Hear where Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy journey began
USA TODAY’s Rick Jervis discusses where things began for the Fernando Mendoza on his journey to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Sports Pulse
College football’s version of free agency has changed the sport, and there have been changes to the transfer portal itself this winter.
The portal period now runs from Jan. 2-16, with an extra five-day window (Jan. 20-24) for teams playing in the national championship. The spring portal window in April is no longer a part of the schedule, so January is the only open window for teams to add via the transfer portal in 2026.
Here’s a look at who is expected to be on the move in the Big Ten this winter (players have either announced intention to transfer or it’s been reported they will enter portal):
Note: Players who enter portal can return to their respective schools.
(HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.)
Illinois football transfer portal
IN
- LS Zach Haber (Arkansas)
- EDGE William Holmes (Utah State)
- QB Katin Houser (East Carolina)
- OL Carter Janki (Penn)
- OT Christian Martin (Colorado State)
- WR Alex Perry (FIU)
- WR Jayshon Platt (FAU)
- C Jake Renfro (Wisconsin)
- WR Ty Robinson (Ball State)
- QB Maurice Smith (Chowan)
OUT
- LB Easton Baker
- DL Eli Coenen
- DL Tomiwa Durojaiye
- WR Malik Elzy (LSU)
- OT Kellen Francis
- TE Jake Furtney
- QB Ethan Hampton
- LB Jojo Hayden (Purdue)
- LB Malachi Hood
- CB Saboor Karriem
- DL Curt Neal (Purdue)
- EDGE Harrysson Ngassa
- K David Olano (Texas A&M)
- CB Kaleb Patterson (Kansas State)
- QB Trey Petty
- S Amar Reynolds
- S Tyson Rooks
- TE Cole Rusk (Arizona)
- WR Mario Sanders II
- CB Donovan Turner
- DL Jeremiah Warren
- CB Vernon Woodward III
IN
OUT
- EDGE Aden Cannon
- EDGE Andrew DePaepe
- EDGE William DePaepe
- WR Makai Jackson (Liberty)
- CB Amariyun Knighten
- OL Mitch Verstegen
- EDGE Finn Walters
IN
- DL Kahmari Brown (Elon)
- DB Anthony Hawkins (Villanova)
- K Eli Ozick (North Dakota State)
- DL Brice Stevenson (Holy Cross)
- OL Trent Wilson (James Madison)
OUT
- P Rhys Dakin (Michigan State)
- DB Koen Entringer
- RB Jaziun Patterson (Michigan State)
- QB Jackson Stratton
- RB Terrell Washington Jr.
IN
- RB Harry Dalton (USC)
- WR Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (Old Dominion)
- RB Trequan Jones (Old Dominion)
- DL Derrick LeBlanc (UCF)
OUT
- EDGE Neeo Avery
- TE Leon Haughton Jr.
- CB Kevyn Humes (Boston College)
- QB Justyn Martin
- QB Khristian Martin (Fresno State)
- S Shamar McIntosh (Charlotte)
- RB Josiah McLaurin
- DL Dimitry Nicolas
- WR Jahmari Powell-Wonson (FAU)
- RB Nolan Ray
- CB La’khi Roland
- DT Sedrick Smith
Michigan football transfer portal
IN
- Jonah Lea’ea (Utah)
- P Cameron Brown (UNLV)
- K Trey Butkowski (Pitt)
- LS Nico Crawford (Pitt)
OUT
- LS Evan Boutorwick
- QB Jadyn Davis
- DB Elijah Dotson
- DL Enow Etta
- OL Jake Guarnera
- RB CJ Hester
- OT Connor Jones (Georgia State)
- QB Mikey Keene (Arizona State)
- RB Justice Haynes
- S Brandyn Hillman
- RB Bryson Kuzdzal
- S Jaden Mangham (Purdue)
- S TJ Metcalf
- WR Fredrick Moore (Michigan State)
- WR Semaj Morgan (UCLA)
- RB Jasper Parker (Arkansas)
- TE Brady Prieskorn
- OT Ben Roebuck
- OL Kaden Strayhorn (Alabama)
- LB Cole Sullivan (Oklahoma)
- K Beckham Sunderland (Minnesota)
- QB Davis Warren (Stanford)
- DB Jordan Young
IN
- K Liam Boyd (Charlotte)
- CB Charles Brantley (Miami)
- CB Tyran Chappell (UConn)
- P Rhys Dakin (Iowa)
- RB Cam Edwards (UConn)
- QB Cam Fancher (UCF)
- C Trent Fraley (North Dakota State)
- ATH Carson Gulker (Ferris State)
- WR Fredrick Moore (Michigan)
- OL Ben Murawski (UConn)
- RB Jaziun Patterson (Iowa)
- S Michael Richard (Louisiana Tech)
- OL Nick Sharpe (South Carolina)
- S Devin Vaught (Maine)
- LB Caleb Whitehead (Auburn)
OUT
- OT Justin Bell (Virginia Tech)
- WR Evan Boyd (Iowa State)
- LB Semaj Bridgeman
- OL Gavin Broscious (Iowa State)
- QB Aidan Chiles (Northwestern)
- K Martin Connington (Kansas)
- S Justin Denson Jr.
- RB Makhi Frazier
- EDGE Tyler Gillison
- TE Wyatt Hook
- CB Jeremiah Hughes
- QB Ryland Jessee
- OT Ashton Lepo
- OT Charlton Luniewski
- OT Mercer Luniewski
- WR Nick Marsh (Indiana)
- TE Michael Masunas (Texas)
- WR Chrishon McCray
- S George Mullins
- OL Kristian Phillips
- LB Marcelius Pulliam
- OT Stanton Ramil (Auburn)
- S Tracy Revels
- OT Rashawn Rogers
- EDGE David Santiago (Kansas)
- LS Kaden Schickel
- S Antonio Smith
- LB Darius Snow
- OT Payton Stewart
- EDGE Jalen Thompson
- DL Alex VanSumeren (USC)
- CB Aydan West (Minnesota)
- CB Ade Willie (North Carolina)
- LS Jack Willis
IN
- EDGE TJ Bush Jr. (Cal)
- DL Naquan Crowder (Marshall)
- TE Kaden Helms (Oklahoma)
- S Parker Knutson (Southwest Minnesota State)
- EDGE Andrew Marshall (Eastern Michigan)
- P Zachary Robbins (Utah State)
- S Mekhai Smith (Lehigh)
- K Beckham Sunderland (Michigan)
- WR Perry Thompson (Auburn)
- OT Bennett Warren (Tennessee)
- CB Aydan West (Michigan State)
OUT
- RB Tre Berry
- CB Jaylen Bowden
- CB Harrison Brun
- CB Za’Quan Bryan
- RB Johann Cardenas
- S Ethan Carrier
- WR Malachi Coleman
- DL Steven Curtis
- WR Cristian Driver
- RB Ohifame Ijeboi
- K David Kemp
- QB Jackson Kollock
- WR Kenric Lanier
- WR Legend Lyons
- P Caleb McGrath
- S Koi Perich
- WR Quentin Redding
- P Brody Richter
- OT Kahlee Tafai
- OT Reese Tripp
- LB Drew Wilson
IN
- OT Tree Babalade (South Carolina)
- OL Brendan Black (Iowa State)
- LB Owen Chambliss (San Diego State)
- QB Anthony Colandrea (UNLV)
- LB Dexter Foster (Oregon State)
- WR Kwazi Gilmer (UCLA)
- LB Will Hawthorne (Iowa State)
- S Dwayne McDougle (San Diego State)
OUT
- K Tristan Alvano
- QB Marcos Davila
- DL Keona Davis
- S Roger Gradney
- DB Malcolm Hartzog
- OL Houston Kaahaaina-Torres
- DL Jason Maciejczak (Wyoming)
- EDGE Maverick Noonan
- CB Preston Okafor
- RB Jamarion Parker
- DL Dylan Parrott
- QB Dylan Raiola
- CB Rahmir Stewart
- CB Larry Tarver
- CB Brice Turner
- S Caden VerMaas
IN
- OT David Anchondo (Saginaw Valley State)
- QB Aidan Chiles (Michigan State)
- CB Brenden Deasfernandes (Central Michigan)
- TE Alex Honig (UConn)
- LB Kobie McKinzie (Oklahoma)
OUT
- RB Albert Kunickis
- K Jack Olsen
- RB Dashun Reeder
- EDGE Anto Saka (Texas A&M)
- CB Evan Smith
- S Dillon Tatum (Miami of Ohio)
- OT Hayden Wright
Ohio State football transfer portal
IN
- LB Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin)
- WR Devin McCuin (UTSA)
- LS Dalton Riggs (UCF)
- DL John Walker (UCF)
- TE Mason Williams (Ohio)
OUT
- OL Devontae Armstrong
- DL Jarquez Carter
- EDGE Logan George
- WR Mylan Graham
- DB Malik Hartford
- LB C.J. Hicks (South Florida)
- LB Ty Howard
- OL Isaiah Kema (Utah)
- QB Lincoln Kienholz (Louisville)
- EDGE Dominic Kirks
- QB Mason Maggs
- OL Jayvon McFadden
- P Nick McLarty (Arizona State)
- CB Bukari Miles Jr.
- WR Bodpegn Miller
- LS Grant Mills
- RB James Peoples (Penn State)
- WR Quincy Porter
- WR Bryson Rodgers (South Florida)
- DL Maxwell Roy
- CB Aaron Scott Jr.
- OT Justin Terry
- TE Jelani Thurman
- OL Tegra Tshabola
- CB Bryce West (Wisconsin)
- WR Damarion Witten
IN
OUT
- CB Daylen Austin
- TE Kade Caton
- CB Solomon Davis
- CB Dakoda Fields (Oklahoma)
- CB Jahlil Florence (Missouri)
- RB Jay Harris
- RB Makhi Hughes (Houston)
- WR Kyler Kasper
- CB Sione Laulea
- RB Jayden Limar
- S Kingston Lopa (Cal)
- WR Justius Lowe
- OL Lipe Moala
- QB Austin Novosad
IN
- LB Caleb Bacon (Iowa State)
- QB Rocco Becht (Iowa State)
- TE Benjamin Brahmer (Iowa State)
- LB Cael Brezina (Iowa State)
- WR Karon Brookins (Iowa State)
- OL Trevor Buhr (Iowa State)
- TE Gabe Burkle (Iowa State)
- DL Alijah Carnell (Iowa State)
- S Omarion Davis (Boston College)
- LB Kooper Ebel (Iowa State)
- WR Brett Eskildsen (Iowa State)
- RB Carson Hansen (Iowa State)
- OL Vaea Ikakoula (Iowa State)
- OL Kuol Kuol II (Iowa State)
- QB Alex Manske (Iowa State)
- EDGE Alexander McPherson (Colorado)
- DL Armstrong Nnodim (Oklahoma State)
- S Jamison Patton (Iowa State)
- RB James Peoples (Ohio State)
- WR Zay Robinson (Iowa State)
- WR Chase Sowell (Iowa State)
- S Hunter Sowell (Iowa State)
- DL Siale Taupaki (UCLA)
- OT Will Tompkins (Iowa State)
- DL Keanu Williams (UCLA)
OUT
- DL Randy Adirika
- DL Kaleb Artis
- S Antoine Belgrave-Shorter
- OL Alex Birchmeier (Liberty)
- OT Eagan Boyer (Florida)
- WR Josiah Brown
- EDGE Chaz Coleman
- WR Tyseer Denmark
- CB Kolin Dinkins (Temple)
- WR Jeff Exinor Jr. (Virginia Tech)
- EDGE Zuriah Fisher (USC)
- DL Xavier Gilliam (Tennessee)
- QB Ethan Grunkmeyer (Virginia Tech)
- CB A.J. Harris
- EDGE Cortez Harris
- EDGE Jaylen Harvey (North Carolina)
- TE Matt Henderson
- WR Anthony Ivey
- LB Kari Jackson
- EDGE Daniel Jennings (Virginia Tech)
- QB Bekkem Kritza
- DB Dejuan Lane
- S King Mack (NC State)
- LB DaKaari Nelson
- OL Brady O’Hara
- TE Andrew Olesh
- S Lamont Payne Jr.
- TE Luke Reynolds
- WR Kaden Saunders
- TE Joey Schlaffer
- OL T.J. Shanahan (Florida)
- DL Sam Siafa
- RB Corey Smith
- QB Jaxon Smolik
- LB Anthony Speca (Purdue)
- OL Owen Wafle (Duke)
- RB Cam Wallace
- RB Jabree Wallace-Coleman
- RB Elliot Washington II (Clemson)
- OL J’Ven Williams
- EDGE Mylachi Williams
- CB Kenny Woseley
- LB Keon Wylie (Virginia Tech)
Purdue football transfer portal
IN
- P Dylan Drennan (Buffalo)
- RB Jerrick Gibson (Texas)
- LB Jojo Hayden (Illinois)
- DL Rodney Lora (UCF)
- OT Nuku Mafi (Oklahoma State)
- S Jaden Mangham (Michigan)
- DL Curt Neal (Illinois)
- OL Makai Saina (USC)
- LB Anthony Speca (Penn State)
- RB Travis Terrell (Jackson State)
- DL Wisdom Simms (North Carolina Central)
- OL Boaz Stanley (South Carolina)
- WR Asaad Waseem (FAU)
OUT
- WR Arhmad Branch (South Florida)
- LB Owen Davis
- LB Carson Dean
- LB Sanders Ellis
- OT Tyrell Green
- DL Jamarrion Harkless
- DL Demeco Kennedy (Louisville)
- OL Jimmy Johnson
- OL Bradyn Joiner (Florida State)
- RB Jaheim Merriweather
- DT Marcus Moore Jr.
- OT Hank Purvis
- LB Alex Sanford Jr.
- LS Justin Schmidt
- QB Malachi Singleton (Appalachian State)
- S Sterling Smith
- RB Jaron Thomas
- S Richard Toney Jr.
- WR Nitro Tuggle
- TE Rico Walker
IN
- TE Kam Anthony (Ball State)
- DL Malachi Davis (Toledo)
- CB Zahmir Dawud (Villanova)
- DL Jaedin Lee (Maine)
- QB Dylan Lonegran (Boston College)
- DL Rondo Porter (Appalachian State)
- OT Everett Small (Eastern Michigan)
OUT
- OT Zach Aamland
- EDGE Djibril Abdou Rahman
- RB Samuel Brown V (Temple)
- RB CJ Campbell Jr. (Duke)
- DL Darold DeNgohe
- CB Renick Dorilas
- CB Jacobie Henderson
- LB Talibi Kaba
- CB Bo Mascoe (Texas)
- WR Sane Pardridge
- LB Sam Robinson (South Florida)
- OL John Stone
- WR Ian Strong (Cal)
- EDGE Jordan Walker (Georgia Tech)
- OL Taj White (Colorado)
IN
- CB DJ Barksdale (James Madison)
- WR Landon Ellis (James Madison)
- EDGE Aiden Gobaira (James Madison)
- DB Ta’Shawn James (Iowa State)
- RB Wayne Knight (UCLA)
- RB Dylan Lee (Iowa State)
- CB Dante Lovett Jr. (Virginia Tech)
- EDGE Ryan McCulloch (Cal)
- WR Aidan Mizell (Florida)
- WR Semaj Morgan (Michigan)
- OL Derek Osman (Harvard)
- TE Josh Phifer (James Madison)
- OT JD Rayner (James Madison)
- OL Riley Robell (James Madison)
- OT Hall Schmidt (Boise State)
- WR Leland Smith (San Jose State)
OUT
- CB Jamir Benjamin
- K Mateen Bhaghani
- CB Kanye Clark
- LB Isaiah Chisom
- QB Luke Duncan (Nevada)
- DL A.J. Fuimaono
- WR Kwazi Gilmer (Nebraska)
- QB Henry Hasselbeck (Appalachian State)
- DB Scooter Jackson
- WR Jadyn Marshall
- S Cole Martin
- TE Jack Pedersen
- CB Croix Stewart
- OL Siale Taupaki (Penn State)
- DL Keanu Williams (Penn State)
- WR Jaedon Wilson
IN
- WR Terrell Anderson (NC State)
- LB Deven Bryant (Washington)
- EDGE Zuriah Fisher (Penn State)
- CB Carrington Pierce (Oklahoma State)
- DL Alex VanSumeren (Michigan State)
- CB Jontez Williams (Iowa State)
OUT
- OL Micah Banuelos
- LB Anthony Beavers Jr.
- CB Braylon Conley
- DL Gus Cordova
- RB Harry Dalton (Maryland)
- RB Bryan Jackson (Wisconsin)
- CB James Johnson
- DL Carlon Jones (Arkansas)
- WR DJ Jordan (Arizona)
- QB Husan Longstreet
- DB Kevin Longstreet
- TE Walker Lyons (BYU)
- LB Garrison Madden
- S Stephen Miller
- TE Joey Olsen
- OT Alex Payne
- OL Makai Saina (Purdue)
- WR Prince Strachan (West Virginia)
- LB Matai Tagoa’i
- DL Devan Thompkins (Alabama)
IN
- S Jeremiah Bernard (Cal Poly)
- DL Darin Conley (Ball State)
- P Hunter Green (San Diego State)
OUT
- OL Davit Boyajyan
- LB Deven Bryant (USC)
- CB Leroy Bryant
- DL Bryce Butler (Texas Tech)
- OT Paki Finau
- WR Audric Harris
- WR Marcus Harris
- S Vincent Holmes
- OT Zachary Henning
- OT Maximus McCree
- CB Dyson McCutcheon
- RB Adam Mohammed (Cal)
- DL Caleb Smith
- WR Raiden Vines-Bright (Arizona State)
Wisconsin football transfer portal
IN
- QB Deuce Adams (Louisville)
- CB Cai Bates (Florida State)
- EDGE Justus Boone (Arkansas)
- S Marvin Burks Jr. (Missouri)
- OT Blake Cherry (Arkansas)
- WR Jaylon Domingeaux (SE Louisiana)
- CB Eric Fletcher (Oklahoma State)
- TE Jacob Harris (Bowling Green)
- RB Bryan Jackson (USC)
- QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion)
- LB Jon Jon Kamara (Colorado State)
- OL Austin Kawecki (Oklahoma State)
- DL Junior Poyser (Buffalo)
- WR Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State)
- CB Javan Robinson (Arizona State)
- RB Abu Sama (Iowa State)
- TE Ryan Schwendeman (Southern Illinois)
- OT Lucas Simmons (Florida State)
- S Carson Van Dinter (Iowa State)
- CB Bryce West (Ohio State)
- OL PJ Wilkins (Ole Miss)
OUT
- LB Christian Alliegro (Ohio State)
- TE Tucker Ashcraft
- WR Kyan Berry-Johnson
- P Atticus Bertrams
- OL Joe Brunner
- LB Tackett Curtis (UCF)
- QB Billy Edwards Jr. (North Carolina)
- WR Joseph Griffin Jr.
- WR Eugene Hilton Jr.
- DL Jamel Howard Jr.
- RB Dilin Jones
- WR Trech Kekahuna (North Carolina)
- CB Geimere Latimer (West Virginia)
- S Remington Moss
- LB Cody Raymond
- OL Jake Renfro (Illinois)
- EDGE Angel Toombs
- LB Antarron Turner
- EDGE Ernest Willor Jr.
- RB Cade Yacamelli
- S Preston Zachman (Indiana)
When does college football transfer portal 2026 open?
The portal period now runs from Jan. 2-16, with an extra five-day window (Jan. 20-24) for teams playing in the national championship. The spring portal window in April is no longer a part of the schedule, so January is the only open window for teams to add via the portal in 2026.
