When a head coach makes a move in today’s college football landscape, it’s not just about X’s and O’s anymore - it’s about who’s coming with him. In the transfer portal era, loyalty, relationships, and recruiting savvy have never mattered more. And as we’ve seen this offseason, the numbers behind those moves tell us just as much about a coach’s strategy as the press conference quotes.
Take Lane Kiffin’s high-profile jump from Ole Miss to LSU. The headlines were massive - and for good reason.
Kiffin’s reputation as the “Portal King” is well-earned, especially after building a 42-player transfer class that’s already being called historic. But here’s the twist: despite his portal prowess, Kiffin brought just four former Ole Miss players with him to Baton Rouge.
That’s right - four. That number ranked him ninth among Power Four coaches who took players with them to their new programs.
Compare that to Matt Campbell, who went from Iowa State to Penn State and brought a staggering 27 Cyclones along for the ride. That’s a full positional group and then some.
Campbell didn’t just dip into the portal - he brought the pantry with him. Among those transfers was quarterback Rocco Becht, a player who could be pivotal in shaping Penn State’s new offensive identity.
In total, Campbell added 40 transfers while retaining 52 players from Penn State’s 2025 roster. It’s a bold blend of old and new, and it signals a coach who’s not afraid to reshape a program in his image - fast.
Penn State’s interim coach Terry Smith offered a glimpse into the transition, praising Campbell’s leadership after the Nittany Lions’ Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson. “I’m ready to pass the torch on to Coach Campbell,” Smith said. “He’s an amazing individual and leader, and Penn State is in great hands.”
Campbell wasn’t the only coach to bring a caravan of familiar faces. Eric Morris brought 17 players from North Texas to Oklahoma State, the second-highest total in the Power Four.
Jimmy Rogers brought 15 from South Dakota State to Iowa State, and Alex Golesh moved 13 from USF to Auburn. Each coach is clearly leaning into the portal to establish continuity and trust - and perhaps to accelerate culture-building in a way that traditional recruiting timelines just can’t match.
But Kiffin’s approach at LSU tells a different story - one that’s more about strategic targeting than sheer volume. While he didn’t bring many players from Oxford, he did bring the brains behind the operation.
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. followed Kiffin and is now the highest-paid assistant at his position in the SEC. Quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald, and running backs coach Kevin Smith also made the move.
This wasn’t a player exodus - it was a staff migration. And that matters.
On the field, Kiffin didn’t skimp on talent. LSU landed nine top-100 transfers and earned the nation’s top-ranked portal class, according to 247Sports.
That kind of haul doesn’t happen by accident - or on the cheap. Reports say Kiffin had a $20 million budget to rebuild the roster, more than doubling the previous LSU record set by Brian Kelly, who added 18 transfers in his first year.
Among the crown jewels of Kiffin’s class: quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton from Colorado, and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen from Ole Miss. These aren’t just plug-and-play guys - they’re potential game-changers who could anchor key positions in 2026 and beyond.
Elsewhere, James Franklin brought 12 former Penn State players to Virginia Tech, while Jon Sumrall took just two from Tulane to Florida. The contrast across these moves highlights just how varied coaches’ philosophies can be when it comes to building - or rebuilding - a roster.
Some want familiarity. Others want a clean slate. And then there’s Kiffin, who seems to want both - a fresh start, but with a few trusted lieutenants and a war chest big enough to chase top-tier talent.
In today’s college football, the transfer portal isn’t just a tool - it’s a test of vision, relationships, and adaptability. And as these coaching transitions show, there’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint. But there is a new reality: if you’re not ready to build fast, you’ll get left behind even faster.