Today: Fresh portal predictions, the latest intel, Nick Saban's influence on this CFP, and yesterday's top transfer commits.

~7.5 minute read (1,730 words)

If this email was forwarded to you, please subscribe.

TRANSFER PORTAL

Pete Nakos calls his shot: Predicting where top available transfer portal targets commit

Sam Leavitt, Wendell Gregory, Deuce Knight, Stephiylan Green & Rickey Gibson

Elite talent is available in the transfer portal and is closing in on decisions. More than 3,000 players have entered the transfer portal in less than a week.

Let's break down the latest intel on the top available players in the transfer portal and where they could land. These are not RPMs, but where these players are trending if today were National Signing Day. Here is the full breakdown.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

Sam Leavitt arrived in Baton Rouge for his visit to LSU on Monday, and sources have told On3's Steve Wiltfong and Nakos that the Tigers sit in a good spot. Kentucky is out of the mix to land Leavitt after landing a commitment from Kenny Minchey. Barring Miami landing a visit from Leavitt, Lane Kiffin and LSU sit in good shape. Sources have said Leavitt has built a rapport with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.

Prediction: LSU

Confidence level: Low

Oklahoma State EDGE/OLB Wendell Gregory

In his lone year with the Cowboys, Gregory appeared in all twelve games this fall. He'd go on to post 27 total tackles, 12.0 of those being for loss with 4.0 sacks, with one forced fumble and one pass deflection. He's taking a visit to Lubbock, and the Red Raiders are viewed as the clear team to beat in this recruitment.

Prediction: Texas Tech

Confidence level: High

Auburn QB Deuce Knight

Deuce Knight officially entered the transfer portal on Monday afternoon. The former five-star recruit will have four years of eligibility remaining. He becomes one of the most talented underclassmen quarterbacks to hit the market. Sources tell On3 that Ole Miss is the team to watch in this recruitment. It had been rumored that Knight could potentially take a visit to Oxford on Tuesday, but sources have said that will not happen as Ole Miss travels to Phoenix for the College Football Playoff semifinals against Miami. Barring a decision to return to Auburn, Ole Miss is in a good spot in this recruitment.

Prediction: Ole Miss

Confidence level: Medium

Clemson DL Stephiylan Green

Green emerged as a starter in his third season at Clemson, recording 18 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and one pass deflection in 10 games and six starts this season. In his three-year Clemson career, he recorded 34 tackles and two pass deflections in 24 games. Multiple other SEC schools are factors in this recruitment, but sources tell On3 that LSU sits in a poll position.

Prediction: LSU

Confidence level: Medium

See all 10 of Nakos' predictions.

TRANSFER PORTAL

Transfer Portal Visits: Texas A&M, LSU, Tennessee & more hosting key targets

Over 3,000 FBS players have now officially entered the college football transfer portal. Visits for every Power Four program are lined up, and commitments are beginning to roll in. On3's Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos have the latest transfer portal intel.

Auburn WR Cam Coleman

Sources tell On3 that Cam Coleman visited the Texas A&M campus and is wrapping up his visits. He will visit Texas Tech today. Sources tell On3 that USC has removed itself from the Coleman sweepstakes after they landed transfer WR Terrell Anderson. Money is not going to be the deciding factor in this recruitment, even though sources have said his deal could be in the $2 million range.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

Following a trip to Kentucky, Leavitt made a trip to LSU yesterday. He was scheduled to visit Texas Tech on Sunday, but that never came to fruition as the Red Raiders picked up a commitment from Brendan Sorsby.

Florida EDGE Jayden Woods

Coming off a Texas visit, sources have told On3 that Florida is working to bring Woods back into the fold. The Gators held a Zoom call with his camp on Sunday night, and head coach Jon Sumrall could potentially take a trip to meet with him in person.

Penn State EDGE Chaz Coleman

Sources tell On3's Wiltfong and Nakos that Chaz Coleman visited Tennessee yesterday after spending time with Lane Kiffin at LSU. Ohio State is expecting Coleman on campus at some point on Tuesday, sources tell On3. The Buckeyes are willing to do what it takes to land the top pass rusher.

Florida QB DJ Lagway

After wrapping up a Florida State visit, DJ Lagway is scheduled to take a trip to Virginia, a source tells On3.

Get all of the intel from Pete Nakos.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

Four Nick Saban disciples chase college football's top prize

Dan Lanning, Mario Cristobal, Nick Saban, Curt Cignetti, Pete Golding

Editor's note: The following is an excerpt of a longer feature from Chris Low.

All four head coaches in the semifinals worked under Saban – Ole Miss' Pete Golding and Miami's Mario Cristobal completing the quartet – and all four won national championships during their stays with Saban.

Welcome to the Saban Invitational, or at the very least, another reminder of how widely his coaching tree spreads and how it continues to grow.

Saban will be at both semifinal sites, starting with Thursday's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup between Miami and Ole Miss, as part of the ESPN GameDay crew. And, yes, he will be like a proud father.

"It's no different than your players who go on to have success," Saban told On3. "All four of these coaches did tremendous jobs when they worked for me. Some were with me longer than others, but it was obvious how much they loved the game, loved coaching and developing players and wanted to get better in their own right as coaches.

"They all took different journeys to get to where they are, but I would say the one thing they have in common is that their teams are an extension of who they are and they believe in their system and believe in the process."

Sound familiar?

Nothing was more important than the process at Alabama, and it led to one of the greatest runs in college football history. In addition to winning six national titles, Saban played in three more national title games, went 100 straight games without losing to an unranked team, and in 17 seasons as Alabama's coach, won at least 10 games every season but his first in 2007.

Cignetti was on that first staff as Alabama's receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. He was also there for Saban's first national title in 2009 before leaving after the 2010 season to run his own program at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) after 28 seasons as an assistant.

"I remember him telling me where he was going, IUP, and thinking that's a big drop from coaching in the SEC," Saban recalled. "But he wanted to be a head coach. He was ready to be a head coach, and it tells you a lot about the belief he had in himself that he would take a job at that level at a place that hadn't had great success. But that's what he's done his whole career, take programs that weren't football hotbeds and turn them into winners.

"What he's done at Indiana is incredible. They were as good a team and as complete a team as I saw all year and have as good a chance as anybody to win it."

Read the full story from Chris Low.

🚨Headlines

TRANSFER PORTAL

Recapping yesterday's top portal commitments

The transfer portal delivered another busy day across the Power Four on Monday, with programs shoring up quarterback rooms, replacing NFL departures, and adding proven production ahead of the 2026 season. From SEC contenders reloading on offense to Big Ten programs addressing key needs in the trenches, several notable commitments came off the board as roster turnover continued across the country.

QB Kenny Minchey: Nebraska Kentucky

Kentucky had the shock move of the day, flipping the former Notre Dame quarterback away from Nebraska as new head coach Will Stein secured his signal-caller of the future. A four-star prospect in the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings, Minchey ranked No. 44 overall and No. 10 among quarterbacks in this cycle. His commitment gives Stein a foundational piece as he prepares to fully transition to Lexington following Oregon's College Football Playoff run.

RB Hollywood Smothers: Alabama

Alabama continued its aggressive portal activity by adding Smothers, a proven dual-threat running back who broke out at NC State. Over 22 games with the Wolf Pack, Smothers rushed for 1,510 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 56 receptions. A First-Team All-ACC selection in 2025, he arrives with two years of eligibility remaining as the Crimson Tide reshape their backfield.

QB Byrum Brown: Auburn

Brown follows former USF head coach Alex Golesh to Auburn, giving the Tigers a proven dual-threat quarterback. Over 35 career games, Brown accounted for nearly 10,000 total yards and 92 touchdowns, providing immediate experience amid Auburn's extensive roster turnover.

WR Jaylen Mbakwe: Georgia Tech

Former five-star Jaylen Mbakwe heads to Georgia Tech after spending two seasons at Alabama and transitioning from defensive back to wide receiver. Mbakwe played in 10 games last season and brings elite athletic upside to a Yellow Jackets team coming off a 9-4 campaign and looking to build on its offensive identity.

WR Terrell Anderson: USC

USC addressed major losses in its receiver room by landing Anderson, one of the top wideouts available in the portal. The NC State standout posted 787 yards and six touchdowns over two seasons and broke out in 2025 with 16.1 yards per catch. He profiles as a key replacement following USC's NFL departures.

OL Carius Curne: Ole Miss

LSU OL transfer Carius Curne committed to Ole Miss out of the portal. Curne played in seven games as a true freshman for the Tigers. His season was limited in part due to injury. He was rated as the No. 20 overall player in the portal. He's also the No. 1 interior offensive lineman, per the On3 transfer portal rankings, despite playing tackle during his freshman season.

Keep up with all of the latest portal commitments here.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

I played my college football at FCS Mississippi Valley State and finished my career as the NCAA's all-time leader in receiving yards, a record that stood across all divisions.
As a senior, I caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and 19 touchdowns, earning Division I-AA All-America honors and putting my school on the national map.
I went on to win three Super Bowls, set the NFL records for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, and am widely considered the greatest wide receiver of all time.

Answer at the bottom.

SHAREWORTHY