Overview
- More than 4,500 Division I players have entered the 2026 portal, with activity intensifying as the Jan. 16 entry deadline approaches.
- Penn State (21 commitments) and Oklahoma State (19) top early portal hauls as of Tuesday, reflecting aggressive roster rebuilding.
- Alabama bolstered its backfield with NC State running back Hollywood Smothers, the ACC’s top rusher by yards per game in 2025.
- Oklahoma State retained former North Texas stars Drew Mestemaker at quarterback and Caleb Hawkins at running back, a tandem that produced 61 touchdowns last season.
- Texas Tech secured quarterback Brendan Sorsby from Cincinnati, underscoring a QB-centric market that also features high-profile names DJ Lagway, Dylan Raiola and Sam Leavitt drawing heavy interest.