As the college football regular season wraps up, the transfer portal is already starting to buzz - and it’s about to get even louder. With the portal officially opening on January 2, 2026, quarterbacks are lining up to find new homes, and the list of names includes some serious talent, headlined by former five-star recruit Dylan Raiola.
Let’s take a closer look at Raiola and four other quarterbacks who are officially on the move - and could reshape QB rooms across the country heading into next season.
Dylan Raiola | Nebraska
Dylan Raiola has long been known as “Baby Mahomes,” and not just because he wears No. 15.
From his pregame routine to his playing style, Raiola has modeled much of his game after Kansas City’s three-time Super Bowl champ. But while the nickname is catchy, Raiola’s on-field production at Nebraska hasn’t quite matched the Mahomes-level hype - yet.
That said, Raiola brings plenty to the table. Over two seasons in Lincoln, he started 22 games and completed 69.1% of his passes - a strong mark by any standard - while throwing for 4,819 yards and 31 touchdowns. His 2024 campaign was particularly impressive, setting a Nebraska freshman record with 2,819 passing yards.
Now, Raiola is looking for a new opportunity, and Oregon is reportedly in the mix. The Ducks might have a vacancy soon if sophomore QB Dante Moore declares for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Moore currently ranks 16th in the FBS in QBR (77.8), and if he heads to the pros, Oregon could be an ideal landing spot for Raiola. The Ducks have a rich quarterback tradition - just ask Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, both now starting in the NFL - and that kind of history could be attractive to a player looking to elevate his game and draft stock.
DJ Lagway | Florida
DJ Lagway’s time at Florida is coming to a close, and it sounds like it didn’t end the way he’d hoped. After a meeting with new head coach Jon Sumrall reportedly didn’t go well, the former five-star recruit made it official: he’s entering the portal.
Lagway was a cornerstone recruit for former Gators coach Billy Napier, and early on, he showed flashes of why he was so highly touted. He threw 12 touchdown passes in 2024 and entered this past season with high expectations.
But injuries - calf and shoulder issues - derailed his 2025 campaign. He still managed to play in 12 games, but the results were mixed: 16 touchdowns, a career-high 14 interceptions, and a general sense that the offense never fully clicked.
Still, Lagway’s raw talent is undeniable, and a fresh start could be exactly what he needs. One potential destination to keep an eye on is Baylor. His father, Derek, played running back there from 1997 to 2001, and the Bears are in need of a new signal-caller with senior QB Sawyer Robertson - who ranks second in the FBS in passing yards (3,681) - heading to the NFL.
Sam Leavitt | Arizona State
Sam Leavitt is one of the most intriguing names in the portal, and it’s not hard to see why. In 2024, he led Arizona State to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, throwing 24 touchdown passes in 13 games and earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. That kind of résumé doesn’t go unnoticed.
This past season was tougher. A foot injury required surgery and limited Leavitt to just seven games, in which he still managed 10 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Even with the setback, he’s already drawing significant interest, with Oregon, Indiana, LSU, and Miami reportedly in the mix.
LSU might be the most compelling fit. With Lane Kiffin now in charge in Baton Rouge, the Tigers are looking for a quarterback who can hit the ground running. Leavitt, with his playoff pedigree and proven production, could be exactly what Kiffin needs to launch a new era at LSU.
Brendan Sorsby | Cincinnati
Brendan Sorsby is coming off his best season yet, and he’s looking to parlay that momentum into a new opportunity - or possibly a shot at the NFL. The junior quarterback announced his decision to transfer from Cincinnati, but he still has until January 14 to declare for the 2026 draft.
In 2025, Sorsby put up career numbers: 27 touchdown passes and 2,800 yards through the air, good for fourth in the Big 12. That kind of production makes him one of the more polished passers in the portal.
Indiana and Texas Tech are reportedly in the mix for Sorsby, and a return to Bloomington could make a lot of sense. He spent two seasons with the Hoosiers from 2022 to 2023, and with Curt Cignetti now at the helm - a coach known for developing quarterbacks - Indiana could offer a familiar setting with a high ceiling. Just look at what Cignetti helped accomplish with Fernando Mendoza, who took home the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
Aidan Chiles | Michigan State
Aidan Chiles is on the move again, two years after following former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. With Smith out and the Spartans turning to redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic midway through the 2025 season, Chiles has decided it’s time for a fresh start.
Over two seasons in East Lansing, Chiles played in 21 games, throwing for 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He showed flashes of potential, but consistency was an issue, and his benching in Week 9 signaled a shift in the program’s direction.
For Chiles, the next stop needs to be a place that knows how to rehab a quarterback’s career. Miami could be that place.
The Hurricanes helped former Georgia QB Carson Beck rebuild his NFL stock this season, with Beck throwing 25 touchdowns in 12 games - the second-highest total of his career. That kind of turnaround is exactly what Chiles will be looking for in his next chapter.
Final Thoughts
The transfer portal is once again shaping up to be a game-changer in college football, especially at the quarterback position. From former five-stars like Raiola and Lagway to proven leaders like Leavitt and Sorsby, this year’s crop of QBs offers a little bit of everything - upside, experience, and in some cases, a shot at redemption.
As teams look to reload and retool heading into 2026, these quarterbacks won’t be on the market for long. Let the portal frenzy begin.