Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: CFB Transfer Portal WINNERS: Best Portal Teams & Decisions in 2026
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: David Pollack
Co-host: Brent Rollins (PFF/On3)

Overview

This episode dives deep into the winners of the 2026 college football transfer portal window. Host David Pollack, joined by co-host Brent Rollins, offers comprehensive analysis on the most successful programs, standout coaching strategies, top player moves, and the evolving landscape of college football team-building in the portal era. The conversation highlights who "won" the portal, key program strategies, player fits, and the broad cultural impact of portal player movement.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

The Transfer Portal: College Football's New "Team-Building" Battleground

[01:23]

• David opens discussing the off-season as "Christmas" for portal enthusiasts, with programs unwrapping new talent.
• Acknowledges the portal isn't completely closed but declares enough has shifted to identify top winners.

Top Five Portal Winner Programs

1. Texas Longhorns

[02:00]

• "If you're a Texas fan, you should appreciate that...you just got so many guys coming in that you've heard of that are big names that have been very, very successful." – David Pollack [03:05]
• Texas lands two top-five running backs, the #1 wide receiver, premier offensive/defensive linemen, and bolsters both offense and defense.
• Notable additions: Hollywood Smothers, Relik Brown, Cam Coleman—playmakers meant to complement Arch Manning and immediately fill holes.
• "They spent cheddar. They did an unbelievable job." [04:23]

2. Indiana Hoosiers

[05:00]

• Defending national champs, remain the model for transfer portal team-building.
• Approach shifting from "quantity" (31 transfers in '24, 23 in '25) to "quality" (just 17 this cycle).
• "Indiana went to the mall and was like, all right, we need a few things that are really, really high priority." – Pollack [06:29]
• Poached elite position talent: Josh Hoover (QB, 10k yards), Nick Marsh (WR), top defenders, best OL from Wisconsin.
• They prioritize fit, culture, and leadership in their selection process.

3. Notre Dame

[07:30]

• Marcus Freeman's retention focus: "They didn't lose a starter in the portal, not one." – Pollack [08:06]
• Smart, targeted pickups: fixed glaring need at DT (Gray from Oregon), nabbed Pitt standout (Brew), took high-upside WRs, and got a 5-star Alabama edge rusher.
• Freeman's approach is “smooth, calculated...a lot of retention and just kind of the way he does business.” [08:35]

4. LSU Tigers / Lane Kiffin’s Portal Rebuild

[09:15]

• Kiffin cements reputation as "Portal King": 4 elite D-linemen, 4 highly rated receivers, top portal QB Sam Levitt.
• Most transformed roster—huge influx and lots of departures, especially on the offensive line.
• "They're the most turnstile, right? They're the most changed." – Pollack [10:37]
• Heavy focus on D-line, skills, QB; offensive line assembled from transfers, lighter on star power.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

[12:32, picks up again at 13:59]

• Big turnaround predicted: 1-11 last year, now led by new coach Eric Morris (from North Texas).
• 17 former North Texas players join, providing system continuity and established chemistry.
• "Not only did Eric Morris bring in his great offense, he's doing exactly what Kirk Signetti did – he's bringing all his dudes with him." [13:59]
• Key additions: QB Mesa Maker (portal five-star), RB Caleb Hawkins (national rushing TD leader), WR Wyatt Young.
• Massive transfer class (60+ players!). Pollack: “This has a chance to now be something special...one of the best turnarounds we’ve seen.” [14:37]

Honorable Mentions

• Virginia Tech: Silent rebuild under James Franklin, brings in ex-Penn State talent; resources, builder mentality highlighted.
• Kentucky: Completely rebuilt offensive line, landed QB Kenny Minchie (ex-Notre Dame), RB CJ Baxter, WR Nick Anderson (LSU)—smart blend of line toughness and skill upside.

Transfer Portal Strategies: Why They're Succeeding

[16:02]

• Co-host Brent Rollins: "Who wins the portal? Either you got the most money to spend and you go spend it or you take a coach and his team."
• Oklahoma State, Penn State, Virginia Tech follow the “pack up and bring your guys” model; Texas and LSU are “heavy spenders”.

Broader Roster Meta: Retention, Fit, and Culture

[17:45]

• Michigan and head coach Whittingham cited as an example of combining coaching upgrade with portal acquisitions.
• Retention is as vital as new additions; "building a team" is now a core coaching skill.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Indiana went to the mall and was like, all right, we need a few things that are really, really high priority." – David Pollack [06:29]
• "You want to be a quarterback, bro. Golly. When there's starting to be some desperation...you're playing musical chairs and it's like, hey, I hadn't sat down yet, baby." – Pollack on QB portal market [23:57]
• "You got to have your trigger man. Like, they've proven that they've got to have that guy and it's been really, really well to him." – Pollack, on Indiana's focus at QB [05:52]
• "There's a skill to this. There's an art to this....You can go be very, very competitive. And you could be Indiana and win a national championship." – Pollack, on roster wizardry [18:18]

Detailed Segments & Timestamps

1. Portal Losers/Teams in Trouble

[20:00–28:39]

• Alabama: Major talent exodus, big names (Isaiah Horton, Smith, Renaud) leave for rivals. "Kept seeing Alabama players go elsewhere. That's not what you want." – Pollack [20:32]
• Tennessee: “Addressed weaknesses” on D, but failed to land the portal's top QBs; high stakes for 2026.
• Alabama, continued: Is this the start of a slide to mid-tier status? Retention/viewer confidence discussed.

2. Feeling the Program Vibe – "Positive/Negative"

[24:06]

• Quick-hit poll: Top 12-Team Playoff programs – which ones feel like they're trending up or down? Indiana, Miami, BYU, Notre Dame, Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon cited as generally positive. Ole Miss and especially Alabama: less certain.

3. Best Transfer Player 'Fits'

[31:23–41:58]

• Byron Brown, QB (Auburn): "He's a freak. He's an absolute freak show...did the 3000, 1000 combination...in the regular season." – Pollack [32:33]
• Jakari Peak, OL (South Carolina): "Best offensive tackle in the portal. Needed to happen." [34:02]
• Damon Wilson, Edge (Miami): Perfect timing/fit replacing outgoing stars ("If he went to the draft, he's probably a first round pick.") [34:52]
• John Henry Daly, Edge (Michigan): Underrated; "First team All-Big 12...wins at a high rate. Plays the run phenomenally well. Physical." [37:01]
• Amari Miller & Reed Harris (Arizona State WRs): "Miller’s smooth...run by people...Harris the absolute opposite. Jump ball machine..." [38:11]
• Additional fits: Noted by Brent – Cal (new coach, strong WR portal pulls), Oklahoma (WR Trail Harris and Parker Livingstone’s “petty” switch from Texas), plus Oklahoma’s QB returning.

4. Cultural Trends and Media Impact

[45:07]

• Indiana’s national title run is a media sensation; college football’s ratings soar, up 36% Y/Y for the title game.
• "In a world where everybody's like, hey, I'm worried about the game...people still watching, right." – Pollack
• Notable: Fernando Mendoza’s LinkedIn page goes viral after national title and Heisman win [41:58], cited as "winning the weekend."

Additional Observations

• Portal's function as both a recruitment and retention tool is underscored.
• The value of premium QB talent in this era is astronomical, influencing nearly every top program's strategy.
• The "bundle transfer" model (new coach bringing much of his former roster) is now mainstream.
• Team stability now comes down to recruiting, NIL strategy, and intelligently navigating the portal market.

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "They spent cheddar. They did an unbelievable job." – David Pollack on Texas [04:23]
• "Quality over quantity, just an unbelievable job by Indiana." – Pollack [07:13]
• "They're the most turnstile...the most changed." – Pollack on LSU/Lane Kiffin [10:37]
• "This has got a chance to really click, really hit, hit the ground running and be one of the best turnarounds we’ve seen." – Pollack on Oklahoma State [14:37]
• "Who wins the portal? Either you got the most money to spend and you go spend it or...you take a coach and his team..." – Brent Rollins [16:02]
• "You want to be a quarterback, bro. Golly...these schools are trying to figure it out." – Pollack [23:57]

Conclusion

This episode offers a lively, insight-rich look at how college football is being reshaped by the transfer portal, with detailed analysis of team strategies, standout moves, and the implications for championship aspirations and fan optimism. David and Brent balance stats and evaluation with personality and candid takes, celebrating college football's strategic evolution while spotlighting personalities and stories behind the numbers.

Rating: Must-listen for serious CFB fans and anyone fascinated by the intersection of recruiting, roster management, and college football's new era.