that is would be entirely dependent on your feelings on the twangy condiment. The Gophers added 15 transfers, primarily on the offensive side of the ball.
The headliners are probably running backs <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aj-turner/33026">A.J. Turner</a> from Marshall, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cameron-davis/32674" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameron</a><a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cameron-davis/32674"> Davis</a> from Washington, and receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/javon-tracy/21399">Javon Tracy</a> from Miami (OH). If receivers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/logan-loya/24109">Logan Loya</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/malachi-coleman/37609">Malachi Coleman</a> can produce, the Gophers' offense could be pretty potent.

25. Minnesota Golden Gophers

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/shedeur-sanders/39517">Shedeur Sanders</a> is gone, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/travis-hunter/39438" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Travis Hunter</a> is gone. Despite most assumptions to the contrary, Deion Sanders remains the head coach at Colorado, and he’s entering the second phase of the program, one without his son at quarterback and without the best player in the sport at cornerback and wide receiver. 
Colorado added 17 transfers, and the class primarily focused on getting better on the defensive front. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jehiem-oatis/19381">Jehiem Oatis</a> is the headliner and the 6’5” beefy addition from Alabama should instantly provide a presence against the run. They added two other defensive linemen and three linebackers to completely remake the front seven. The season's fate likely rests with how well transfer quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kaidon-salter/25462">Kaidon Salter</a> from Liberty can acclimate to a step-up in competition.

26. Colorado Buffaloes

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Head coach Tony Elliott did just enough to save his job in 2024, and the Cavaliers hit the transfer portal to try and put together a good enough roster in 2025 to really compete for a quality bowl game. Virginia brought in 19 transfers and focused on the offensive side of the ball, especially the offensive line.
Four incoming offensive linemen are expected to compete for starting jobs, and they’ll be blocking for new quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/chandler-morris/73122">Chandler Morris</a> as he jumps from North Texas to Virginia. Keep an eye on receivers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cam-ross/42244">Cam Ross</a> (James Madison) and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jahmal-edrine/26360">Jahmal Edrine</a> (Purdue).

27. Virginia Cavaliers

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Sometimes, things just don’t work out. Scott Frost seemed like a great hire for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Gus Malzahn seemed like a really good fit for the UCF Knights. Frost was a historic failure in Lincoln, and Gus Malzahn left to be the Florida State offensive coordinator with largely unmet expectations. With no clear path forward, UCF is trying to recapture the Frost magic and hired the one-time Knights head coach again. As expected, Scott Frost brought in 27 new players, and UCF hopes to contend quickly in the Big 12.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/tayven-jackson/50608">Tayven Jackson</a> is in at quarterback after being a backup at Indiana. The Hoosiers had no problem letting him move on, but maybe he can progress with increased practice repetitions. The best pieces of this class are EDGE rusher <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sincere-edwards/40152">Sincere Edwards</a> from Pitt and the volume of additions at wide receiver. Central Florida has to replace a lot, but Frost did a solid job of replenishing the roster and giving the Knights a chance to go bowling in 2025.

28. UCF Knights

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Injuries and close losses derailed the Kansas Jayhawks’ 2024 season. Lance Leipold has improved the KU program to the point where it was recognized as a major disappointment when the Jayhawks did not contend for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. They lost some talented pieces ahead of the 2025 season but Leipold added 22 new players and really addressed some weaknesses.
Four offensive and three defensive linemen were added, and linebackers <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/bangally-kamara/33394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangally Kamara</a> (South Carolina) and Trey Lathan (West Virginia) are both expected to start. The big question will be whether transfers from Auburn (X2), Alabama (X2) and Texas can step up and play to their original high school ranking.

29. Kansas Jayhawks

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There are real concerns about the talent exiting Westwood after Deshaun Foster’s first season in charge (especially the offensive skill positions). Despite concerns, UCLA did get some good additions.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/joey-aguilar/46523">Joey Aguilar</a> is a fun quarterback who chucked it around at Appalachian State, and the Bruins are hopeful he can inject life into the offense along with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kaedin-robinson/46603">Kaedin Robinson</a> (App State) and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mikey-matthews/49615">Mikey Matthews</a> from Cal. Three incoming safeties should improve the secondary, and four new offensive linemen will try to improve a weak spot from this past season.

30. UCLA Bruins

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The Michigan Wolverines only brought in 12 transfers in this class. The number is not huge but the impact could be quite substantial as the Maize and Blue look to build on the momentum they gained from finishing the season with upsets of Ohio State and Alabama.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/donaven-mcculley/50619">Donaven McCulley</a> is a talented wide receiver transferring in from Indiana, and Michigan will be tasked with getting him to fulfill his potential. He was not missed in Bloomington, and a change of scenery could be what he needs to take off. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mikey-keene/28090">Mikey Keene</a> is a veteran quarterback who will be an upgrade on what they had in 2024 and serve as a bridge to #1 recruit Bryce Underwood.
They also added depth on the defense with a pair of linemen and a pair of safeties. The most impactful transfer immediately is probably running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/justice-haynes/19397">Justice Haynes</a> from Alabama as the Wolverines figure to rely on the running game once again.

31. Michigan Wolverines

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I am higher than most on the transfer class for the Utah Utes. I firmly believe in the addition of quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/devon-dampier/16862">Devon Dampier</a> and his potential in the Utah offense. After a pair of mostly lost seasons, as they waited on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cameron-rising/21775">Cam Rising</a> to return and be healthy, I am hopeful Utah will return to being the most physical bully on the block as a running team. Dampier, fellow New Mexico transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/naquari-rogers/27371" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NaQuari Rogers,</a> and Washington State running back Wayshawn Parker hint toward that direction.

32. Utah Utes

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The return of Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia is one of the more interesting storylines heading into the 2025 season in the chaotic Big 12. Will Rodriguez be able to return the Mountaineers to the high times of his first era before he bolted for an ill-fated tenure in Michigan? Can West Virginia hit the ground and dominate with the rushing attack like his previous teams? Rodriguez’s first transfer class is big in quantity with a major unknown in quality.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jimmori-robinson/42635"> Jimmori Robinson</a> is a terrific edge rusher from UTSA, but the rest of the incoming players are three-star transfers from smaller schools and even lower levels. The biggest question mark is quarterback, with underwhelming additions of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaylen-henderson/45645">Jaylen Henderson</a> (Texas A&amp;M) and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/max-brown/44023">Max Brown</a> (Charlotte) added. The bet is that Henderson is the starter, but he has a long way to go in his development.

33. West Virginia Mountaineers

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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost some outstanding players to the transfer portal, but this is still a program on the rise with major cause for optimism. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eric-rivers/36290">Eric Rivers</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dean-patterson/36362">Dean Patterson</a> are great additions at wide receiver, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/malachi-hosley/25804">Malachi Hosley</a> is an interesting running back pairing with the returning <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jamal-haynes/30048">Jamal Haynes</a>. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jt-byrne/49641">J.T. Byrne</a> is a really underrated tight end who should fit into this system well. The major question mark for this class is whether or not the edge rushers brought in can replace the quality of the players who have moved on.

34. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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We have begun to reach the place in the rankings of teams that are either not involved much in the transfer portal or teams that arguably lost more than they replaced. Maryland falls into the latter category after suffering 21 defections, including stars like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/roman-hemby/47800">Roman Hemby</a> (Indiana) and both quarterbacks (Coastal Carolina and Wisconsin). That is not to say the Terrapins did not bring in some talented players, they certainly did but the class is only ten players.
Hopes are high for 6’7” offensive tackle <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/rahtrel-perry/24788">Rahtrel Perry</a> and 6’4” tackle <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jayvin-james/40749">Jayvin James</a>, and cornerback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jamare-glasker/24588">Jamare Glasker</a> is a high-end cornerback coming from Wake Forest. The Mike Locksley era appears to be on fumes in College Park.

35. Maryland Terrapins

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College football never sleeps. While the national title is still being decided, the rosters for 2025 are taking shape. Which teams got a boost from the portal?

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