{"id":177960,"date":"2026-02-24T12:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T12:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/177960\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T12:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T12:59:17","slug":"grading-the-big-12s-transfer-portal-classes-from-texas-techs-a-to-iowa-states-d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/177960\/","title":{"rendered":"Grading the Big 12\u2019s transfer portal classes, from Texas Tech\u2019s \u2018A\u2019 to Iowa State\u2019s \u2018D\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five Big 12 schools made The Athletic\u2019s ranking of the top 25 transfer portal classes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

No one was shocked to see Texas Tech in the top five. The Big 12 champions maintained their aggressive offseason approach and were once again among the sport\u2019s biggest spenders.<\/p>\n

The surprise? How about the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who finished 1-11 last season and immediately made major moves to fix things in Stillwater with new coach Eric Morris.<\/p>\n

Arizona State, Colorado and Houston also made the top 25. How did everyone else do? Here\u2019s a look at how every team in the league fared during the portal window.<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0All portal player and snap count data is from Pro Football Focus and includes only snaps played at their offensive or defensive positions (not on special teams). Players and snaps added or lost are via the portal only (numbers do not include players lost due to exhausted eligibility or draft declarations).<\/p>\n

Arizona
\n2025 record: 9-4
\nPortal players added\/lost: 23\/20
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 13,726\/5,565
\n\u00a0Top players added: TE Cole Rusk (Illinois), CB Daylen Austin (Oregon), CB Tyrese Boss (Wyoming), S Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska), S Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado)<\/p>\n

The Wildcats lost only one player to the portal who started a game in 2025 \u2014 Michael Wooten, a two-game starter at left guard. In fact, only three players who played more than 100 snaps departed. That doesn\u2019t mean Arizona didn\u2019t lose any key pieces from last year\u2019s nine-win team. Fifteen starters either exhausted their eligibility or entered the draft early. Brent Brennan\u2019s staff managed to pull in four starters from other FBS programs and three more FCS starters, including Chapa, a second-team All-American who led the Big Sky Conference in tackles. Arizona hit the secondary hard, signing seven defensive backs in the portal. Five were starters last season.<\/p>\n

Grade: B-<\/p>\n

Arizona State
\n2025 record: 8-5
\nPortal players added\/lost: 25\/21
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 17,954\/8,932
\nTop players added: QB Cutter Boley (Kentucky), WR Reed Harris (Boston College), WR Omarion Miller (Colorado), WR Raiden Vines-Bright (Washington), edge Emar\u2019rion Winston (Baylor)<\/p>\n

The Sun Devils went from winning the Big 12 in 2024 to losing quarterback Sam Leavitt (LSU), leading rusher Raleek Brown (Texas), left tackle Josh Atkins (Missouri) and cornerback Javan Robinson (Wisconsin) in the portal. After signing more high school recruits than transfers in the 2025 cycle, Kenny Dillingham returned to his initial approach, signing more older players (25 four-year transfers and five junior college transfers) than high school recruits (16). He used the bulk of his resources to land eight starters from other FBS programs, as well as some other talented second- and third-year players who were part of rotations elsewhere. The Sun Devils did their best work at wide receiver, adding three proven starters who combined for 108 catches for 1,719 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Boley started 10 games at Kentucky in 2025 as a redshirt freshman.<\/p>\n

Grade: B<\/p>\n

Baylor
\n2025 record: 5-7
\nPortal players added\/lost: 29\/32
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 16,059\/15,367
\nTop players added: QB DJ Lagway (Florida), WR Dre\u2019lon Miller (Colorado), OL Nate Kibble (Texas), DL Hosea Wheeler (Indiana), edge Garrick Ponder (Southern Miss)<\/p>\n

The Bears lost 18 players who started at least six games, 12 to exhausted eligibility and six to the portal. Among the notable outgoing transfers: leading rusher Bryson Washington (Auburn), leading tackler Keaton Thomas (Ole Miss) and safety DJ Coleman (Florida). Baylor, meanwhile, signed 11 starters from other FBS programs, but only four came over from other P4 schools. Lagway, who is 10-9 in his career as a starter with 28 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions in his two-year career, takes over an offense that brings back only one starter (right tackle Kaden Sieracki). Baylor signed four offensive linemen who started 11 games or more last season. That\u2019s good. But the collection of new receivers and tight ends lacks high-level production. Four starters, meanwhile, return from the second-worst scoring defense in the league. Only one of the eight defensive linemen picked up in the portal had four or more sacks last season \u2014 former Kansas State edge rusher Ryan Davis. That just doesn\u2019t feel like enough to fix things in Waco.<\/p>\n

Grade: D+<\/p>\n

BYU
\n2025 record: 12-2
\nPortal players added\/lost: 9\/13
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 5,463\/2,041
\nTop players added: TE Walker Lyons (USC), iOL Paki Finau (Washington), OT Jr Sia (Utah State), LB Cade Uluave (California), CB Jayven Williams (Mississippi State)<\/p>\n

Player retention is a key to portal success. Coach Kalani Sitake and general manager Dave George have 10 starters to replace from last year\u2019s roster \u2014 but none lost to the portal. In fact, only two players who played more than 100 snaps transferred out: safety Tayvion Beasley (USF) and linebacker Max Alford (Michigan). Six of the nine portal additions played more than 200 snaps last season, including five who started four games or more. Lyons, who had 20 catches for 223 yards at USC in 2025, has a chance to make a big impact. Uluave (100 tackles, three sacks at Cal) should slot in Jack Kelly\u2019s old spot on the defense. The dismissal of top receiver Parker Kingston<\/a> earlier this month creates a hole. Kyler Kasper, a transfer from Oregon and a former four-star recruit, could step in and help replace Kingston.<\/p>\n

Grade: B+<\/p>\n

Cincinnati
\n2025 record: 7-6
\nPortal players added\/lost: 22\/23
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 17,936\/12,480
\nTop players added: QB JC French (Georgia Southern), RB Zylan Perry (Louisiana), WR Cade Wolford (Kent State), WR JaVonnie Gibson (Oklahoma), CB MJ Cannon (Bowling Green)<\/p>\n

The Bearcats, who started 7-1 before losing five games in a row to end the 2025 season, have to replace 19 starters, including six lost to the portal. The key portal losses were quarterback Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech) and safety Christian Harrison (Arkansas). Coach Scott Satterfield and general manager Zach Grant signed nine starters off other FBS rosters and four more off FCS teams. They bolstered the secondary with four players who started at Group of 6 schools last season. French was 15-11 as a starter over the last two seasons at Georgia Southern and has a similar skill set to Sorby, but is smaller. Wolford is a big-play threat who had 19 receptions for 509 yards and seven touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at Kent State. It feels as though Cincinnati is counting on a lot of guys who haven\u2019t had success yet at the Power 4 level to exceed expectations.<\/p>\n

Grade: D+<\/p>\n

Colorado
\n2025 record: 3-9
\nPortal players added\/lost: 43\/36
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 29,649\/22,182
\nTop players added: WR DeAndre Moore Jr. (Texas), WR Danny Scudero (San Jose State), OT Taj White (Rutgers), LB Liona Lefau (Texas), S Boo Carter (Tennessee)<\/p>\n

Since arriving in December 2022, coach Deion Sanders has brought in over 170 transfers while signing an average of 16.5 high school or junior college recruits per cycle. There was no change in philosophy this offseason. Seven starters left via the portal, and another 13 exhausted their eligibility. Only four starters \u2014 all on offense \u2014 returned after a frustrating season. Sanders restocked the roster with 16 starters from other FBS programs, including five from Power 4 schools. Colorado\u2019s crop of 12 new defensive linemen is led by Santana Hopper from Tulane. The offensive line is in transition once again, with five new additions who were starters a year ago. It\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess how all the new pieces mesh. But Moore and Scudero should be highly productive players in a Colorado offense that has never been fully committed to running the ball in Sanders\u2019 tenure.<\/p>\n

Grade: B<\/p>\n

Houston
\n2025 record: 10-3
\nPortal players added\/lost: 19\/17
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 13,336\/5,630
\nTop players added: RB Makhi Hughes (Oregon), WR Trent Walker (Oregon State), iOL Shadre Hurst (Tulane), OT Drew Terrill (Toledo), S Javion White (Tulane)<\/p>\n

The Cougars have 13 starters to replace from last year\u2019s 10-win team, but only one was lost to the portal. Coach Willie Fritz and his son, Wes, the team\u2019s general manager, did a terrific job retaining six starters on offense and six on defense. They also signed nine starters off FBS rosters to fill holes, including three on the offensive line. Hughes was a star for Fritz at Tulane two years ago and appears to be perfectly positioned to help fill the shoes of leading rusher Dean Connors. The bottom line is the Cougars are in a strong position to compete for the Big 12 championship with the roster the staff has put together.<\/p>\n

Grade: B+<\/p>\n

Iowa State
\n2025 record: 8-4
\nPortal players added\/lost: 47\/55
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 20,785\/27,228
\nTop players added: WR Cody Jackson (Tarleton State), OT Maasai King (Akron), edge Isaac Terrell (Washington State), LB Sullivan Schlimgen (Washington State), S Braden Awls (Toledo)<\/p>\n

How do you go about replacing 15 starters and 11 other rotation players? New coach Jimmy Rogers brought in nine starters from the FCS level and 33 players from other FBS schools, including eight who started at least six games last season. Fourteen of the newcomers followed Rogers from Washington State. No pickup is more experienced than quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who threw for 8,694 yards with 52 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in three seasons at Arkansas State. Tight end Tyler Fortenberry (32 catches, 294 yards in 2025) started 11 games alongside Raynor at A-State. There\u2019s no doubt that Rogers and Iowa State face an uphill battle in maintaining the standard Matt Campbell set.<\/p>\n

Grade: D<\/p>\n

Kansas
\n2025 record: 5-7
\nPortal players added\/lost: 31\/25
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 18,478\/6,270
\nTop players added: RB Dylan Edwards (Kansas State), iOL Connor Stroh (Texas), TE Jailen Butler (Old Dominion), DL Kevin Oatis (Arkansas), DL Tre\u2019Von McAlpine (Tulane)<\/p>\n

Kansas lost only two starters to the portal, but had 13 others exhaust their eligibility. After signing more high school recruits than transfers early in his tenure, coach Lance Leipold has relied more on the portal in the last two cycles. Last season, nine of KU\u2019s 25 portal pickups started six or more games. This year\u2019s haul includes 10 starters from other FBS schools and features two running backs, two receivers and two defensive linemen. Edwards, who has played at Colorado and Kansas State, and Oatis were both blue-chip recruits coming out of high school.<\/p>\n

Grade: C+<\/p>\n

Kansas State
\n2025 record: 6-6
\nPortal players added\/lost: 27\/32
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 12,689\/11,772
\nTop players added: RB Jay Harris (Oregon), WR Joshua Manning (Missouri), edge Wendell Gregory (Oklahoma State), LB Mekhi Mason (Louisiana Tech), S Ja\u2019son Prevard (Virginia)<\/p>\n

New coach Collin Klein has to replace 14 starters from last year\u2019s team, including six who left via the portal and signed with other Power 4 programs. Klein did manage to retain nine starters, notably quarterback Avery Johnson, leading rusher Joe Jackson and team leader in catches Jaron Tibbs. K-State signed 14 transfers who played 200-plus snaps last season, including five starters from other FBS programs. Two areas addressed with big numbers were the offensive and defensive lines, each with six additions. Gregory, who produced 32 pressures and four sacks last season at Oklahoma State, is the headliner of the group.<\/p>\n

Grade: D+<\/p>\n

Oklahoma State
\n2025 record: 1-11
\nPortal players added\/lost: 53\/66
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 35,923\/23,584
\nTop players added: QB Drew Mestemaker (North Texas), RB Caleb Hawkins (North Texas), WR Wyatt Young (North Texas), WR Justin Bowick (Illinois), DL Jerry Lawson (Louisville)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy to rebuild a Power 4 roster quickly, but general manager Raj Murti and coach Eric Morris did a quality job in large part by bringing 16 players with them from their 12-win North Texas team last season. The Cowboys signed 10 players who started at least six games at FBS programs last season, including the star quarterback (Mestemaker), running back (Hawkins) and receiver (Young) with the Mean Green. They also picked up five defensive starters from other FBS programs and nine rotation players with more than 100 snaps in 2025. There really is nowhere to go but up in Stillwater. The Cowboys finished last in the Big 12 in scoring offense and defense and yards per play on both sides of the ball. Reaching a bowl game in 2026 would be a huge accomplishment.<\/p>\n

Grade: A-<\/p>\n

TCU
\n2025 record: 9-4
\nPortal players added\/lost: 12\/13
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 9,036\/7,179
\nTop players added: QB Jaden Craig (Harvard), iOL Noah McKinney (Oklahoma State), edge Cheta Ofili (Texas Tech), LB Michael Short (Virginia Tech), CB Teon Parks (Colorado)<\/p>\n

Sonny Dykes has signed more transfers than high school recruits just once (in the 2024 offseason) since taking the reins in Fort Worth in November 2021. So, it\u2019s no surprise that the Frogs signed the second-smallest portal class in the Big 12. You can make the argument that losing quarterback Josh Hoover (Indiana) outweighs the gains of picking up seven FBS transfers who started at least five games last season. But if Craig, who went 19-5 as a starter at Harvard, proves to be a steady replacement, TCU could end up with a sneaky good class. One interesting player to monitor is running back Landon Walker, a transfer from the Colorado School of Mines. The 6-2, 225-pound fifth-year senior ran for 2,220 yards and 29 touchdowns and averaged 6.5 yards per carry in his career at the Division II level.<\/p>\n

Grade: B-<\/p>\n

Texas Tech
\n2025 record: 12-2
\nPortal players added\/lost: 20\/20
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 17,990\/6,589
\nTop players added: QB Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), WR Malcolm Simmons (Auburn), iOL Jordan Church (Louisville), DL Mateen Ibirogba (Wake Forest), edge Adam Trick (Miami, Ohio)<\/p>\n

The Red Raiders said goodbye to a dozen starters from last year\u2019s Big 12 championship team, but none were lost to the portal. General manager James Blanchard followed up his stellar transfer haul in 2025 by signing nine starters from other FBS schools and seven other FBS players who played at least 200 snaps last season. Most importantly, the Red Raiders upgraded at quarterback and reloaded one of the best defenses in the country. The four receivers added via the portal each had at least 25 catches and 450 receiving yards last season. The eight new defensive linemen include Division II All-American Amarie Fleming, who produced 18 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks as a sophomore at Allen University in South Carolina.<\/p>\n

Grade: A<\/p>\n

UCF
\n2025 record: 5-7
\nPortal players added\/lost: 31\/34
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 19,636\/12,684
\nTop players added: QB Alonza Barnett III (James Madison), RB Duke Watson (Louisville), OT Brady Wayburn (UConn), edge Jessie Harrold (Florida State), S Matt Irwin (Idaho)<\/p>\n

Scott Frost hasn\u2019t deviated from the plan Gus Malzahn employed toward the end of his tenure in Orlando. He signed twice as many transfers (31) as high school recruits (16) for the second year in a row. Four of the team\u2019s 14 starters from 2025 with eligibility remaining left via the portal \u2014 including top receiver DJ Black (South Carolina) and defensive tackle John Walker (Ohio State). Frost, meanwhile, signed eight starters from other FBS programs (one from a Power 4 school) and five more from FCS schools. The two top FCS additions are Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas), who ran for 1,273 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and Josh Derry (Monmouth), who had 76 catches for 1,123 yards and 13 touchdowns. Barnett and Keyone Jenkins, a 33-game starter at FIU, lead a highly experienced quarterback group.<\/p>\n

Grade: B<\/p>\n

Utah
\n2025 record: 11-2
\nPortal players added\/lost: 16\/20
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 7,415\/8,230
\nTop players added: RB Steve Chavez-Soto (San Jose State), WR Braden Pegan (Utah State), WR Kyri Shoels (San Jose State), OT Cedric Jefferson (Montana State), DL Ethan Day (North Texas)<\/p>\n

Kyle Whittingham left for Michigan and took five starters with him, including four on defense. New coach Morgan Scalley, the school\u2019s former defensive coordinator, was able to replace three of them with starters from other FBS programs, including Day, who had seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season at North Texas. The toughest task, though, is replacing all five starters on the Utes\u2019 offensive line, including two potential first-round picks in tackles Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano. Only five starters are returning, including quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker.<\/p>\n

Grade: C<\/p>\n

West Virginia
\n2025 record: 4-8
\nPortal players added\/lost: 34\/50
\nCareer snaps added\/lost: 21,178\/17,928
\nTop players added: RB Cam Cook (Jacksonville State), WR DJ Epps (Troy), OT Carsten Casady (UConn), edge Zeke Campbell (Coastal Carolina), S Kamari Wilson (Memphis)<\/p>\n

The roster churn has been intense in Morgantown, with 99 players departing via the portal since Rich Rodriguez\u2019s arrival in December 2024 and 83 players (37 high school recruits, 34 transfers, 12 jucos) signed in the last two offseasons. There are only three players with at least six starts back from last season \u2014 sophomore quarterback Scotty Fox and two offensive linemen. Of the transfer losses, four were starters, including the team\u2019s top two receivers in terms of catches. Of the transfer additions, 16 were starters at other FBS programs, including five offensive linemen, three edge rushers and three defensive backs. Cook, who began his career at TCU and spent last season at Jacksonville State, is the biggest addition via the portal. He led the nation with 1,659 rushing yards last season \u2014 1,324 more yards than West Virginia\u2019s leading rusher in 2025.<\/p>\n

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