The December transfer portal window has officially closed, marking the end of a frenetic three-week period that reshaped college football rosters nationwide. With over 2,300 players entering the portal and more than 800 committing to new schools, the dust is beginning to settle. Programs like LSU and Texas Tech emerged as early winners, while others like Washington State and Purdue face significant challenges. As teams look toward the 2025 season, the portal’s impact on college football’s future has never been more profound.
Winners: Programs that bolstered their rosters with top talent.
LSU Tigers: Building for a championship run.
LSU made a strong statement during this portal cycle, adding 13 transfers to their roster, including several high-profile recruits. Head coach Brian Kelly secured commitments from two top-five receivers, Barion Brown (Kentucky) and Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), along with the No. 1-ranked cornerback, Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech). LSU also bolstered its defensive front with standout transfers like Patrick Payton (Florida State) and Jimari Butler (Nebraska). This infusion of talent significantly raises the Tigers’ expectations following their 8-4 season, positioning them as early contenders for 2025.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: Making bold moves.
Texas Tech, under head coach Joey McGuire, demonstrated aggressive recruiting strategies, securing 17 transfers, including standout defensive tackle Lee Hunter (UCF) and offensive lineman Howard Sampson (North Carolina). The Red Raiders are clearly aiming for a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth in 2025. With high-upside additions like wide receiver Reggie Virgil (Miami [Ohio]) and USC running back Quinten Joyner, Texas Tech is assembling one of the most impressive transfer classes in the nation.
Auburn Tigers: Finding their quarterback.
After years of searching for a star quarterback, Auburn landed Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma), a former five-star recruit. Head coach Hugh Freeze complemented this acquisition by snagging Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech), the No. 1 wide receiver in the portal, and veterans like Mason Murphy (USC) to solid ify the offensive line. With these additions, Auburn is poised to make significant strides in 2025 after several seasons of inconsistency. Arnold, in particular, gives the Tigers a foundational piece to build around as they aim to climb the SEC standings.
Oregon Ducks: Quality over quantity.
The Oregon Ducks, chasing a national championship, didn’t need to overhaul their roster but made impactful additions in key areas. Safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, headlines the Ducks’ transfer class. Oregon also added ESPN’s No. 1-ranked offensive tackle, Isaiah World (Nevada), and defensive tackle Bear Alexander (USC), who has superstar potential if he can find consistency. With these strategic upgrades, Oregon remains a powerhouse heading into 2025.
Losers: Programs hit hard by departures.
Washington State Cougars: Reeling from mass exits.
Washington State has been one of the biggest victims of the transfer portal this cycle, losing 26 scholarship players, including starting quarterback John Mateer (Oklahoma) and running back Wayshawn Parker (Utah). The Cougars are also without a head coach after Jake Dickert departed for Wake Forest, leaving the program in a precarious position. Eleven players who started in Washington State’s final game of 2024 are now in the portal, forcing the incoming coach to rebuild almost from scratch.
Purdue Boilermakers: A roster in flux.
After a dismal 1-11 season and a head coaching change, Purdue saw 31 players enter the portal. New head coach Barry Odom has a monumental task ahead as he inherits a depleted roster. Among the key losses are safety Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) and tight end Max Klare (Ohio State). Odom has already brought in several transfers from his previous team, UNLV, but Purdue has a long way to go before stabilizing its roster.
USC Trojans: Losing key contributors.
USC, a program that has often been a transfer portal winner under head coach Lincoln Riley, found itself on the losing end this time around. The Trojans lost 17 players, including standout wide receivers Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson (Florida State) and defensive tackle Bear Alexander (Oregon). While some of these departures were expected, replacing proven contributors like Branch and Alexander will be no small feat. USC has already started working on replenishing its roster with key additions like Keeshawn Silver (Kentucky) and Jamaal Jarrett (Georgia) at defensive tackle, but significant gaps remain, particularly at wide receiver and offensive line.
Oklahoma Sooners: A mixed bag of gains and losses.
While Oklahoma landed one of the top players in the portal, quarterback John Mateer (Washington State), they also experienced significant losses. Six wide receivers have transferred out, including Nic Anderson (LSU) and Jalil Farooq (Maryland), creating a need for immediate reinforcements. Additionally, losing Jackson Arnold (Auburn) at quarterback and Bauer Sharp (LSU) at tight end has left the Sooners with work to do as they look to bounce back from a frustrating 6-7 season in the SEC.
Arizona Wildcats: A rebuild in the making.
The Wildcats were hit hard by attrition, with 28 players entering the portal after a challenging 4-8 season in their first year in the Big 12. Among the key losses are cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Emmanuel Karnley (Miami), along with linebacker Jacob Manu (Washington). While head coach Brent Brennan has managed to retain a few players who initially tested the portal, Arizona faces a steep climb to rebuild its roster and return to competitiveness in 2025.
Impact on the College Football Landscape: What’s next?
The December transfer portal window has fundamentally altered the dynamics of college football. Programs like Georgia, competing in the College Football Playoff, face the unique challenge of balancing their postseason goals with recruiting efforts. Georgia, for example, has already lost seven players to the portal, but head coach Kirby Smart has focused on retaining key contributors like linebacker Justin Williams while aggressively pursuing new talent. This balancing act underscores the increasingly chaotic nature of the modern college football calendar.
For many programs, the work is far from over. While the portal is closed for now, athletes can still commit to new schools in the coming weeks, and the next portal window from April 16 to April 25 will provide another opportunity for roster adjustments. Teams like Washington State and Purdue will need this time to make up for significant losses, while programs like LSU and Texas Tech will look to fine-tune their already impressive classes. The April window is typically quieter, but for programs in need of major roster overhauls, it serves as a critical second chance to address gaps before summer workouts and fall camp.
The Transfer Portal’s Broader Implications
The rapid evolution of the transfer portal is reshaping college football in profound ways. For powerhouse programs, it offers a chance to reload and maintain dominance, as seen with LSU and Oregon. Meanwhile, for struggling teams like Purdue and Arizona, the portal has become both a challenge and an opportunity to rebuild more quickly than traditional recruiting cycles would allow. However, the high stakes and fast pace of the portal have also introduced new complexities, particularly around player retention, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, and maintaining team chemistry.
As coaches like Georgia’s Kirby Smart have emphasized, the portal era requires meticulous planning and open communication with players to navigate the constant flux. Programs must now balance the development of young talent with the immediate impact of experienced transfers, creating a dynamic that mirrors professional sports’ free agency.
Looking Ahead
With the December window closed, the spotlight shifts to how teams will integrate their new players and address remaining roster needs before spring practices. Programs that excelled in the portal, like Texas Tech and Auburn, will look to translate their acquisitions into on-field success in 2025. Conversely, teams like USC and Washington State face an uphill battle to recover from significant losses and rebuild competitive rosters.
The 2024-25 transfer portal cycle has already demonstrated its transformative potential, and its role in shaping the future of college football cannot be overstated. As programs continue to adapt to this new reality, one thing is certain: the portal is here to stay, and its impact will continue to redefine how teams build for success in the years to come.
