Ranking the top QBs in the transfer portal and where they land

AI-assisted summary
• Several top college football quarterbacks are expected to enter the transfer portal.
• Brendan Sorsby of Cincinnati and Sam Leavitt of Arizona State are among the top quarterbacks available.
• Major programs like Oregon, Texas Tech, and Miami are searching for new starting quarterbacks.

Every quarterback in the Bowl Subdivision is essentially working on the equivalent of a one-year contract.

Some of the biggest names among underclassmen have already announced their intent to enter the transfer portal, with many, many more set to join by the time the portal officially opens early next month.

There will be several big-name programs on the hunt for new starters, including College Football Playoff teams Indiana, Oregon, Texas Tech and Miami.

Currently, the top quarterbacks that appear headed for the transfer portal include Brendan Sorsby of Cincinnati and Sam Leavitt of Arizona State. Another established starter on the market is former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola.

Let’s try and connect the dots and find a new home for the top transfer options, starting with Sorsby returning to his home state for the defending Big 12 champions:

Brendan Sorsby: Texas Tech

Sorsby could stay in the NFL draft given that he should do very well during the evaluation process, though it’s unknown what the bar would need to be – landing in the first round, second, third – for the former Cincinnati starter to opt out of his senior season. Sorsby is the top dual-threat option currently on the market and should have a long list of Power Four suitors.

The Denton, Texas, native began his career at Indiana, which seems to take the Hoosiers out of the equation. (Never say never, though.) Orange Bowl-bound Texas Tech will lose starter Behren Morton to graduation and lost potential 2026 starter Will Hammond to an ACL tear that could sideline him until next August. Sorsby looks to be the answer for Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders.

Sam Leavitt: Oregon

This was a lost year for Leavitt, who went into September as a top Heisman Trophy contender but played in only seven games due to injury before being shut down in November. In 2024, Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and ran for another 443 yards in leading the Sun Devils to the playoff. His balanced skill set and ability to deliver in the pocket would make the Oregon native a great match for the Ducks should starter Dante Moore opt for the NFL draft. If Moore stays, Leavitt would be one of the top options for Curt Cignetti and Indiana.

DJ Lagway: Baylor

Lagway should get interest from LSU and new coach Lane Kiffin. If the opportunity is there, taking the reins of Kiffin’s system could be difficult to turn down. But Lagway’s hit-or-miss two years at Florida and high penchant for turnovers could scare off the Tigers and send him off to Baylor, which is about two hours northwest of his hometown of Willis, Texas. Baylor has a very quarterback-friendly scheme that helped turn former starter Sawyer Robertson into one of the nation’s most prolific passers.

Dylan Raiola: Louisville

The former five-star recruit has an NFL-ready arm and enough of a track record through two seasons to receive interest from virtually every Power Four program in the market for a new starter. But he’s not a fit across the board: Raiola needs to be protected because of his lack of mobility, and would work best in a tempo- and timing-based scheme that maximizes his ability to diagnose coverages. He’s also likely to stay with an Adidas-branded school, though offers from Miami or Oregon could lead to a change of heart. Playing for a quarterback guru in Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm would help Raiola unlock his potential.

Drew Mestemaker: Oklahoma State

There’s always a chance a school such as Florida or LSU gets involved with Mestemaker, which could derail the rising sophomore’s expected reunion with his former North Texas coach Eric Morris at Oklahoma State. But the odds point to a quick drive north to Stillwater and the chance to stay in the system that turned the former walk-on into one of this year’s great success stories.

Kenny Minchey: Florida

This would be a big leap for Minchey, who has the potential to be a Power Four starter but made just 29 attempts in three years at Notre Dame. He was very much in the offseason mix for the starting job that went to CJ Carr, though, missing out after Marcus Freeman went with the more traditional pocket passer. The Gators badly need help under center and would give their quarterback room a big upgrade by adding Minchey.

Colton Joseph: Florida State

The rising junior exploded in 2025 for Old Dominion, throwing for 2,624 yards and 21 touchdowns with another 1,007 yards and 13 scores on the ground. He was one of just three non-service academy quarterbacks to run for 1,000 yards during the regular season. While he’ll need to continue developing as a thrower, Joseph’s talents match Florida State coach Mike Norvell’s scheme. There’s a question of whether the Seminoles would be comfortable handing the keys to a Group of Five transfer during a make-or-break 2026 season, however.

Aidan Chiles: Arizona State

Chiles’ athleticism and ability to stretch defenses as a runner will give him a heavy market of interest heading into his final season, especially for programs looking harder at one-year rentals rather than a longer-term fix. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham offered Chiles as an assistant at Oregon and could be intrigued by his two years of Power Four starting experience.