These five Big Ten Football teams managed the transfer portal the best in 2024

Several Big Ten teams were reliant on the transfer portal in 2024, but only a few were the best at landing players they knew would play big roles right away. Here are five teams that found quality over quantity in the transfer portal last season:

As we’ve seen so far in the transfer portal. era, the portal is a tool college football programs can use to re-make their rosters seemingly overnight. Meanwhile, some schools might already have pretty complete rosters and use the portal by plugging the last of their roster holes.

Once again, we saw these moves in the Big Ten last season. Some schools made sweeping changes, while others opted to add just a few guys. Regardless, in order to actually use the transfer portal for good, programs must be good at finding the right fits for their rosters and culture, rather than simply throwing darts at the board and hoping a few hit the bullseye.

Today, we’ll be looking back at the 2024 season and transfer portal cycle, analyzing the Big Ten teams that did the best job of prioritizing quality over quantity in the transfer portal.

Ohio State

Notable additions: QB Will Howard, RB Quinshon Judkins, S Caleb Downs, C Seth McLaughlin, QB Julian Sayin

It’s safe to say Ohio State ’s additions paid off. No team in the Big Ten was the epitome of transfer portal efficiency like Ohio State. By losing 26 players and gaining only eight in the 2024 portal window, the Buckeyes were listed at No. 14 in the Big Ten’s transfer portal class rankings by On3. It wouldn’t matter, though, as the Buckeyes picked up a few elite players that made big differences.

Howard might have been the biggest addition for the Buckeyes, as he provided the offense with the shot in the arm that it needed to roll through the playoffs. Furthermore, Downs set the tone for the secondary and was arguably the best defensive player in the nation. Judkins and McLaughlin both played meaningful roles too, although McLaughlin’s season was cut short by an Achilles injury.

This portal class might have the chance to do more in the future, too, as Downs returns for his junior year and Sayin will likely be Ohio State’s starter in 2025.

Oregon

Notable additions: QB Dillon Gabriel, DL Derrick Harmon, CB Jabbar Muhammad, CB Kam Alexander, DL Ja’Maree Caldwell, WR Evan Stewart, S Kobe Savage, QB Dante Moore

It was a bit of quality and quantity for Oregon in 2024, as the Ducks welcomed in 12 players, seven of which were starters. The crown jewel was Gabriel, one of the most accomplished passers in the history of college football and a Heisman finalist.

Where things really improved through the portal was on the defensive side of the ball, as the Ducks made key additions to their defensive front and secondary. Harmon at defensive tackle and Muhammad at corner were the two biggest in these areas. Harmon, a former Michigan State Spartan, made 45 tackles and five sacks, while Muhammad had 12 pass breakups.

Much like Ohio State, Oregon might also have brought in its starting quarterback of the future in Moore.

Indiana

Notable additions: QB Kurtis Rourke, WR Myles Price, CB D’Angelo Ponds, DL C.J. West, S Shawn Asbury, edge Mikail Kamara, RB Ty Son Lawton, WR Elijah Sarratt, DL James Carpenter, CB Cedarius Doss, WR Ke’Shawn Williams

Indiana had something of a cheat code in the transfer portal, as Curt Cignetti was able to bring a handful of players with him from James Madison. And it worked, as they proved they were ready for the big stage en route to the best season in Indiana history.

But Indiana’s best addition didn’t come from James Madison, as Rourke brought 34 starts-worth of experience from Ohio. He threw for 3,042 yards at Indiana and was one of the best quarterbacks in the conference. Many of his weapons came via the transfer portal as well, including three of his top four pass-catchers in Price, Sarratt and Williams.

Indiana’s two best players on defense, Kamara and Ponds, came from the portal as well. Kamara will be back in 2025 after registering 10 sacks last season.

Illinois

Notable additions: WR Zakhari Franklin, CB Torrie Cox, OT J.C. Davis, DL Dennis Briggs, OT Melvin Priestly, CB Terrance Brooks

Illinois was one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten, finishing 10-3 and beating South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl. Bret Bielema has the Fighting Illini in a good place going forward, but it all started with some big additions in the portal in 2024.

On offense, Illinois made two key additions in the trenches, getting starting tackles Davis and Priestly to protect Luke Altmeyer. Both are back for another year as well. Franklin served a big role as well, as he was the second leading receiver for the Illini, securing 55 passes for 652 yards and four touchdowns.

As has been characteristic for Illinois, defense was once again the team’s identity. The defense included a pair starters from the portal, in Briggs and Cox Jr. Briggs had 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks, while Cox had three interceptions. Cox will be back in 2025 as well.

Washington

Notable additions: QB Will Rogers, RB Jonah Coleman, WR Jeremiah Hunter, CB Ephesians Prysock, TE Keleki Latu, IOL D’Angelo Titialii, QB Demond Williams

Much like Indiana, Jedd Fisch was able to bring several players with him from Arizona for his first season in Washington. Chief among them was Coleman, who ran for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season in Seattle.

The Huskies also landed Rogers via the portal, and he opted to stick with Washington even after Kalen DeBoer left. It was a rocky road for Rogers, but his veteran presence was helpful for a program in transition and for Williams, who will take over at quarterback in 2025.

In addition to Rogers, the offense was helped by Titialli, who started all 13 games at center, and Latu, who had 371 receiving yards.