Top 5 College Football Transfer Portal Commitments

Less than 48 hours into the transfer portal window, several top talents have already found their new landing spots. While many of the nation’s top players are just beginning to explore their options, others have made their decisions quickly and decisively.

Here are the top five transfer portal commitments who made near-instant decisions on their new destinations:

Drew Mestemaker – North Texas QB to Oklahoma State

A standout quarterback at North Texas, Mestemaker passed for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns for the Mean Green under coach Chad Morris. When Morris left for a new job following Oklahoma State legend Mike Gundy, Mestemaker didn’t take long to make his decision. He now joins Oklahoma State, where he has three seasons left to play and is expected to be the presumptive starter. The team needs significant help after a 1-11 season in 2025.

Benjamin Brahmer – Iowa State TE to Penn State

Standing at 6’6″, Brahmer is a middle-of-the-field target who had a quick stint in the portal. In 2024, he caught 37 passes for 446 yards and six touchdowns. He also had a strong 2023 season, followed by an injury-plagued 2024. His coach, Matt Campbell, moved to Penn State after James Franklin’s departure, and Brahmer followed him to State College. He should bolster Penn State’s passing game in 2026, which will be his final year of eligibility.

Abu Sama – Iowa State RB to Wisconsin

A 5’11” running back, Sama has been a consistent contributor over three seasons of college football. In 2025, he rushed for 732 yards and five scores at Iowa State, bringing his career totals to 1,933 yards and 13 touchdowns. Like Brahmer, Sama played for Matt Campbell but chose not to follow him. Instead, he moved to Wisconsin, where Luke Fickell needs to improve a ground game that lacked any back with more than 363 yards in 2025.

Noah McKinney – Oklahoma State OL to TCU

McKinney began his career at UNLV, where he saw extensive action in 2023 before missing most of the 2024 season due to injury. He then joined Oklahoma State and was part of the disastrous 1-11 season in 2025. Now, McKinney is heading to TCU for his final season. The Horned Frogs averaged 30.7 points per game in a nine-win season in 2025, and McKinney should see early playing time there.

Houston Thomas – Texas-San Antonio TE to Texas A&M

Thomas had back-to-back seasons with 34 receptions each for UTSA in 2024 and 2025. Career-wise, he has 78 catches for 918 yards and five touchdowns. The 6’4″, 245-pound tight end is moving on from UTSA for his final college season at Texas A&M. Two of A&M’s top three pass-catching tight ends in 2025 were seniors, so Thomas should get a shot to contribute.

Other Notable Transfers

In addition to these top five, several other transfers have made waves in the portal. A former $13 million college football quarterback is searching for a fourth school, while two college football programs are emerging as potential landing spots for a 3,000-yard quarterback. Additionally, a 1,300-yard transfer wide receiver has drawn strong interest from major college football programs.

These developments highlight the fast-paced nature of the transfer portal and the impact it can have on team rosters across the country. As the window continues, more players are expected to make their decisions, shaping the landscape of college football for the upcoming season.