• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Transfer Portal Chaos: Record Moves, Star QBs, and NIL Deals Reshape CFB

The college football transfer portal continues to have a larger impact on the sport. Quarterbacks, in particular, are finding success—and cashing in—at new schools.

James Guillory-Imagn Images

College football’s transfer portal saw record movement on its opening day, highlighted by several big-time quarterbacks looking to potentially cash in on major NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals—and maybe some new hardware—with new schools.

Around 1,000 FBS players entered the portal Monday, which is nearly double the total from Day 1 a year ago, and it caused an analytics database that many schools use to track movement to temporarily crash, according to 247 Sports.

The biggest headline was Maalik Murphy’s surprise decision to leave Duke after he threw a school-record 26 touchdown passes this season while leading the Blue Devils to a 9–3 record. He won’t play for Duke in the Gator Bowl against Ole Miss on Jan. 2. Murphy, who has at least one major NIL deal with Postmates, transferred from Texas last year and has two years of eligibility remaining.

The Grass Is Always Greener?

Five teams in the College Football Playoff have starting quarterbacks they acquired in last year’s transfer portal: 

  • Oregon: Dillon Gabriel (from Oklahoma)
  • Arizona State: Sam Leavitt (from Michigan State)
  • Ohio State: Will Howard (from Kansas State)
  • Notre Dame: Riley Leonard (from Duke)
  • Indiana: Kurtis Rourke (from Ohio)

Each of those signal-callers has multiple big-money NIL deals, like the one Leonard signed with Dick’s Sporting Goods after joining the Fighting Irish, following three seasons at Duke.

Heisman finalist Cam Ward, whose Miami Hurricanes narrowly missed out on an ACC championship game appearance and the CFP, was also a major NIL success story this season after transferring from Washington State. Ward, who is now projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, signed a deal with Miami apparel provider Adidas this fall, adding to deals he already had with Bose and energy drink brand C4.

So, who could cash in next? 

As of Tuesday morning, one ranking from ESPN listed Tulane’s Darian Mensah, USC’s Miller Moss, Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold, Liberty’s Kaidon Salter, and Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman as the top five quarterbacks currently available in the transfer portal. Murphy was sixth. 

Another interesting transfer to watch will be Matthew Sluka, who decided to redshirt after leading UNLV to a 3–0 start, due to a dispute over NIL money. The Rebels finished the regular season 10–2 and ended up in the Mountain West championship game but lost to Boise State, which earned an automatic CFP bid and a bye as the No. 3 seed.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Louis, Missouri, UNITED STATES; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Nicholas DeGraves (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Boston University Terriers during the third period of the Frozen Four college ice hockey national semifinals at Enterprise Center

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State Commitment Cements College Hockey Supremacy

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State decision signals hockey’s rising stars now prefer NCAA.
A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
exclusive

CBS, NFL Host James Brown Discussing Contract Extension

The 74-year-old Brown has hosted a record 10 Super Bowl pregame shows.
Nov 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Anthony Wilson Jr. (12) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.

Felix Ojo’s Agent Says Texas Tech Offered $5.1M At Start of Rev-Share..

Texas Tech secured Ojo with a seven-figure NIL commitment.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”

Revenue-Sharing Chaos Begins as Texas Tech Secures Five-Star OT

The Red Raiders spent more than $10 million in the winter transfer portal.
Ohio State
July 1, 2025

Collectives Funnel $20 Million to College Athletes on Last Day Before Revenue..

Collectives frontloaded payments just before the revenue sharing era begins July 1.
July 3, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About EA’s Return to College Basketball Video..

There hasn’t been a college basketball game in more than 15 years.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
July 1, 2025

Big Ten Commish Still Pushes for 4 Auto CFP Bids in 16-Team..

The conference wants four guaranteed spots in the Playoff.
June 30, 2025

College Sports Revenue-Sharing Underway As More Changes Loom

July 1 marks the first day schools can directly pay players.
June 30, 2025

Pac-12 Hits Football Membership Threshold With Texas State Entry

The school is paying $5 million to leave the Sun Belt Conference.
Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jeremy Roach (3) reacts after a play during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.
June 26, 2025

Power Four Put Finishing Touches on How Revenue Sharing Era Will Work

The agreement stipulates that schools can’t sue to challenge any terms of the settlement.