College Football transfer portal update

The conclusion of the 2022/23 college football season means one thing: the transfer portal is open.

The college football transfer portal opened on December 5th, allowing CFB players to transfer from one school to another. With plenty of external factors in play, most notably NIL (name, image, and likeness) implications, there have already been 2,500 players to enter the portal since it opened last month.

Last year, roughly 3,000 players entered the portal, and plenty had a huge impact in the 2022/23 season with their new teams. The crown example was USC QB Caleb Williams, who's move to the Trojans from the University of Oklahoma ended with him lifting the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player.

QBs Spencer Rattler, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. also transferred prior to the 2022/23 season and were able to revitalize their careers.

Here we assess the biggest moves in the college football transfer portal so far this offseason, including ones that have gone under the radar that could wind up having a major impact.

Who are the biggest transfers?

One of the biggest transfers so far has been Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman moving to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Hartman is coming off a huge season, throwing for 3,701 yards (11th in the nation) and 38 touchdown passes (t-5th) and leading the Demon Deacons to as high as No. 10 in the country.

Notre Dame are lacking options at QB and Hartman should make for a top replacement. The Fighting Irish are +2800 to win the NCAAF Championship.

Fentress Cypress II has been an interesting addition to Florida State, moving from Virginia. Cypress II broke out as one of the best defensive backs in college football last year and makes the obvious move to a more renowned football program. Cypress recorded 39 tackles, 14 passes defended, and allowed just 18 receptions all season for the Cavaliers.

Cypress II's transfer to FSU pushes the Seminoles closer to a return to national prominence. The 'Noles, who participated in the first College Football Playoff in 2014/15, fell way off the pace and posted a losing record in four consecutive seasons prior to 2022/23, when they finished 10-3.

Florida State is currently +2000 to win the NCAAF title.

Ex-NC State quarterback Devin Leary has also moved to Kentucky, with the Wildcats looking to fill the void that will be left as signal-caller Will Levis heads to the NFL Draft.

Leary posted 35 touchdown passes and just five interceptions in 2021 and was injured for most of 2022.

Under-the-radar college football transfers

While those named above have made plenty of headlines with their moves, there are also a large number of players who should quietly give a great improvement to their new teams.

Among those on the list is running back Brian Battie, who heads to Auburn from South Florida. Battie posted solid numbers for South Florida despite them winning just three times in the past two seasons.

However, now playing alongside an Auburn team boasting plenty of talent, Battie has the potential to seriously break out for the Tigers, who are +15000 to win the NCAAF Championship.

Another player to keep an eye on is Carson Steele, who leaves Ball State for UCLA. Steele posted the ninth-most rushing yards in the nation last season and was a talisman for the Cardinals.

With nearly 2,500 rushing yards in his first two seasons playing in college, the best could yet be to come for Steele as he moves to the Pac-12, with UCLA +10000 to be crowned NCAAF champions next season.