The transfer portal has become college football’s quickest path from uncertainty to contention, and the last three national title games have made that point loud and clear. Each of those games featured at least one transfer quarterback, and five of the six starters across those three title games had entered the portal at least once.
That backdrop makes the SEC’s incoming transfer class worth a close look in 2026. A handful of additions could shape everything from playoff hopes to how new offenses and defenses take form.
At the top of the list is Sam Leavitt at LSU. When Lane Kiffin took the LSU job, finding a quarterback was one of his first priorities, and after plenty of attention around the recruitment, the Tigers landed Leavitt from Arizona State.
He helped ASU reach the College Football Playoff in his first season there, but last season brought injuries and regression. His health will be a major storyline.
If Leavitt can’t stay on the field, Husan Longstreet, another transfer quarterback from USC, could see snaps.
Texas brought in Hollywood Smothers from NC State, and the Longhorns needed exactly the kind of burst he can provide. Smothers nearly ended up at Alabama before heading to Texas, an SEC program, and the fit is obvious: Texas has been looking for more explosive plays on offense.
Cam Coleman helps at receiver, but the Longhorns also need more balance on the ground. Smothers rushed for 1,510 yards and 12 touchdowns over two seasons at NC State.
LSU also added a key piece up front in Jordan Seaton, who started 22 games for Colorado last season. He was one of the few bright spots on that team, and his arrival matters because protecting LSU’s quarterback is a priority if the offense is going to live up to its potential.
Texas A&M gives Marcel Reed another outside target in Isaiah Horton. Horton caught 42 passes for 511 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, and he joins Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman in what could be one of the best receiver groups in the SEC and beyond.
Missouri’s quarterback room gets a notable addition in Austin Simmons, who previously started at Ole Miss before Trinidad Chambliss took over. How fast Simmons settles in will be a major subplot, especially with Ahmad Hardy healthy again after an offseason incident.
Auburn followed the Alex Golesh move to South Florida by landing Byrum Brown, and the connection makes sense. Auburn has had its share of transfer quarterback issues in the Hugh Freeze era, so some fans may look at this one with caution.
Brown, though, brings a huge body of work: nearly 7,770 passing yards and 93 total touchdowns in his career. “I think he will be just fine.”
On defense, LSU added Princewill Umanmielen, who was third-team All-SEC last season. He joins a defense that also includes Whit Weeks at linebacker and PJ Woodland in the secondary, and if that group reaches its ceiling, it could swing a few games for the Tigers.
Florida gets Eric Singleton, who already made a stop at Auburn after arriving from Georgia Tech and is now back on this list with another new home. The big plus here is familiarity: Singleton reunites with former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, and that should help as Florida tries to push back toward contender status.
Ole Miss adds Luke Ferrelli, the former Cal linebacker who sat at the center of a dispute involving Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding. Ferrelli’s production explains why he drew so much attention. He finished last season with 91 total tackles, including 38 solo stops, and earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
One more quarterback situation is worth watching outside the portal names already listed. Entering last season, Notre Dame had a battle between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey, with Carr winning the job. Marcus Freeman and others have said the competition was extremely close, and with Carr now on many Heisman shortlists and Minchey viewed as a player with real upside, the first season under Will Stein could bring plenty of surprises.
In Other News...
Auburns Running Back Battle Behind Jeremiah Cobb Is Getting Real
Auburns second fall camp practice offered a first real look at how the running back room is taking shape behind Jeremiah Cobb, and the answer so far is simple enough: it is still very much a competition. Offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said the group keeps improving, but the staff is still sorting through the depth chart while camp moves forward and the reps start to mean a little more.
The drills showed why this one may take a while to settle. Different backs flashed different traits, with some handling contact well and others showing areas they still need to clean up, which is exactly what makes August so important. For Auburn, the challenge now is turning those daily flashes into something more clearly defined before the season starts to force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Camp Already Has A Roster Battle Fans Will Notice
Auburn hit the field for a preseason practice session Thursday morning as the Tigers continued their early work toward the 2026 season, and the roster picture already had a few wrinkles. Several players were either absent or working on the side because of injuries, including Tai Buster and Chris Murray, while others were limited in non-contact work or spent portions of the session with the training staff. Head coach Alex Golesh stayed active throughout drills, moving between groups and staying involved as the staff pushed through another camp workout.
The bigger takeaway for Auburn watchers, though, was how much attention the coaches were paying to certain spots on the field, where the first signs of a competition were already easy to spot. Position coaches were hands-on during the session, and the way reps were divided suggested there are jobs on the line even this early in camp. For a team still sorting itself out, those practice-day details can matter as much as anything on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]