Transfer Portal: Which Teams Need an Experienced Quarterback?

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Transfer Portal: Which Teams Need an Experienced Quarterback.

Miami could sign a prominent transfer quarterback for the fourth straight offseason. The team is therefore the first program featured in The Athletic’s transfer portal buzz that is expected to seek an experienced quarterback. The decision comes earlier, though: offensive coaches and personnel departments are already planning the roster for 2027. According to the article, the transfer portal will not open for two months — so it will not open in January.

The central question is not only who wants to move. Every team must decide whether to develop an unproven quarterback from its own developmental ranks, acquire an experienced veteran through the transfer market or, in rare cases, start a true freshman. For the programs below, it is already becoming clear why the quarterback question could once again be prominent during the next offseason.

Miami and Oregon Are Expected to Return to the Transfer Portal

Miami

The Hurricanes are among the most active programs in the quarterback transfer market, according to The Athletic. Darian Mensah currently has 2,251 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and one interception; his 81.4 percent completion rate leads the nation. Mensah could return next year, but Miami has already signed five-star prospect Israel Abrams. Even so, starting a true freshman would be difficult to imagine for a team with national-title ambitions. If Mensah leaves, Miami would very likely acquire a new starter through the transfer market.

Oregon

The Ducks signed Dylan Raiola during the offseason with the expectation that he would become the starter in 2027. After the five-star prospect had to step in following an injury to Dante Moore, he has not yet met those expectations. Moore could theoretically return, but he would likely put Oregon back on the transfer market — particularly because the new offensive coordinator is expected to want his own quarterback.

Texas A&M, USC and Georgia Need a Clear Solution for 2027

Texas A&M

Marcel Reed is already in his second full season as the starter, but the Aggies’ performance is so inadequate that a new direction will probably be needed for 2027, according to The Athletic. A change in the coaching staff is not mentioned in this context, but the need at quarterback is clearly stated.

USC

The Trojans have three quarterback scholarships. Jayden Maiava and Sam Huard are in their final season of eligibility, while the third quarterback is true freshman Jonas Williams. USC is unlikely to start Williams next year: Lincoln Riley would have to be under considerable pressure to succeed while starting an inexperienced quarterback, and a new head coach would not have recruited Williams in the first place.

Georgia

The Bulldogs have not started a transfer quarterback since 2020, when they signed Jamie Newman and JT Daniels. Georgia later pursued Fernando Mendoza, who ultimately transferred to Indiana. With Gunner Stockton’s eligibility expiring, Georgia faces two options: use Ryan Puglisi as an experienced backup or seek an experienced veteran in the transfer portal.

Other Needs Depend on Starting Roles, Injuries and Draft Decisions

Arizona and SMU are losing long-term starters in Noah Fifita and Kevin Jennings, respectively. Both could seek experienced backups. Ole Miss is also losing Trinidad Chambliss, but has a potential backup on its roster in five-star prospect Deuce Knight. The key question is whether Knight has since done enough to appear convincing for 2027.

Oklahoma State, Notre Dame and Missouri must wait to see whether Drew Mestemaker, CJ Carr or Austin Simmons make their decisions for the NFL Draft. Ohio State also falls into this category because of Julian Sayin’s season-ending injury. Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair have the remainder of the season — more than a month — to prove themselves.

At Texas, almost everything remains open. Arch Manning could return for a fifth season, enter the NFL or choose a new university for the end of his college career. Current backup four-star quarterback KJ Lacey is ready, while Dia Bell is listed as a five-star freshman and the fourth-ranked quarterback in the 2026 class in the 247Sports Composite. If Manning leaves, coach Steve Sarkisian must choose between the options he already has and the transfer market.

Nine G6 and FCS Players Still Have Eligibility Remaining

For programs without the largest budgets, planning for January is already underway. After the previous season, The Athletic counted more than 450 former Group of 6 players who transferred to Power 4 programs. The watchlist includes nine players with eligibility remaining. Two players have already been ruled out: Oregon State’s Jesse Legree has decided to return to Corvallis, while Boise State’s Braden Atkinson and Dylan Riley are no longer among the options.

• Yassine Falke, CB, Northern Illinois: The 6-foot-3, 190-pound player from Indianapolis came from NAIA Marian University. His four interceptions rank third nationally; he has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Scoop Gardner Jr., Edge, Western Michigan: After Army Prep and LIU, he joined the MAC. He has recorded four sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and, according to Pro Football Focus, 35 pressures. One season of eligibility remains.
• Brent Gordon Jr., CB, Louisiana: The 5-foot-11, 200-pound player from Cecilia, Louisiana, leads the nation with 14 passes defensed, including 12 breakups and two interceptions, and has 5.5 tackles for loss. Three seasons remain.
• Will Henderson III, RB, UTSA: The former three-star recruit and state sprint champion from Gilmer, Texas, has amassed 664 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. According to PFF, he has forced 30 missed tackles. Two seasons remain.
• Matt Hofer, OT, Toledo: In 298 pass-blocking snaps, Hofer has allowed, according to PFF, seven pressures and one sack. Two seasons remain.
• Cade Keith, TE, New Mexico: The 6-foot-5, 245-pound former TCU walk-on leads the Mountain West tight ends with 265 receiving yards and 20 catches. His totals also include two touchdowns and 78 yards against Oklahoma. Two seasons remain.
• Marion Moore, CB, North Dakota State: The player from Madison, Wisconsin, ranks third nationally with four interceptions; one was returned for a touchdown. Three seasons remain.
• Justin Stevenson, WR, North Texas: The 6-foot-2, 195-pound player from Katy, Texas, leads the American Conference with seven touchdown catches and ranks third with 662 receiving yards on 41 catches. One season remains.
• Andrew Zock, Edge, Toledo: The former three-star recruit won the FCS Defensive Player of the Year award at Mercer. With eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss, he ranks fourth and fifth nationally, respectively. Two seasons remain.

Eligibility is governed by the five-year rule. Until these players actually enter the portal, they remain players to watch: Miami, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC and Georgia, however, have already made their need for a quarterback in 2027 considerably more concrete than the general question of a possible transfer-portal date.