The college football offseason might not offer the same adrenaline as game day, but the transfer portal has ensured there’s no shortage of drama, plot twists, and jaw-dropping moves. This year, the portal delivered one of the most fascinating storylines yet—a quarterback swap that wasn’t officially a trade, but might as well have been.
Tennessee landed former UCLA starter Ethan Garbers. UCLA picked up ex-Vols signal caller Nico Iamaleava. The optics were stunning. The implications, massive. And with a flurry of other high-profile quarterback transfers, the 2025 portal class feels like a reality show with gridiron consequences.
So, in honor of the madness, we’re handing out our 2025 Portal Superlatives—from best homecoming to “most likely to ghost the locker room group chat.” Let the high school yearbook nostalgia begin.
It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t coordinated. But somehow, Ethan Garbers ends up in Knoxville while Nico Iamaleava heads to Westwood. It’s the kind of coincidental back-and-forth movement usually reserved for pro-level transactions.
Garbers to Tennessee: The former UCLA starter brings experience, poise, and an underrated deep ball to Josh Heupel’s offense. He may not be the flashiest QB on paper, but his command of tempo and precision passing could be a perfect fit in the Vols’ up-tempo attack.
Iamaleava to UCLA: The once-heralded five-star prodigy from California never quite found his rhythm in Knoxville. Returning to his West Coast roots could revive the magic. Chip Kelly (or whoever calls plays post-Kelly era) has a dynamic weapon if Iamaleava lives up to the billing.
Verdict: The closest thing to a clean QB trade we’ve ever seen in the portal era—and it might just work out beautifully for both sides.
After an underwhelming start at Washington, Sam Huard transferred away to rebuild his confidence. Now, he’s back in the Pacific Northwest—this time in Cougar red. It’s a bit of a twist considering the in-state rivalry, but Huard’s return to Pullman is symbolic. He’s come home, not just to his roots, but to a program that believes in him as a franchise leader.
Sometimes, a second chance in a familiar region brings out the best in a quarterback. Don’t be surprised if Huard is slinging it for 3,500+ yards in 2025.
Grayson James has become a portal legend. After spending 2023 at FIU, then hitting Middle Tennessee briefly, he’s now at his third school in three years. It’s less about indecisiveness and more about chasing the right fit—but let’s just say, if anyone’s muting notifications and ducking group chats midseason, it might be James.
Still, he’s talented. If he locks in with UNLV’s offense, he could go from meme to Mountain West menace.
North Carolina lost Drake Maye. They needed a quick fix, and they may have found it in Max Johnson. The former LSU and Texas A&M quarterback has faced SEC defenses for years, and that experience could translate beautifully in the ACC.
The Tar Heels were a fringe top-25 team even with a young roster. Johnson’s addition could elevate them to legitimate conference contenders—especially with a soft defensive slate ahead.
Bachmeier’s been through it all—coaching changes, midseason benchings, mid-major chaos. But one thing he’s always shown? Ice in his veins. Now at Wake Forest, Bachmeier could thrive in Dave Clawson’s slow-mesh offense, where patience and poise are premium traits.
No matter how chaotic things get in the pocket, Bachmeier won’t flinch. Don’t be shocked if he’s leading a few game-winning drives this fall.
Hugh Freeze resurrected Liberty with Kaidon Salter at the helm. Now, Salter is back in the SEC—but this time at Ole Miss, playing for Lane Kiffin. The Rebels have a stacked offensive core and no clear-cut starter. Salter brings elite athleticism and that gunslinger attitude Kiffin loves.
If he catches fire early, this transfer could look like a Heisman-level steal.
Maalik Murphy may have been buried behind Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning at Texas, but make no mistake—he’s got a cannon and NFL measurables. Now at Duke, Murphy walks into a program known for developing quarterbacks (see: Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard) and a fanbase hungry for an underdog story.
It’s not a flashy move, but it might be the smartest. Murphy could dominate in the ACC Coastal and turn into a first-round pick.
Moore was supposed to be the chosen one for UCLA. Instead, he transferred back home to Oregon after a rocky true freshman season. The Ducks already have Heisman aspirations and a loaded receiver room. Moore now faces sky-high expectations—and a fanbase that won’t settle for growing pains.
He’s got the tools. He’s got the talent. But can he handle the weight of replacing Bo Nix and delivering a playoff berth?
The Buckeyes had the defense. Now they’ve got the quarterback. Will Howard brings leadership, dual-threat playmaking, and experience to a team loaded with elite weapons. After years of being a steady force in Manhattan, he now gets the big stage in Columbus.
Ohio State fans might’ve worried about a post-McCord dip—but with Howard in charge, they could be back in the national championship conversation.
Once a five-star LSU signee, Walker Howard never found his footing at Ole Miss. Now he lands at Southern Miss—arguably a step down in program stature, but a golden opportunity for a full reset.
Howard has elite arm strength, underrated mobility, and a new coaching staff willing to build around him. If he finally puts it together, he could be the Group of Five’s biggest breakout star.
Swann is a talented QB with a quick release and a knack for escaping pressure—but with Wisconsin’s messy QB situation and a new system still finding itself under Luke Fickell, the fit isn’t guaranteed. If things go south or playing time becomes an issue, don’t be surprised if Swann is back in the portal next December.
Technically not a transfer, but Dart reentering a crowded Ole Miss QB room filled with portal arrivals (Salter, Spencer Sanders, and more) is as bold as it gets. He could’ve taken the easy road elsewhere—but Dart stayed and is betting on himself.
Respect.
The transfer portal has evolved from a curiosity to a critical element of roster construction. Programs like Tennessee and UCLA may not have intended to swap quarterbacks, but both could come out of it better than before. Other teams will ride or die based on the upside of their new additions—or be haunted by the ones who got away.
The 2025 season will be a proving ground for all these transfers, and by December, we’ll know which moves were genius… and which were pure chaos. But for now? Let’s just enjoy the madness.
Portal season isn’t just about new beginnings. It’s about bold risks, broken comfort zones, and one epic group chat we all wish we could join.
