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Transfer Class Wins 2024 Title, Fuels 2026 Additions

5/23/2026

43 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Cignetti Bolsters Roster

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti used the transfer portal to add quarterback Josh Hoover and receiver Nick Marsh for 2026.
Cignetti’s first transfer class drove Indiana to the 2024 national championship and a playoff berth.
Defensive lineman Sahir West transferred to UCLA with coach Bob Chesney after posting seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Indiana must replace departing players Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. for the upcoming season.

Summary

LSU Tops Transfers

LSU's 2026 transfer class again ranked No.1 nationally, repeating its 2025 top spot.
Lane Kiffin added offensive linemen Sam Leavitt, Princewill Umanmielen and Trey Wilson via portal activity to fix last season's line woes.
Aaron Philo posted a 13.3-yard-per-attempt average in limited action, suggesting high upside for his SEC starter role because his two-year experience in Buster Faulkner's system aligns his strengths with LSU’s offensive scheme.

History

Historical Context

When the NCAA opened its transfer portal in April 2018, it built on a decade of rule reforms that had already loosened player movement, such as the 2017-18 rule tweaks and the 2022 constitution overhaul that let each division set its own rules. The NCAA, headquartered in Indianapolis, generated $1.28 billion in 2022, underscoring the financial stakes of roster churn.

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Cignetti Bolsters Roster

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti used the transfer portal to add quarterback Josh Hoover and receiver Nick Marsh for 2026.
Cignetti’s first transfer class drove Indiana to the 2024 national championship and a playoff berth.
Defensive lineman Sahir West transferred to UCLA with coach Bob Chesney after posting seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Indiana must replace departing players Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. for the upcoming season.

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