Not all pressure is created equally. Some transfer portal classes will find that out soon enough. Some will be stepping into a winning situation where they have to maintain a standard of success, like at Indiana, Ohio State and several other programs. And there will be some that arrive on campus and essentially be tasked with saving a coach\u2019s job or maximizing a championship window.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at the portal classes under the most pressure in 2026.<\/p>\n
After three losing seasons in the past four years, Bears coach Dave Aranda is under immense pressure to win now. So it is no surprise that Baylor signed nearly 30 transfers this offseason.<\/p>\n
The headliner is obviously quarterback DJ Lagway<\/a>, a former five-star prospect who flashed his potential at Florida but was frustratingly inconsistent. Now it\u2019s up to offensive coordinator Jake Spavital to turn Lagway into a steady player. Baylor brought in six offensive linemen, most of them with starting experience at the Group of 6 level \u2014 such as Asher Hale<\/a>, who didn\u2019t surrender a sack last season at South Alabama \u2014 and four receivers.<\/p>\n The Bears struggled mightily on defense last season, ranking 122nd in scoring, 85th in yards per play allowed and 118th in yards per rush allowed. They added 10 transfers along the defensive front (linemen or linebackers). Indiana transfer Hosea Wheeler<\/a> (four tackles for loss in 2025) could be the most significant addition if he receives an additional year of eligibility. Edge rusher Garrick Ponder<\/a> posted 4 1\/2 sacks and 11 1\/2 TFLs last year at Southern Miss.<\/p>\n Safety Daniel Cobbs<\/a> recorded 39 tackles, including three TFLs, and intercepted three passes for Kansas State<\/a> last season. He is one of five defensive back transfers in this class and one of four Kansas State defenders who followed new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman to Baylor. That side of the ball will go a long way in determining Aranda\u2019s future.<\/p>\n After whiffing on its 2025 transfer portal haul<\/a>, Colorado\u2019s 2026 additions will need to be much better if Deion Sanders wants to avoid a third losing season in four years.<\/p>\n The Buffaloes have gotten into trouble for taking fliers on former blue-chip recruits who didn\u2019t play much at blue blood programs. This offseason, they bet on production. Here are the new pass-catching options for promising young QB Julian Lewis<\/a>:<\/p>\n Danny Scudero<\/a>, who led the FBS with 1,297 receiving yards while at San Jose State in 2025. Losing former five-star prospect Jordan Seaton<\/a> was a blow, but\u00a0Demetrius Hunter<\/a> was a two-year starter at Houston and leads an experienced offensive line transfer group.<\/p>\n Colorado addressed its defense, which ranked among the worst in the Power 4 last season, by adding all-conference performers at every level \u2014 Tulane lineman Santana Hopper<\/a>, Bowling Green<\/a> linebacker Gideon Lampron<\/a> and defensive backs Justin Eaglin<\/a> (James Madison<\/a>) and Naeten Mitchell<\/a> (New Mexico State<\/a>). Other additions, such as Texas linebacker Liona Lefau<\/a> and Vanderbilt<\/a> safety Randon Fontenette<\/a>, were productive at the P4 level.<\/p>\n It does not feel as if Sanders is on the hot seat, but the 2025 season looked too much like the Karl Dorrell era. And another losing season\u00a0would make a successful 2024 season seem like the outlier and not the norm in Boulder.<\/p>\n Sanders\u2019 job might not be on the line, but the coach at his alma mater needs a big year after going 7-17 over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n Mike Norvell and his staff are placing a lot of faith in Auburn<\/a> quarterback transfer Ashton Daniels<\/a>, who\u2019s had a very up-and-down career (24 touchdown passes, 22 interceptions with 1,401 rushing yards). The Seminoles also brought in Lafayette transfer Dean DeNobile<\/a> for depth.<\/p>\n Florida State signed five offensive linemen who were starters at their previous schools and will try to get a bounce-back season from Auburn transfer Xavier Chaplin<\/a>, who was a highly coveted player in last year\u2019s portal cycle. There\u2019s a clear effort to remake that group.<\/p>\n The O-line will need to create holes for Quintrevion Wisner<\/a> (Texas) and Gemari Sands<\/a> (FAU), running backs who were useful at prior stops.<\/p>\n The Seminoles brought in two punters, two kickers and a long snapper to bolster the special teams.<\/p>\n Norvell has relied on the portal heavily for the past several years. The 2022 and 2023 seasons have demonstrated what it looks like when that method works well. The past two seasons have displayed what happens when it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n With four losing seasons in six years, Norvell desperately needs this portal class to help get the program back on a winning path.<\/p>\n Terrapins coach Mike Locksley has posted back-to-back 4-8 seasons and has a 36-44 record during his seven-year run. Even under those circumstances, the Terrapins brought in just 10 transfers, and most of them didn\u2019t receive a lot of snaps at their previous stops.<\/p>\n Quarterback Malik Washington<\/a> is the centerpiece of Maryland\u2019s program. The Terrapins added offensive lineman Tellek Lockette<\/a>, who made 28 starts over the past three seasons at Texas State and Louisiana-Monroe. They also brought in receivers Chris Durr Jr. (Wyoming) and Na\u2019eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding<\/a> (Old Dominion<\/a>), who had decent production last year.<\/p>\n Maryland will be leaning heavily upon unproven transfers and players already on the roster.<\/p>\n Bill Belichick\u2019s first season in Chapel Hill ended in with a 4-8 record. He attacked the transfer portal aggressively last offseason with 41 additions, but the Tar Heels were much more measured this time around. North Carolina signed just 19 transfers and is focused on building the roster through the high school ranks after signing 39 players in the Class of 2026.<\/p>\n Not many of the 19 transfer additions played extensively at the FBS level last season. Among the imports are two first-team All-Patriot League players from Richmond, defensive lineman Donovan Hoilette<\/a> and linebacker Peyton Seelmann<\/a>.<\/p>\n North Carolina is also betting on players coming off injury, such as Wisconsin<\/a> QB Billy Edwards Jr., Syracuse<\/a> linebacker Derek McDonald<\/a> and Colorado State<\/a> tight end Jaxxon Warren<\/a>.<\/p>\n Much of the Tar Heels\u2019 success will depend on whether Belichick\u2019s and general manager Michael Lombardi\u2019s evaluations were on point.<\/p>\n The Gamecocks went 4-8 and won only one conference game after starting the season in the top 15. Shane Beamer has had two losing seasons in the past three years. Life is very difficult for SEC coaches who post three losing seasons in four years, so Beamer will try his best to avoid that situation.<\/p>\n That will mostly be determined by how well a revamped offensive line performs. South Carolina gave up 43 sacks last season, which ranked 131st among FBS programs. The Gamecocks signed eight offensive linemen, including NC State<\/a> transfer Jacarrius Peak<\/a> (32 career starts) and Emmanuel Poku<\/a>, who was second-team all-conference in the American and didn\u2019t surrender a sack at East Carolina in 2025. This group is tasked with protecting quarterback LaNorris Sellers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Purdue receiver transfer Nitro Tuggle<\/a>, who caught 34 passes for 500 yards last season, is an intriguing new target for Sellers.<\/p>\n With these additions and the hire of Kendal Briles as offensive coordinator, Beamer is trying to improve the situation around his talented quarterback. Will that be enough to get the program back on track?<\/p>\n Texas<\/p>\n There\u2019s pressure to maximize the (likely) last season with Arch Manning<\/a> running the offense. Texas<\/a> was the preseason No. 1 in 2025 but failed to reach the College Football Playoff. Steve Sarkisian isn\u2019t feeling any serious heat, but the expectations are clear: Compete and win at the highest level.<\/p>\n This transfer class should help in that regard. Former Auburn receiver Cam Coleman<\/a> was one of the best players available in the portal, and his arrival gives Manning a true No. 1 threat that was missing last fall.<\/p>\n After some attrition at running back, the Longhorns bolstered the position with Raleek Brown<\/a>, who rushed for 1,141 yards last season at Arizona State<\/a>, and Hollywood Smothers, who rushed for 939 yards at NC State.<\/p>\n There were also the high-profile additions of Wake Forest<\/a> offensive lineman Melvin Siani<\/a> and Pitt<\/a> linebacker Rasheem Biles<\/a>.<\/p>\n After failing to meet expectations in 2025, Texas acted with the proper urgency during the portal window. We\u2019ll see if the Longhorns can put everything together on the field in 2026.<\/p>\n Wisconsin<\/p>\n Luke Fickell has had an extremely disappointing three-year stint at Wisconsin, and last season\u2019s 4-8 record was the low point.<\/p>\n Fickell has never figured out the offense, which hasn\u2019t ranked higher than 93rd in scoring during his time in Madison. Quarterback injuries have certainly played a role.<\/p>\n Wisconsin is hanging its hopes on Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph<\/a>, who passed for 2,624 yards, rushed for 1,007 and accounted for 34 total touchdowns in 2025. He earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors and should provide the offense with much-needed juice.<\/p>\n Iowa State<\/a> transfer running back Abu Sama III, who rushed for 732 yards and five scores last year, should help boost the run game as well. Jaylon Domingeaux<\/a>, who caught 52 passes for 857 yards and 11 touchdowns at Southeastern Louisiana in 2025, could be a fun addition as well.<\/p>\n Wisconsin\u2019s defense was respectable despite not getting much help from the offense, but Fickell still added to every level of the unit with players from nearly all corners of college football. The Badgers went to the FCS for Illinois State transfer Jacob Anderson<\/a>. They dipped into Division III for Hope College outside linebacker Liam Danitz<\/a>, the Group of 6 ranks for Buffalo<\/a> defensive lineman Junior Poyser<\/a> and the Power 4 for defensive backs Marvin Burks Jr. (Missouri) and Javan Robinson<\/a> (Arizona State).<\/p>\n Fickell\u2019s back is against the wall after some ugly seasons. These transfer additions, particularly on offense, will ultimately be under pressure to buy him more time at Wisconsin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Not all pressure is created equally. Some transfer portal classes will find that out soon enough. Some will…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":738531,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[9436,331,59,4713,7,1868,49,48,4717,4278,1078,2785],"class_list":{"0":"post-738530","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-baylor-bears","9":"tag-college-football","10":"tag-colorado-buffaloes","11":"tag-florida-state-seminoles","12":"tag-football","13":"tag-maryland-terrapins","14":"tag-ncaa","15":"tag-ncaa-football","16":"tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","17":"tag-south-carolina-gamecocks","18":"tag-texas-longhorns","19":"tag-wisconsin-badgers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116036311706784775","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=738530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/738531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=738530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=738530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=738530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nKam Perry<\/a>, who totaled 976 receiving yards and six TDs in \u201925 at Miami (Ohio).
\nErnest Campbell<\/a>, who had 755 yards and eight TDs at Sacramento State.
\nDeAndre Moore Jr., who had 38 receptions for 538 yards at Texas.<\/p>\n