The transfer portal has become the center of college football in 2025. Roster movement dictates much of who ends up competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Revenue sharing and NIL have driven players to move from program to program like never before.
Each offseason several top players move to new homes and it changes the complexion of the college football season. Many of the new faces in new places have made an immediate impact for their new teams.
There have been plenty of surprises already through the first six weeks of the season. However, some of the top transfers have lived up to expectations. Here is a rundown of the standout transfers who have made their presence felt midway through the college football season.
QB Carson Beck
(Miami via Georgia)
One of the current Heisman favorites, Beck was one of the most notable transfers of the offseason. He guided Georgia to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff before deciding to enter the portal. Miami eventually landed the sixth-year senior, and he has led the Hurricanes to a 5-0 record and a No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Beck has led Miami to wins over Notre Dame, South Florida and Florida State. He has passed for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Beck has connected on 102 of his 139 pass attempts (73.4 percent) through the first five games.
QB Fernando Mendoza
(Indiana via Cal)
The transfer from Cal showed glimpses of an elite quarterback during his final season in Berkeley. He has hit a new level under Curt Cignetti and has been efficient in his ability to move the offense. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 7, sit atop the Big Ten standings and square off with No. 3 Oregon this weekend in Eugene. Mendoza has been a big part of why Indiana has continued to build on its success from last season. He has passed for 16 touchdowns and just one interception this season. Mendoza is only second to Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson (19) on the FBS passing touchdowns list.
RB Ahmad Hardy
(Missouri via Louisiana-Monroe)
The running back from Mississippi has become a Heisman Trophy hopeful through his work this season. Hardy leads all FBS players with 146 rushing yards per game through Week 6. He is second with nine rushing touchdowns and 730 total rushing yards. The Louisiana-Monroe transfer was one of the big offseason additions after rushing for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. Missouri is currently ranked 14th and sits at 5-0 heading into Saturday’s matchup with No. 8 Alabama.
QB John Mateer
(Oklahoma via Washington State)
That Mateer could play Saturday when Oklahoma takes on rival Texas would be a remarkable recovery. The Washington State transfer had surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand less than a month ago. Mateer was one of the Heisman favorites through the first four games of the season. He injured his hand early in a win over Auburn back on Sept. 20. Because of a bye week, Mateer has only missed one game since having surgery. He has passed for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns to go with six rushing scores.
EDGE David Bailey
(Texas Tech via Stanford)
The transfer outside linebacker was one of the top transfer players in the spring. He shined at Stanford and had programs from around the country in pursuit. He has been as advertised with the Red Raiders and is currently fourth among all FBS players with 5.5 sacks through five games for Texas Tech. He had a season-high two sacks last week in a 35-11 road win over Houston. The Red Raiders sit at 5-0 on the season and are 2-0 in Big 12 games with a matchup against Kansas coming up Saturday.
RB Justice Haynes
(Michigan via Alabama)
Michigan travels to the West Coast this weekend looking to build on a three-game winning streak when it faces USC. The 15th-ranked Wolverines have bounced back nicely from a 24-13 road loss to Oklahoma with victories over Central Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Haynes has rushed for 370 yards and four touchdowns over that span. In all, the Alabama transfer has rushed for 654 yards plus and eight touchdowns this season. He ranks among the top five among FBS players in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Haynes is the first Michigan running back to rush for at least 100 yards in each of his first five games.