Week 3 delivered a full showcase of transfer portal influence, with quarterbacks and defenders alike leaving fingerprints all over major wins. From Miami’s near-flawless passing attack to UCLA’s havoc-wreaking linebacker, the week’s most impactful portal additions shaped results across the country.
Darian Mensah set the tone in Miami’s 33-20 win at Wake Forest on Friday night. The former Duke and Tulane transfer was almost unstoppable, finishing 30 of 34 for 220 yards and three touchdowns as the Hurricanes moved to 3-0.
Mensah opened the game by completing 24 straight passes, an ACC record and the third-longest streak in an FBS game. He also became the first FBS player in at least 30 years to complete 85% of his passes in three straight games.
Kenny Minchey turned in the best outing of his college career in College Station, where Kentucky stunned No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21.
The former Notre Dame transfer completed 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14 yards per throw in the Wildcats’ first win over a ranked opponent since 2024. For Minchey, it was a statement performance in his first road test for Kentucky.
West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. delivered one of the most explosive stat lines of the weekend in the Mountaineers’ 38-27 win over Virginia in Charlotte. The former Oklahoma transfer threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-17 passing, then piled up 123 rushing yards and three more scores on the ground.
His five-touchdown performance and 300-plus total yards made him the first West Virginia quarterback with three rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in a game since Pat White in 2008. West Virginia is 3-0 for the first time since 2018.
At tight end, Luke Reynolds gave Virginia Tech a major lift in its win at Maryland. Targeted 12 times, he caught all 12 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
The former Penn State player has now posted back-to-back 100-yard games, the first Virginia Tech tight end to do that since 2018. The Hokies are 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 2017.
Louisville got a useful early-season conference win from Lincoln Kienholz against SMU. The Ohio State transfer wasn’t spotless, but he produced enough in a 2-1 Cardinals team’s key top-25 victory.
Kienholz finished 14 of 23 for 177 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score. Louisville now sits in a position to contend for an ACC title.
Northwestern’s Aidan Chiles was a nightmare for Colorado in a 41-7 blowout. The former Oregon State and Michigan State quarterback accounted for five touchdowns, going 17 of 22 for 241 yards with three scoring throws to Joseph Himon and two rushing touchdowns. He became the first Northwestern quarterback to throw three touchdown passes and rush for two scores in a game since 1995.
Mississippi State’s road win at South Carolina featured a standout defensive effort from Amaree Williams. The Florida State transfer led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, and he also picked off LaNorris Sellers, though the interception was wiped out by a penalty. A former tight end now playing EDGE, Williams has fit smoothly into Zach Arnett’s defense.
Ole Miss got immediate help in the secondary from Sharif Denson in its 32-24 win over LSU. In his debut for the Rebels, the Florida transfer posted eight tackles and a tackle for loss while settling into Pete Golding’s defense after appearing in 36 games at Florida.
Florida’s Aaron Philo continued to show up in a big way in the Gators’ 3-0 start. In his first SEC start at quarterback, the former Georgia Tech transfer threw for 202 yards and a score in a win at Auburn. He finished 15 of 22 passing, with the interception coming on a dropped catch, and has now gone over 200 passing yards in three straight games.
UCLA rounded out the list with Sammy Omosigho, who was everywhere in the Bruins’ 52-38 win over Purdue. The former Oklahoma transfer totaled 12 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles, extending his streak to three straight games forcing a fumble. UCLA is now 3-0.
In Other News...
Kentucky Faces One Risk Fans Hate After Texas A&M Win
Fresh off a road win at Texas A&M, Kentucky turns back home this week with South Alabama coming to Kroger Field and a little more uncertainty than the final score from College Station might suggest. The Jaguars arrive at 2-1 after wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Ohio, along with a close loss to Tulane, so this is not the kind of tune-up game the schedule guarantees on paper.
Will Steins bigger concern is what the victory may have cost on defense. Ty Bryant is dealing with a shoulder issue after trying to come back into the game against Texas A&M, and Grant Grayton is among the pieces Kentucky is monitoring as it tries to sort out who can go and who needs to be held back. With South Alabama up next and the rest of the schedule already looming, the Wildcats are balancing the urge to keep momentum rolling against the risk of making a short-term problem turn into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Got An Early Answer On Will Steins New Staff
Jay Batemans move from Texas A&M to Kentucky gave Will Stein an early look at what his new defensive coordinator can do, and the timing of it made the whole thing feel a little richer. Bateman was on the other sideline in Kentuckys 31-21 win over the Aggies, and his group helped keep the game from turning into a shootout, limiting Texas A&Ms chances and giving the Wildcats enough room to settle in on the road.
For Stein, the fit appears to be about more than just scheme. He spoke highly of Batemans coaching and personal qualities, underscoring the trust already forming inside the new staff. Kentucky now has an early confirmation that one of its most important hires can handle a big stage, even if the bigger question around why Bateman made the jump is still part of the larger story. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Big Blue Wall Just Sent A Message Fans Have Missed
Kentuckys win over Texas A&M was the kind of result that does not always match the box score at first glance. The Aggies finished with more first downs, more total yards and more rushing yards, but the Wildcats still walked away with the victory because their offensive line controlled the game in the way Kentucky fans have been hoping to see again.
That front made life easier for Kenny Minchey, who settled in for 252 yards and two touchdowns while the Wildcats kept the pressure squarely on Texas A&M. Even Aggies coach Mike Elko pointed to Kentuckys physical edge after the game, a telling sign that this was less about flashy numbers and more about one team setting the tone where it mattered most. [Read more 🡒]