Ole Miss adds to lead after Chambliss’ huge TD pass (0:45)Trinidad Chambliss connects with Harrison Wallace III for a 13-yard score as Ole Miss extends its lead in the Sugar Bowl. (0:45)
The fact that the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round kicked off just before the transfer portal officially opened epitomizes a sport where the present and future constantly clash.
Four unfortunate teams saw their future become the present, after losses in much-anticipated quarterfinal matchups. Georgia became the fourth team off the board following its loss at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
With the portal now open, there isn’t time to lament the defeat, and upcoming NFL draft decisions will shuffle depth charts and rosters. Teams must assess key players returning and leaving, create wish lists for the portal and assess where incoming recruits fit into the plan.
As teams fully turn the page toward the 2026 season, here’s a look at the most pressing questions, recruiting and portal priorities and predictions for what will follow in the fall. — Adam Rittenberg
Under-the-radar offseason priority: Australian punter Brett Thorson was a field-position weapon the past four seasons and will be missed. He won the Ray Guy Award after averaging 45.2 yards and downing 21 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line. Redshirt freshman Drew Miller was one of the most coveted specialists in the class of 2024, so the punting job should be in good hands. — Schlabach
2026 prediction: Alabama is poised to remain a CFP contender in 2026. Barring a surprise, the Crimson Tide will have either Simpson or former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell under center. Meanwhile, back-to-back top 10 signing classes under DeBoer appear primed to support a budding, young core in Tuscaloosa. With a manageable schedule in front of it and stability on the sideline, Alabama should be right back in the mix in the fall. — Lederman
2026 prediction: The Red Raiders respond to a heartbreaking ending to their dream season with another headline-grabbing portal shopping spree and effectively reload to defend their Big 12 title. If they get the QB and D-line acquisitions right, they’ll be right back in the conversation as a preseason CFP contender. — Olson
Biggest question moving forward: The 2025 Georgia team was one of Kirby Smart’s youngest, so many of the most important players are probably coming back, including quarterback Gunner Stockton, tailback Nate Frazier, cornerback Ellis Robinson IV and safety KJ Bolden. On defense, linebacker CJ Allen, defensive tackle Christen Miller and cornerback Daylen Everette are expected to depart. Receivers Zachariah Branch, Noah Thomas, Colbie Young and Dillon Bell could all be moving on, so that’s a top priority on offense. Georgia will probably dip into the transfer portal again for a few replacements. Persuading offensive tackles Monroe Freeling and Earnest Greene III to return for the 2026 season would be a big boost on the offensive line. Georgia did a better job of pressuring quarterbacks in the second half of the season, but finding edge rushers to help is another priority. — Mark Schlabach
Recruiting outlook: Kirby Smart landed a top-three class in nine straight recruiting cycles before the Bulldogs’ late slip to No. 5 in ESPN’s class rankings for the 2026 cycle. That came after five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the nation’s No. 1 pocket passer, flipped to Vanderbilt on the eve of the early signing period last month, the latest blow to Georgia’s QB pipeline. But the Bulldogs still have plenty of talent arriving in 2026 within a deep class led by 16 ESPN 300 signees. Five-star tight end Kaiden Prothro, a 6-foot-7 recruit from Bowdon, Georgia, is an exceptional pass catching prospect and has the potential to be Georgia’s next big tight end. The Bulldogs held off persistent flip efforts to sign No. 4 cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick, the brother of former Alabama All-American Minkah Fitzpatrick. He’s one of six top 300 defensive backs joining the program in 2026. Four-star offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko (No. 49) is one to watch for the future, too, and Georgia already holds pledges from a pair of top 100 recruits in the 2027 class. — Eli Lederman
Biggest portal priority: The Bulldogs have always been extremely selective with portal recruiting under Kirby Smart, in part because they’re signing top high school recruiting classes year after year and constantly developing the next man up. Georgia has gone heavy on transfers at the wide receiver position in recent years to try to get that room right, with four of its top five wideouts in 2025 joining the program via the portal. It’ll be interesting to see if that’s once again a need position in January, and Georgia will be an attractive destination with an experienced passer in Stockton returning. But as usual, the roster needs will depend on draft decisions and responding to any unexpected attrition that occurs. — Max Olson
Biggest question moving forward: The Crimson Tide’s first-round CFP win over Oklahoma cut out the possibility of coach Kalen DeBoer bolting for the Michigan job. After getting Alabama back to the playoff in 2025, can DeBoer elevate the Crimson Tide another notch or two and return the program to true national title contention? Some of that will hinge on who’s playing quarterback in Tuscaloosa come fall. It’s also contingent on whether DeBoer & Co. can increase the number of truly elite players on Alabama’s roster from the top down. After taking a conservative approach to the transfer portal during the 2025 offseason, the Crimson Tide could benefit from a more active portal window this year. Another strong class in the latest cycle should boost DeBoer’s roster, too. Alabama got better under DeBoer this past fall. Whether or not the Crimson Tide take the next step in 2026 will be decided by how well it can retool before next season. — Lederman
Recruiting outlook: For a second straight cycle, Alabama waited until the summer to heat up on the recruiting trail before surging to land the nation’s No. 7 overall class. The Crimson Tide loaded up on elite back-seven talent in 2026, landing signatures from top-ranked safety Jireh Edwards (No. 16 overall), four-star cornerbacks Jorden Edmonds (No. 33) and Zyan Gibson (No. 65) and No. 3 outside linebacker Xavier Griffin (No. 26). Gibson is one of six members of an impressive in-state recruiting group that includes No. 3 running back Ezavier Crowell (No. 34) and wide receiver Cederian Morgan (No. 36). Alabama padded its quarterback depth with quarterbacks Jett Thomalla and Tayden-Evan Kaawa, and the Crimson Tide could have a future starter in late-rising offensive tackle Jared Doughty. — Lederman
Biggest portal priority: Alabama was rather selective in portal recruiting last offseason with only three full-time starters added in a class that mostly provided depth. The Tide have a few positions that could use help when the portal opens this month, though the biggest needs might depend a bit on upcoming draft decisions. They’re losing three senior linebackers between Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nikhai Hill-Green and could lose up to four starters along the offensive line if Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford go pro. This staff already got a head start on their offseason portal class with the addition of Oklahoma State transfer tight end Josh Ford. They should benefit from how many premium SEC players become available amid the coaching changes at Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU. — Olson
Under-the-radar offseason priority: Alabama could be faced with replacing its starting quarterback in 2026 if Ty Simpson heads to the NFL. Regardless of who’s under center next season, the Crimson Tide have to prioritize improving a rushing attack that entered the postseason ranked 117th nationally, averaging just 116.2 yards per game. Without a clear successor for starter Jam Miller, Alabama could look to the portal for replacements. There’s also a belief that four-star signee Crowell will be ready to contribute from day one in the fall. With an infusion of talent in the backfield and reinforcements along the offensive line, the Crimson Tide run game could be poised for a rebound. — Lederman
Recruiting outlook: The Red Raiders’ emergence as a disruptor in the talent acquisition game extended on to the high school recruiting trail in 2026 as Texas Tech signed six ESPN 300 recruits in the latest cycle, sealing the program’s highest count of top 300 additions since 2006. Anchoring coach Joey McGuire’s incoming class are five-stars LaDamion Guyton and Felix Ojo, two of the highest-ranked signees in program history. Guyton, who reclassified from the 2027 cycle, is ESPN’s No. 1 outside linebacker in 2026; Ojo, a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle from Mansfield, Texas, picked the Red Raiders over Texas, Ohio State, Michigan and Florida and projects as a potential multiyear starter. Former Michigan tight end signee Matt Ludwig (No. 288 overall) marked an intriguing late addition for Texas Tech, which is already making moves in the 2027 class, too, with commitments from five-star defensive tackle Jalen Brewster (No. 6 overall) and four-star quarterback Kavian Bryant (No. 26) among four ESPN Junior 300 pledges in the upcoming cycle. — Eli Lederman
Biggest portal priority: The clear No. 1 priority for the Red Raiders is winning the battle for Cincinnati transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The 31-game starter is the top QB on their board and viewed as a potential first-round draft pick. He would bring invaluable Big 12 experience to the table in taking over for Behren Morton. If Sorsby ends up going to LSU or elsewhere, it’ll be fascinating to see which QB gets prioritized by GM James Blanchard and Tech’s coaching staff. After building one of the best defensive lines in college football via the portal last offseason, the Red Raiders are expected to once again spend millions on top D-line transfers to succeed their NFL-bound stars. — Olson
Under-the-radar offseason priority: One of the not-so-secret ingredients of Texas Tech’s rise in 2025 was exceptional player leadership. How will McGuire make up for what seniors such as Morton, Jacob Rodriguez and Bryce Ramirez brought to his locker room? Even several of its transfer additions, including Skyler Gill-Howard and Lee Hunter, became invaluable voices as leaders in their first year in the program. It’s time for a new crew of leaders to step up and take over this team as the Red Raiders work to rally back from a tough ending to their season. — Olson