College football's lone transfer portal window for the 2026 season has, for all intents and purposes, closed. Thousands of players entered and programs across the country vigorously filled needs — and in some cases radically overhauled their roster. Even in a condensed two-week window, the movement left behind a wake of change.
Some programs prioritized retention and leaned more heavily on traditional recruiting, a path that can still produce winning results. Regardless of approach, the portal touches every program.
While roster movement isn't over — players who entered the portal prior to last week's deadline are still free to sign in the coming days and weeks — the fervor has died down, allowing us to examine which programs best utilized the portal to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
Here are our top portal classes for the 2026 cycle:
LSU knew hiring Lane Kiffin would invite plenty of scrutiny, but also plenty of big fish in the transfer portal. Kiffin lived up to his reputation as a dealmaker by securing multiple top players in the portal.
Landing quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State was a high-wire act, but the Tigers emerged from the transfer cycle with one of the most dynamic players available and, if all goes according to plan, Leavitt's heir apparent in Husan Longstreet of USC. A cavalcade of new receivers, including Eugene Wilson III (Florida), Jayce Brown (Kansas State), Tre' Brown III (Old Dominion) and Winston Watkins (Ole Miss) should help revamp LSU's passing attack.
Add in Boise State defensive back Ty Benefield, who had the seventh-most tackles (105) among defensive backs nationally in 2025, and some reinforcements along the defensive line, including top-ranked edge Princewill
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Lane Kiffin