Best portal addition for 2025's top 25 college football teams

The College Football Playoff National Championship game to end the 2024 season featured starting quarterbacks at Ohio State and Notre Dame who arrived via the transfer portal. Arizona State, Indiana and SMU all got into the inaugural 12-team Playoff by embracing the portal to build their rosters. These days, if you want to get better faster, you better know how to find and develop transfer talent.

Now that the winter transfer portal season has finally come to a close (it fires up again in April) and more than 2,000 FBS scholarship players have made moves, it's time to assess the key pickups for each Way-Too-Early Top 25 team who'll have an opportunity to shine in 2025.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

2024 record: 14-2, 7-2 Big Ten

Top portal addition: Ethan Onianwa, OT, Rice

The defending national champs are dealing with some significant offensive changes for 2025 with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, offensive line coach Justin Frye and eight starters moving on to the NFL.

Replacing starting offensive tackles Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar was a serious need for the Buckeyes during the portal window, and they landed two promising prospects in Onianwa and Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels. The experience Onianwa brings to the table, as a three-year starter who has played more than 2,200 career snaps, makes him an essential piece of the puzzle for an Ohio State offensive line that had to overcome injuries and depend on inexperienced depth during their title run.

2. Texas Longhorns

2024 record: 13-3, 7-1 SEC

Top portal addition: Cole Brevard, DT, Purdue

Texas had few needs during this portal cycle, but defensive tackle was an obvious concern with six of the team's top seven contributors graduating or transferring. The Longhorns remade this room with veterans Brevard, Travis Shaw (North Carolina) and Hero Kanu (Ohio State) all coming in to compete for snaps. Brevard, a former top-100 recruit who began his career at Penn State, brings the most experience of the trio as a 23-game starter for the Boilermakers who recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2024.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

2024 record: 13-3, 8-1 Big Ten

Top portal addition: Devonte Ross, WR, Troy

Drew Allar is back for 2025 but is losing four of his top five pass catchers. The Nittany Lions needed to find upgrades at wide receiver via the portal and brought in two talented options in Ross and USC's Kyron Hudson. Ross was one of the most productive playmakers in the country in 2024, a first-team All-Sun Belt performer who ranked second among all FBS wide receivers with 1,445 all-purpose yards and scored 12 total touchdowns as a receiver and kick returner. If he can make a smooth transition to Big Ten competition, he'll have an opportunity to become a breakout star in Penn State's offense.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2024 record: 14-2

Top portal addition: Malachi Fields, WR, Virginia

Marcus Freeman and his staff have done an excellent job of being selective and effective with their transfer additions. They looked to the portal again this offseason for more help at receiver and landed a big-time target in Fields. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound grad transfer was a team captain and All-ACC performer at Virginia and has put up the third-most receiving yards (1,619) in the conference over the past two seasons. He'll be a go-to target for whoever wins the starting QB job for the Irish.

5. Georgia Bulldogs

2024 record: 11-3, 6-2 SEC

Top portal addition: Zachariah Branch, WR, USC

It's no surprise Georgia was in the market for difference-makers at wide receiver after that position group had an inconsistent season that included 28 drops -- the most among the Power 4. Branch is as dynamic as it gets with his elite speed and game-changing ability as a receiver and kick returner. Branch had an All-America caliber debut season with the Trojans but an up-and-down sophomore campaign, turning 78 targets into 47 catches, 503 yards and one score. Branch and Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas will have an opportunity to play high-impact roles alongside Dillon Bell in the Bulldogs' passing attack.

6. Oregon Ducks

2024 record: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten

Top portal addition: Isaiah World, OT, Nevada

The 6-foot-8, 309-pound redshirt junior was a critical addition for the Ducks as they worked to replace NFL draft-bound starting tackles Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius. World has an opportunity to seriously boost his draft stock with a strong year in Eugene. He's a three-year starter who has played more than 2,300 career snaps and did not surrender a sack in 2024. Oregon did an excellent job of bringing in top portal talent to reload for another Big Ten title run including running back Makhi Hughes (Tulane), offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon (USC) and safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue).

7. Clemson Tigers

2024 record: 10-4, 7-1 ACC

Top portal addition: Will Heldt, DE, Purdue

Dabo Swinney doesn't typically recruit many transfers but brought in a trio of players via the portal this offseason. It's easy to see why Heldt was a worthy addition. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound edge defender put up 56 tackles, 16 pressures, 10 TFLs and five sacks in his first season as a starter for the Boilermakers. He's coming in with two more seasons of eligibility and exciting upside to bolster the Tigers' pass rush.

8. LSU Tigers

2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC

Top portal addition: Nic Anderson, WR, Oklahoma

The Tigers signed arguably the No. 1 portal class this offseason, loading up with a ton of proven multi-year starters who should make this team a serious SEC contender in 2025. Anderson was sidelined for nearly the entire 2024 season due to injury but was one of the most talented players to hit the portal in December. He's a 6-foot-4, 216-pound wideout who shined with the Sooners in 2023, putting up 798 receiving yards and 10 TDs on just 38 catches. The arrival of Anderson and Kentucky transfer Barion Brown should make LSU's passing attack far more explosive.

9. BYU Cougars

2024 record: 11-2, 7-2 Big 12

Top portal addition: Keanu Tanuvasa, DT, Utah

Tanuvasa moved into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman for the Utes and developed into a 6-foot-4, 301-pound force who recorded 50 tackles, 32 pressures, 12 TFLs and four sacks over 24 career games. He's a massive get for their rival who has two more seasons of eligibility and should compete for All-Big 12 honors in 2025. Utah transfer tight end Carsen Ryan also switched sides in this rivalry and should make a big impact for the Cougars' offense.

10. South Carolina Gamecocks

2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC

Top portal addition: Rahsul Faison, RB, Utah State

This was one of the great under-the-radar pickups of the offseason. Faison rushed for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns over two seasons at Utah State and earned second-team All-Mountain West recognition in 2024 after finishing fourth in the conference in rushing. The former junior college transfer was granted an extra season of eligibility in late December thanks to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's lawsuit. Now he's taking his talents to the SEC to be a key piece in an offense with big expectations entering quarterback LaNorris Sellers' sophomore year.

11. Iowa State Cyclones

2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12

Top portal addition: Chase Sowell, WR, ECU

The Cyclones bring back a lot of talent for 2025 but needed to find some impact wide receivers via the portal to succeed Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Sowell will step right into Higgins' role as a 6-foot-4, 195-pound receiver who'll see a ton of targets from quarterback Rocco Becht this fall. After getting cut by Colorado in the spring of 2023, Sowell proved he can be a playmaker at ECU with 81 catches for 1,300 yards and four TDs over two seasons.

12. Alabama Crimson Tide

2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC

Top portal addition: Nikhai Hill-Green, LB, Colorado

After stops at Michigan and Charlotte, Hill-Green put together an All-Big 12 season with the Buffaloes in 2024, recording 82 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, four pass breakups, two interceptions and two sacks to help lead one of the most improved defenses in the country. He decided to move on and bet on himself with his final season of eligibility. Hill-Green will compete for a starting role in a talented Alabama linebacker room that returns Deontae Lawson, Qua Russaw and Justin Jefferson.

13. Illinois Fighting Illini

2024 record: 10-3, 6-3 Big Ten

Top portal addition: James Thompson Jr., DL, Wisconsin

Thompson, a veteran 6-foot-6, 300-pound defensive lineman who's entering his sixth year, missed most of the 2024 season due to a torn pectoral muscle but brings valuable experience to Illinois' defense as a two-year starter for the Badgers who should step right in to replace Dennis Briggs Jr. The Illini have done a nice job of reloading along the defensive line this offseason with fellow Wisconsin transfers Curt Neal and Leon Lowery Jr. coming in along with Florida State transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye.

14. Arizona State Sun Devils

2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12

Top portal addition: Kanye Udoh, RB, Army

No one player can replace the remarkable impact running back Cam Skattebo made for Arizona State's offense -- and the program -- but Udoh is a fascinating pickup. The 6-foot, 215-pound back played right away as a true freshman at Army and earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2024 after rushing for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns on 6.2 yards per carry. He'll team up with Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown in a running back stable that has the potential to be among the best in the Big 12 in 2025.

15. SMU Mustangs

2024 record: 11-3, 8-0 ACC

Top portal addition: Jeffrey M'Ba, DT, Purdue

SMU only lost three scholarship players to the portal in December, fewest among all Power 4 programs. That's impressive retention for a College Football Playoff-caliber roster, and the Mustangs still had room to bring in 14 new transfers. M'Ba is an exciting addition up front, a 6-foot-6, 302-pound force at nose tackle who was the No. 1 player in the ESPN JC 50 in 2022 and played well in his first season as a full-time starter at Purdue.

16. Kansas State Wildcats

2024 record: 9-4, 5-4 Big 12

Top portal addition: Gunner Maldonado, S, Arizona

Maldonado looks like he'll be exactly what K-State needs in its secondary. The grad transfer was a 30-game starter and team captain at Arizona and had a really productive season in 2023 with 81 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He missed most of last season due to a knee injury but is coming back for one final season as a sixth-year senior and will bring valuable leadership and playmaking ability.

17. Indiana Hoosiers

2024 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten

Top portal addition: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Cal

Coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers struck gold with their portal class in Year 1 and have put together another strong haul for 2025. After developing transfer QB Kurtis Rourke into a top-10 finisher in Heisman Trophy voting, they landed their top target for his successor in Mendoza. The No. 4 QB in ESPN's transfer rankings was the third-leading passer in the ACC last season with 3,004 yards on 69% passing and impressed with his leadership and toughness. He'll be set up for success in an offense that has reloaded with 13 veteran transfers joining the program for 2025.

18. Florida Gators

2024 record: 8-5, 4-4 SEC

Top portal addition: J.Michael Sturdivant, WR, UCLA

The Gators needed to add help at wide receiver for quarterback DJ Lagway after their two top wideouts graduated. Sturdivant is a proven playmaker. The former Freshman All-American has produced 123 career catches for 1,667 yards and 13 touchdowns over three seasons at UCLA and Cal. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound redshirt senior will bring veteran leadership to a receiver room full of promising blue-chip talent including Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell and top-50 incoming recruits Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson.

19. Tennessee Volunteers

2024 record: 10-3, 6-2 SEC

Top portal addition: Star Thomas, RB, Duke

Dylan Sampson was a breakout star and the SEC's leading rusher in 2024, turning 278 touches on offense into 1,634 yards and 22 touchdowns. That's a ton of production to replace. Thomas has rushed for 2,049 yards and 16 scores over three seasons at Duke and New Mexico State and was granted an extra season of eligibility as a former juco transfer. He'll team up with DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis to power a run game that should benefit from the arrival of new starting offensive guards Wendell Moe Jr. (Arizona) and Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame).

20. Louisville Cardinals

2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC

Top portal addition: Miller Moss, QB, USC

Jeff Brohm brought out the best in transfer QBs Tyler Shough and Jack Plummer in his first two seasons leading the Cardinals, so it's easy to see why Moss made this move. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound passer had promising moments during his first season as a starter at USC, leading the Big Ten in passing yards per game, while finishing with 2,555 yards and 18 TDs on 64% passing. He came up short in five Big Ten losses decided by one-score margins, though, and was benched after nine starts. Moss enters his final season of eligibility with a ton to prove and an opportunity to put up big numbers in Brohm's passing attack.

21. Michigan Wolverines

2024 record: 8-5, 5-4 Big Ten

Top portal addition: Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan

Haynes, a former top-25 recruit, is looking for a chance to play a more significant role after rushing for 448 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore on just 6.6 carries per game. He'll certainly get that opportunity in a Michigan offense that must replace Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards. Haynes is coming in with two more seasons of eligibility and should form a terrific duo with Jordan Marshall, the Wolverines' rising freshman who rushed for 100 yards in their ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama.

22. Texas A&M Aggies

2024 record: 8-5, 5-3 SEC

Top portal addition: Kevin Concepcion, WR, NC State

The Aggies went into portal season with clear needs at wide receiver and did an impressive job of restocking with new talent who'll help starting QB Marcel Reed take the next step in his development. Concepcion was the ACC's Rookie of the Year in 2023 and produced 1,700 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns at slot receiver over his two seasons with the Wolfpack. Texas A&M put together a nice collection of newcomers at receiver with Concepcion, Mario Craver (Mississippi State), Micah Hudson (Texas Tech) and Jonah Wilson (Houston) joining Terry Bussey in College Station for 2025.

23. Miami Hurricanes

2024 record: 10-3, 6-2 ACC

Top portal addition: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

Quarterback Cam Ward was worth every penny for the Hurricanes in 2024. They're hoping Beck can pick up right where he left off and lead the program to an ACC title and the College Football Playoff. He comes in with a 24-3 record as a starter and has thrown for 7,426 yards over the past two seasons, by far the most among all returning Power 4 starters. He is coming off of an elbow surgery that kept him out of the playoff, though. After briefly declaring for the draft, Beck is coming back to prove he's a first-round talent. He'll be set up for success in an offensive system that just finished No. 1 in scoring offense (43.9 points per game) with more help on the way via the portal.

24. Boise State Broncos

2024 record: 12-2, 7-0 Mountain West

Top portal addition: Malakai Williams, DE, Idaho

Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan proved he's one of the best defenders in the Mountain West during the Broncos' run to the CFP. Williams should be a good complement and a quality addition for their pass rush. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior was a two-time team captain at Idaho and one of the more disruptive edge rushers in the Big Sky last season, recording 37 pressures according to Pro Football Focus and producing 35 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. Boise State restocked along the D-line during the portal window with four transfers coming up to boost the depth up front.

25. Ole Miss Rebels

2024 record: 10-3, 5-3 SEC

Top portal addition: Luke Hasz, TE, Arkansas

After developing transfer Caden Prieskorn into an All-SEC performer, the Rebels are looking to replace him with one of the top young tight ends in the conference. Hasz, a former top-100 recruit, hauled in 42 receptions for 577 yards and seven touchdowns over 17 games with the Razorbacks and will be a dynamic pass catcher that new starting QB Austin Simmons can lean on in an offense that will feature lots of new faces in 2025.