Indiana vs. Miami: College Football Playoff National Championship Preview
Preview of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Indiana vs. Miami. Featuring key players, strategies and predictions.
- Indiana State, LSU, and Texas Tech are notable for having some of the best transfer classes this cycle.
- New coaches like Oklahoma State’s Eric Morris often use the portal to bring in lots of new players.
- Key acquisitions include quarterbacks Josh Hoover to Indiana and Brendan Thorsby to Texas Tech.
Smart teams approach the transfer portal with specific needs and goals, identifying plug-and-play additions that can take a program from eight wins to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. That was the case for Texas Tech this season.
Or, in Indiana’s case, from the basement of the Big Ten to almost the top of the Football Bowl District.
However, there are times when new coaches need to use an at-large approach of acquiring as many new players as possible in order to rebuild their roster quickly. The best example of that in this year’s cycle is new Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris.
∎ Transfer by conference: SEC | Big Ten | ACC | Big 12
Although the portal closes on Friday night, the fun isn’t over yet, as players who entered before the deadline can still sign with new programs and qualify for this season.
More will be added in the coming weeks, but here are the best transfer classes to date, starting with the Hoosiers, LSU, and Red Raiders.
Indiana
Optimal transfer: QB Josh Huber, WR Nick Marsh, Joe Brunner
The undefeated Hoosiers have found their next starting quarterback in Hoover (TCU). They found a new top-level receiver in Marsh (Michigan State) and a productive power four in Turbo Richard (Boston College). They will rebuild their front line behind Brunner (Wisconsin), who is probably the best offensive lineman on the market. And for good measure, Indiana added immediate value to its defensive line, adding all-conference defensive back AJ Harris (Penn State).
LSU
Optimal transfer: QB Sam Leavitt, S Ty Benefield, WR Jace Brown
Leavitt (Arizona State) is one of three transfer quarterbacks in this class, along with Huthan Longstreet (Southern California) and Landen Clark (Elon). Lane Kiffin also added perhaps the portal’s most impactful defensive back in Benefield (Boise State) while rebuilding the Tigers’ receiver corps with Brown (Kansas State), Eugene Wilson (Florida), Winston Watkins (Ole Miss) and Tre Brown III (Old Dominion).
Texas Tech University
Optimal transfer: QB Brendan Thorsby, DT Mateen Ibirogba, LB Austin Romaine
One of the Portal’s top overall players, Thorsby (Cincinnati) brings Big 12 experience and an NFL-ready skillset to the starting job. Tech adds another experienced player who will contribute to the Big 12 in Romaine (Kansas State), who became a starter midway through his freshman year. Ibirogba (Wake Forest) was an ACC all-conference pick and was one of six linemen scheduled to make the roster, including edge Adam Trick (Maryland) and defensive tackle Bryce Butler (Washington).
Virginia Tech
Optimal transfer: EDGE Javion Hilson, WR Keshawn Brown, EDGE Kamaurin Morgan
James Franklin plucked several players from Penn State, including tight end Luke Reynolds and quarterback Ethan Grankemeyer. The Hokies have been particularly successful in adding edge rushers, with Morgan (Baylor) and Hilson (Missouri) joined by former Nittany Lions Cortez Harris, Mailaki Williams and Daniel Jennings.
texas
Optimal transfer: WR Cam Coleman, DT Ian Jeffard, RB Hollywood Smothers
This is a small transfer class centered around the type of players who can get the Longhorns back into the playoffs. That includes notable recruits in Coleman (Auburn) and Smothers (North Carolina State) who could support Arch Manning’s development. Defensively, Texas added two big players to its front seven in Jeffords (Arkansas) and former All-ACC linebacker Rasheem Biles (Pittsburgh).
Ole Miss
Optimal transfer: OT Karius Khan, WR Darrell Gill Jr., CB Jay Crawford
In addition to Kern (LSU) and Gill (Syracuse), the Rebels’ offense adds quarterback Deuce Knight (Auburn) as a potential new starter. Although Kern is young, he has the frame and athleticism to develop into one of the best players in the SEC. Crawford (Auburn) is a proven outside starter with room to grow. Running back Kewan Lacy doesn’t count in this group, but keeping him around for another year may have been the biggest off-the-field victory of the rookie Pete Golding era.
pennsylvania state university
Optimal transfer: QB Roco Becht, S Marcus Neal Jr., WR Chase Sowell
Penn State’s 36-man roster includes a number of big names from last year’s offense under Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, including Becht, Sowell, running back Carson Hansen, tight end Ben Brammer and interior lineman Trevor Buer. On defense, Neal, fellow safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Jamison Patton, tackle Ikenna Ezeogu, and linebackers Caleb Bacon and Cooper Ebel will ease the transition to a new staff and help make the Nittany Lions a Big Ten contender.
Louisville
Optimal transfer: S Cohen Entlinger, TE Brodie Foley, WR Tre Richardson
Louisville and coach Jeff Brohm continue to do a great job in the portal. Entlinger (Iowa) is a great acquisition for a defense that really needs his experience and proven production. He considered the NFL draft before joining the Cardinals. The offense added quarterback Lincoln Kienholtz (Ohio State) and one of the cycle’s best pass catchers, including Foley (Tulsa), Richardson (Vanderbilt) and LaWayne McCoy (Florida State).
kentucky
Optimal transfer: QB Kenny Minchey, OT Lance Hurd, S Jordan Castel
Kentucky and new coach Will Stein are causing a bit of a stir. Minchey (Notre Dame) briefly committed to Nebraska before joining the Wildcats. Castel (Florida) is a veteran SEC starter who can help develop young, talented transfers at linebacker. What the Wildcats excel at is the overhaul of their offensive line with Hurd (Tennessee) and guards Tegla Shabola (Ohio State) and Coulton Price (Baylor). Stein also reshaped the backfield by introducing CJ Baxter (Texas) and Giovante Barnes (Oklahoma).
oklahoma
Optimal transfer: QB Drew Mestemaker, LB Isaiah Chisom, RB Caleb Hawkins
Like Campbell at Penn State, Morris brought in a ton of key players from North Texas, led by Mestemaker, Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young. These pieces would be a huge improvement from this season’s putrid offense. The defense will feature a number of Power Four transfers, including Chisom (UCLA), Louisville lineman Jerry Lawson, linebacker Tate Romney (Arizona State) and cornerback Trudell Berry (Vanderbilt).
