Brendan Sorsby, the top quarterback in the transfer portal, has signed a letter of intent with Texas Tech, a person with intimate knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. 

Sorsby, who had 36 total touchdowns and 3,380 total yards for Cincinnati in 2025, was being pursued by nearly every major Power conference program looking for a quarterback ― including new LSU coach Lane Kiffin.

Sorsby began his career at Indiana, and spent two seasons (one redshirt) with the Hoosiers before transferring to Cincinnati. He has 82 touchdowns over the past three seasons, and is the dual threat quarterback Texas Tech wanted to replace senior Behren Morton.

The Red Raiders won the Big 12 for the first time in school history in 2025, and were the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff. A limited offense, however, was exposed in a 23-0 loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal.

Texas Tech billionaire booster Cody Campbell and his partners at Double Eagle Development spent $25 million on the 2025 roster, and Campbell told USA TODAY Sports on Jan. 1 they would “double down” on that investment for the 2026 season.

Sorsby is a critical beginning to the investment. He has thrown for 7,208 career yards, and 60 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,305 yards and 22 touchdowns.   

The college football transfer portal opened Friday, Jan. 2, and players are flying off the shelf. The portal runs through Jan. 16, with an extra five-day window (Jan. 20-24) for teams playing in the national championship.

We’ll keep you posted with daily live updates of portal commitments.

Transfers by conference: SEC | Big Ten | ACC | Big 12

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATE.

Today’s transfer portal commitments

QB

Alonza Barnett III: James Madison to UCF
Rocco Becht: Iowa State to Penn State
Cutter Boley: Kentucky to Arizona State
Jaden Craig: Harvard to TCU
Drew Dickey: Vanderbilt to Arkansas State
Billy Edwards Jr.: Wisconsin to North Carolina
Josh Hoover: TCU to Indiana
Katin Houser: East Carolina to Illinois
Colton Joseph: Old Dominion to Wisconsin
Lincoln Kienholz: Ohio State to Louisville
Alex Manske: Iowa State to Penn State
Mason McKenzie: Saginaw Valley State to Boston College
Kenny Minchey: Notre Dame to Nebraska
Aaron Philo: Georgia Tech to Florida
Jaylen Raynor: Arkansas State to Iowa State
Brendan Sorsby: Cincinnati to Texas Tech
Marcelis Tate: South Florida to Tennessee State

RB

David Avit: Villanova to Arizona State
Landen Chambers: Central Arkansas to UCF
Bill Davis: Louisiana to Virginia Tech
Jalen Dupree: Colorado State to Kansas
Jerrick Gibson: Texas to Purdue
Carson Hansen: Iowa State to Penn State
Caleb Hawkins: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Makhi Hughes: Oregon to Houston
Jekai Middlebrook: Middle Tennessee to Virginia
Turbo Richard: Boston College to Indiana
Abu Sama: Iowa State to Wisconsin
JaQuali Smith: Sacramento State to Colorado

WR

Karon Brookins: Iowa State to Penn State
Tychaun Chapman: Southern Miss to Memphis
Miles Coleman: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Brett Eskildsen: Iowa State to Penn State
RJ Garcia II: Bowling Green to FAU
Jayden Gibson: Oklahoma to South Carolina
Jackson Harris: Hawaii to LSU
Cody Jackson: Tarleton State to Iowa State
Marquis Johnson: Missouri to Mississippi State
Jalen Jones: Alabama State to Texas Tech
Donte Lee: Liberty to Texas Tech
Terrence Lewis: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Nick Marsh: Michigan State to Indiana
Christian Neptune: South Florida to Auburn
Kory Pettigrew: South Florida to Auburn
Jahmari Powell-Wonson: Maryland to FAU
Shamar Rigby: Oklahoma State to Wisconsin
Danny Scudero: San Jose State to Colorado
Victor Snow: Buffalo to NC State
Prince Strachan: USC to West Virginia
Raiden Vines-Bright: Washington to Arizona State
Wyatt Young: North Texas to Oklahoma State

TE

Richie Anderson: Fresno State to Texas A&M
Gabe Burkle: Iowa State to Penn State
Jayvontay Conner: East Carolina to Vanderbilt
Hayden Hansen: Florida to Oklahoma
Jacob Harris: Bowling Green to Wisconsin
Nate Kurisky: Louisville to Duke
Ryan Schwendeman: Southern Illinois to Wisconsin
Michael Smith: South Carolina to Syracuse
Mason Williams: Ohio to Ohio State

OL

Xavier Bausley: West Virginia to Marshall
Trevor Buhr: Iowa State to Penn State
Malachi Breland: Memphis to Arkansas
Nicholas Cruji: Maine to Charlotte
Johnny Dickson: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Coen Echols: LSU to Texas A&M
Valen Erickson: NC State to Liberty
Shadre Hurst: Tulane to Houston
Toriyan Johnson: UConn to Colorado State
Austin Kawecki: Oklahoma State to Wisconsin
Maasai King: Akron to Iowa State
Kuol Kuol II: Iowa State to Penn State
Desmond Magiya: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Logan Moore: UAB to Baylor
Ben Murawski: UConn to Michigan State
Braydon Nelson: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Netinho Olivieri: Penn to Pitt
Sione Perkins: Iowa State to Northern Arizona
Gavin Proudfoot: Northern Iowa to Iowa State
Connor Stroh: Texas to Kansas
Drew Terrill: Miami (Ohio) to Houston
Andrew Threatt: Charleston Southern to North Carolina
Will Tompkins: Iowa State to Penn State
Bennett Warren: Tennessee to Minnesota
Brady Wayburn: UConn to UCF
Christian Young: Emory & Henry College to Southern Miss

DL

Demetrius Ballard: Buffalo to Boston College
Justus Boone: Arkansas to Wisconsin
Ahmad Breaux: LSU to Kentucky
Josh Burnham: Notre Dame to Indiana
Blake Burris: SMU to FAU
Alijah Carnell: Iowa State to Penn State
Esean Carter: Toledo to UConn
Christian Davis: Louisiana Tech to SMU
Malachi Davis: Toledo to Rutgers
Ian Geffrard: Arkansas to Texas
Nate Henrich: Gannon to San Diego State
Carter Janki: Penn to Illinois
Daniel Jennings: Penn State to Virginia Tech
Lamont Lester Jr.: Monmouth to Colorado
Jonathan Maldonado: Nevada to Ole Miss
Dylan Manuel: Appalachian State to Colorado
Andrew Marshall: Eastern Michigan to Minnesota
Ryan McCulloch: Cal to UCLA
Antonio O’Berry: Gardner Webb to Kentucky
Tobi Osunsanmi: Kansas State to Indiana
Chidera Otutu: UTSA to Cincinnati
Khamani Potts: Grand Valley State to Colorado State
Kevin Roberts: West Florida to James Madison
Wisdom Simms: North Carolina Central to Purdue
Eamon Smalls: UAB to Kansas
Jordan Walker: Rutgers to Georgia Tech
Landyn Watson: Kentucky to Kansas
Solomon Williams: Texas A&M to Cal

LB

Caleb Bacon: Iowa State to Penn State
Cael Brezina: Iowa State to Penn State
Nylan Brown: Kent State to Washington State
Deven Bryant: Washington to USC
Ray Coney: Tulsa to Texas A&M
Kooper Ebel: Iowa State to Penn State
Jon Jon Kamara: Kansas to Wisconsin
Isaiah Patterson: UNLV to West Virginia
Austin Romaine: Kansas State to Texas Tech
Montreze Smith: Austin Peay to Iowa State
Keaton Thomas: Baylor to Ole Miss
Tavion Wallace: Arkansas to Kentucky

DB

Khalil Barnes: Clemson to Georgia
Tawfiq Byard: Colorado to Texas A&M
MJ Cannon: Bowling Green to Cincinnati
Nehemiah Chandler: South Alabama to Florida State
Tyran Chappell: UConn to Michigan State
Caleb Chester: Texas to Arizona State
DJ Coleman: Baylor to Florida
Jay Crawford: Auburn to Ole Miss
Jameel Croft Jr.: Kansas to Charlotte
Keshawn Davila: Arkansas to Kansas State
Zahmir Dawud: Villanova to Rutgers
Sharif Denson: Florida to Ole Miss
Christian Ellis: Virginia Tech to Virginia
Caleb Flagg: Missouri to UCF
Dylan Flowers: Western Kentucky to Duke
Quinton Hammonds: North Texas to Oklahoma State
Christian Harrison: Cincinnati to Arkansas
Anthony Hawkins: Villanova to Iowa
A’Mon Lane-Ganus: Auburn to South Florida
Kyon Loud: Montana to Duke
Darius Malcolm Jr.: Wofford to Memphis
Nateen Mitchell: New Mexico State to Colorado
Qua Moss: Kansas State to Tennessee
Marcus Neal: Iowa State to Penn State
Anthony Rogers: Nicholls State to Tulane
Jiquan Sanks: Cincinnati to Indiana
Hasaan Sykes: Western Carolina to Kentucky
Jaylen Thomas: San Jose State to Washington State
Devin Vaught: Maine to Michigan State
DJ Waller Jr.: Kentucky to Louisville
Keyon Washington: Bowling Green to Iowa State
Jontez Williams: Iowa State to USC
Lavon Williams: East Texas A&M Commerce to Illinois
Preston Zachman: Wisconsin to Indiana

K

Braeden McAlister: Georgia State to Arkansas
Max Gilbert: Tennessee to Arkansas
Eli Ozick: North Dakota State to Iowa
Gianni Spetic: Memphis to Texas

P

Mac Chiumento: Florida State to Texas

LS

Hudson Powell: Miami (Ohio) to Auburn
Dalton Riggs: UCF to Ohio State

College football 2026 transfer portal dates: When does transfer portal open, close?

The portal period now runs from Jan. 2-16, with an extra five-day window (Jan. 20-24) for teams playing in the national championship. The spring portal window in April is no longer a part of the schedule, so January is the only open window for teams to add via the portal in 2026.

The USA’s quarterfinal ouster means the world junior hockey championship will have a new champion.

And Canada’s loss to Czechia in Sunday’s semifinal means North America’s six-year run is also over.

Sweden (2012) and Czechia (2001) will look to end long gold medal droughts at the tournament for the world’s best under-20 players when they face off in Monday’s championship game (8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

Sweden got past Finland 4-3 in a shootout, avenging a loss in last year’s semifinal. Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg had a goal and an assist and Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Anton Frondell scored the shootout winner.

Czechia ended Canada’s gold medal hopes for the third year in a row with a 6-4 victory, a wild back-and-forth game that saw Canadian Michael Hage awarded back-to-back penalty shots. Czechia’s Vojtech Cihar scored twice and Tomas Poletin had the winning goal go in off his skate.

Canada and Finland will play for the bronze medal on Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Canada vs. Czechia highlights

Medal games

Monday’s schedule at the world junior championships:

Bronze medal: Canada vs. Finland, 4:30 p.m. ET

Gold medal: Sweden vs. Czechia, 8:30 p.m. ET

Best players

Canada – Tij Iginla, Zayne Parekh, Sam O’Reilly

Czechia – Adam Jiricek, Petr Sikora, Tomas Galvas

Final score: Czechia 6, Canada 4

Czechia will advance to the gold medal game against Sweden. This is the third year in a row that the Czechs have beaten the Canadians in the playoffs. Canada will face Finland for the bronze medal.

Gavin McKenna out of game

He receives two minutes for abuse of officials, plus a misconduct.

Czechia scores empty-netter

Vojtech Cihar gets his second goal of the game. Canadian players are furious. Czechia 6, Canada 4

Canada penalized

Cole Reschny is called for goalie interference.

Czechia retakes lead

The puck goes in off Tomas Poletin’s skate with 1:14 left. It’s reviewed and the goal is upheld. Czechia 5, Canada 4.

Canada’s Porter Martone ties game

The captain scores off a rebound with 2:41 left. Canada 4, Czechia 4

Czechia power play

Gavin McKenna is called for cross-checking. It was reviewed for a possible five minutes, but was ruled to be only two minutes. But the penalty ends early when the Czechs are called for too many on the ice, so it will be 4-on-4. Then Michael Misa is penalized for putting his hand on the puck on a faceoff, so it’s 4-on-3. Now we’re back to 5-on-5.

Czechia retakes the lead

Vojtech Cihar enters the zone with speed, fights off a check and roofs a shot to give Czechia the lead with 10:11 left. Czechia 4, Canada 3

Cole Reschny ties game for Canada

Reschny makes a power move to the front of the net and ties the game at 3:59. Canada 3, Czechia 3

Third period underway

3-2 Czechia. Winner will face Sweden in the gold medal game.

End of second: Czechia 3, Canada 2

Czechia goes ahead early in the second period and dominates play. Canada tuns it around to tie the game, but a late turnover leads to a last-minute goal by Adam Benak and a Czech lead. Michal Hage gets two penalty shot attempts and has also hit the post three times in the game.

Czechia retakes lead

The Czechs take advantage of a Canada turnover and break into the zone. Max Curran makes a great pass to Adam Benak for the score with 42 seconds left in the second period. Czechia 3, Canada 2

Michael Hage awarded penalty shot

He’s slashed on a breakaway. Hage is tripped by the goalie on the shootout attempt, so he goes again. He tries the same move, but is stopped. Still 2-2.

Canada ties it up

Zayne Parekh scores. It’s the defenseman’s 11th point of the tournament. There’s still power play remaining. Canada 2, Czechia 2

Canada power play

Petr Sikora is called for slashing and Tomas Poletin is called for delay of game. Two-man advantage for 1:39:

Canada pressing

After being outplayed early in the period, Canada is started to press. Shot counter is not moving, however.

Czechia save

Michal Orsulak stops Tij Iginla in tight. Porter Martone tries to go for the rebound and is wrestled to the ice.

Brady Martin injury update

He won’t return to the game, TSN reports. Big loss for Canada.

Czechia takes the lead

The Czechs pin Canada in its own end and the puck eventually comes to Adam Titlbach, who gives Czechia its first lead of the game. Czechia 2, Canada 1

Second period underway

Czechia has a carryover power play, but it’s over. Canada’s Brady Martin is not on the bench, per TSN.

End of first: Canada 1, Czechia 1

Their first meeting at the tournament featured 12 goals. This is more of a defensive battle. But the action picked up late as Canada’s Tij Iginla and Czechia’s Max Curran swap goals. Canada’s Brady Martin is shown grimacing on the bench after a collision.

Czechia power play

Jett Luchaenko is called for cross-checking after he’s shoved into Czech goalie Michal Orsulak. Jack Ivankovic stops Adam Novotny twice and the power play will carry over into the second period.

Max Curran ties it for Czechia

Curran is left alone in front and he scores off a rebound of a Tomas Galvas shot. Canada 1, Czechia 1

Tij Iginla scores for Canada

The Canadians look dangerous on the power play. Michael Hage has a great chance. Later, Michael Misa feeds Tij Iginla for the opening goal at 15:14. Canada 1, Czechia 0

Canada power play

Tomas Poletin is called for goaltender interference. Canada has the best power play in the tournament.

Midway through first

Defensive battle so far. Czechia leads 3-2 in shots.

Canada vs. Czechia underway

Goalies are Canada’s Jack Ivankovic vs. Czechia’s Michal Orsulak.

Canada-Czechia lines

Canada vs. Czechia rivalry

Czechia ousted Canada the last two years in the quarterfinals. Canada beat Czechia in the 2023 gold-medal game.

When is Canada vs. Czechia?

The game is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Next up

Canada and Czechia will play in the second semifinal to determine the other gold-medal game opponent.

Sweden vs. Finland highlights

Final score: Sweden 4, Finland 3 (SO)

Sweden is heading to the gold medal game for the second time in three years.

Sweden wins in eighth round of shootout

Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scores to send Sweden to the gold-medal game. They’ll play the Canada-Czechia winner.

Shootout round five

Jack Berglund scores to extend shootout.

Shootout round four

Victor Eklund and Jasper Kuhta stopped

Shootout round three

Ivar Stenberg and Emil Hemming stopped.

Shootout round two

Anton Frondell stopped. Matias Vanhanen scores. 1-0 Finland

Shootout round one

Sweden’s Viggo Bjorck stopped as is Finland’s Leo Tuuva.

Shootout delay

They’re scraping the ice again.

Team Sweden will shoot first

Five-round shootout, then sudden death rounds if tied.

We’re going to a shootout

Finland hits the crossbar

There’s 32 seconds left in the power play.

Finland power play

Viggo Bjorck is called for slashing. Finland won last year’s game on an overtime power play.

Sweden chance

Petteri Rimpinen stops Viggo Bjorck for another time on an overtime breakaway.

Overtime so far

There’s 4:32 left. Good chances on either side.

Overtime underway

It’s 10 minutes of 3-on-3 sudden death before a shootout, if needed.

End of third: Sweden 3, Finland 3

2 minutes left

Tied 3-3.

Finland ties it up

Joona Saarelainen scores on a rebound of an Arttu Valila shot with 5:59 left to tie the game.

Sweden power play

Sweden on power play because of earlier call on Leu Tuuva. Sweden gets three shots but Finland kills it off. Petteri Rimpinen robs Jack Berglund.

Finland power play

Ivar Stenberg is called for tripping. Finland 0-for-2 so far. Finland gets chances but power play ends when Leo Tuuva is called for slashing.

Third period underway

3-2 Sweden. Winner goes to the gold-medal game. Loser plays for bronze.

End of second: Sweden 3, Finland 2

Two more strange goals in that period. Finland ties it up on a Sweden own goal and Sweden goes ahead after Petteri Rimpinen gets his stick stuck in the mesh after making a save. Shots are 20-15 Finland.

Finland pressure

The Finns hit the crossbar and two Swedish players break their sticks as Finland applies pressure late in the period. But Swedish goalie Love Harenstam dives out to cover the puck.

Sweden retakes lead on bank shot

Petteri Rimpinen is out of position with his stick stuck in the mesh after he make a save on Eddie Genborg. Genborg then banks in the puck off the goalie. Another strange goal in this game. Ivar Stenberg gets an assist for his second point of the game. Sweden 3, Finland 2

Finland ties it up on own goal

It’s an own goal as the puck comes off the glass and Swedish defenseman Alfons Freij puts it in off his goaltender as he tries to clear. Finland’s Jasper Kuhta get credit for the goal. Sweden 2, Finland 2

Sweden takes lead

Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg scores through a screen on a delayed penalty. Sweden 2, Finland 1

Second period underway

Score is tied 1-1.

End of first: Sweden 1, Finland 1

The start of the game was nearly disastrous for Finland. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen misplayed a puck for a Sweden goal at 36 seconds. Then Sweden went on a power play 16 seconds later. Finland killed that off and settled down. They got a tying goal with 3:34 left in the period. Finland-Sweden games tend to be tight, and that’s the case again. Finland leads in shots, 11-7.

Finland ties it up

Atte Joki takes a pass atop the right faceoff circle, gets into better position and beats a screened Love Harenstam for the tying goal. Sweden 1, Finland 1

Finland power play

Felix Carell is called for delay of game for putting the puck over the glass. Sweden kills it off. Finland gets two shots and lead 8-4 in shots for the game.

Finland power play

Casper Juustovaara is called for slashing. Sweden kills it off.

Sweden power play

Heikki Ruohonen is called for tripping at 52 seconds. Finland gets a big kill, allowing no shots.

Sweden takes early lead

Linus Eriksson flips a shot toward the net and it goes in at 36 seconds as Petteri Rimpinen appears to misplay it. Sweden 1, Finland 0

Lucas Pettersson update

Sweden’s Lucas Pettersson is missing the game because he’s ill.

Sweden vs. Finland game underway

It’s Sweden’s Love Harenstam vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen in net.

What channel is Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time are Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET (3:30 and 7:30 local time)

The Sweden-Finland game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET and Canada-Czechia will start at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors hockey semifinals: How to watch, stream

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships semifinals today

Jan. 4

All times p.m. ET

Sweden 4, Finland 3 (OT)

Czechia 6, Canada 4

Sweden has powerful power play

Sweden’s power play is connecting at 45% in the tournament, second only to Canada (47%).

Sweden vs. Finland lineups

Sweden players to watch

Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell has five goals and seven points. Forward Jack Berglund (Flyers) and defenseman Alfons Freij (Jets) also have seven points. Forward Ivar Stenberg is expected to be a top draft pick in June. He has two goals and five points at the tournament.

Finland players to watch

Forward Heikki Ruohonen (Flyers) has two goals and six points. So does defenseman Lasse Boelius (Ducks). Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen (Kings) has played every minute of the tournament.

Sweden vs. Finland rematch

Sweden and Finland played in the 2025 semifinal, and Finland skated off with a 4-3 overtime victory. Benjamin Rautiainen scored the winner from a bad angle on the power play. Konsta Helenius, a Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, had four assists in the game.

As evidenced by the 2025 College Football Playoff final four, quarterback play is extremely important to win a national championship.

All four finalists ― Indiana, Oregon, Ole Miss and Miami ― used the NCAA transfer portal to find their ‘franchise quarterback’ to guide them to the semifinal round of the CFP bracket. That’s why the position will be just as important this offseason for filling out a future CFP berth.

CFP semifinalists like Indiana and Miami need a QB for the 2026 season, while Oregon could be in the market, depending on Dante Moore’s NFL draft decision. Penn State, Florida and LSU are three teams with coaching changes in need of a new signal caller.

And of course, don’t discount another Trinidad Chambliss committing to a program as a potential backup and emerging as a superstar, as Chambliss has during Ole Miss’ run to the CFP semifinal.

Here’s a look at our tracker for the top quarterbacks in the portal this season, according to the 247 Sports Transfer Portal Rankings.

1. Sam Leavitt

Old team: Arizona State
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

Leavitt is the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 transfer portal rankings. He threw for 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2025.

2. Brendan Sorsby

Old team: Cincinnati
New team: Texas Tech
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

The Cincinnati QB is the No. 2 overall player in the portal, as well as the No. 2 QB. Sorsby is expected to be one of the most impactful players in the portal this cycle. He has totaled 5,613 passing yards, 1,027 rushing yards and 63 total touchdowns in two seasons with the Bearcats. Sorsby will take the baton from Behren Morton under center for the Red Raiders.

3. Drew Mestemaker

Old team: North Texas
New team: Oklahoma State
Eligibility remaining: 3 years

Mestermaker opted to follow his North Texas football head, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State. He led the Mean Green to a 12-2 record during the 2025 college football season and to the American Conference Championship game.

4. Dylan Raiola

Old team: Nebraska
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

Raiola suffered a season-ending broken right fibula against USC in early November, but should be ready to contribute to his next team in 2025. The former 5-star QB was originally committed to Georgia before flipping to have an opportunity to play as a freshman with the Cornhuskers.

5. Josh Hoover

Old team: TCU
New team: Indiana
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

Hoover has been entrenched as the Horned Frogs’ starting QB since his redshirt freshman season, making 31 straight starts for TCU. He has 9,629 career passing yards and 71 passing touchdowns, which lead all returning QBs in 2026. However, he needs to cut down on his turnovers, with 33 career interceptions thrown.

6. Rocco Becht

Old team: Iowa State
New team: Penn State
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

Like Mestemaker, Becht followed his former head coach, Matt Campbell, to his new destination at Penn State. He has made 39 career starts and could be someone to plug in right away in the Big Ten and play well.

7. DJ Lagway

Old team: Florida
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

Lagway seemed to be the player who would save Billy Napier and the Florida program. However, following an injury-plagued 2025 season, Lagway is in the portal following Napier’s firing and the hiring of Jon Sumrall.

8. Byrum Brown

Old team: USF
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

Brown could follow his head coach, Alex Golesh, from USF to Auburn. He has been the perfect fit in Golesh’s offense with an FBS-best 42 touchdowns during the regular season. With 32 career starts, Brown is one of the most experienced QBs in the portal this cycle.

9. Deuce Knight

Old team: Auburn
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 3 years

Despite showing flashes of his potential for Auburn, Knight is in the portal and will play for a new team in 2026, with Alex Golesh taking over as the head coach. Knight finished 17-of-25 passing for 259 yards with two touchdowns and added 13 rushes for 178 yards and four scores as a true freshman.

10. Kenny Minchey

Old team: Notre Dame
New team: Nebraska
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

Minchey completed 20 of 26 passes for 196 yards and rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown as the backup to CJ Carr after losing the QB competition this season. The redshirt sophomore could likely step in as a starter at Nebraska, who needs to replace Dylan Raiola.

11. Aidan Chiles

Old team: Michigan State
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

Chiles has never lived up to the promise he showed as a freshman with Oregon State, but he did show flashes with Michigan State under Jonathan Smith. He is in a prove-it year in his final year of eligibility and could still prove to be a good addition.

12. Beau Pribula

Old team: Missouri
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

The 2025 season was a trying one for Pribula, but he showed off his talent and toughness. He led Missouri to a 5-0 start behind 1,941 and 17 total touchdowns, but suffered a dislocated left ankle. Pribula returned in less than a month from the injury and started the final two games for the Tigers.

13. Colton Joseph

Old team: Old Dominion
New team: Wisconsin
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

The Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year committed to Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 4. He threw for 2,624 yards and 21 touchdowns, while adding 158 rushes for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns, for the Monarchs in 2025.

14. Aaron Philo

Old team: Georgia Tech
New team: Florida
Eligibility remaining: 3 years

In two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Philo has made just eight career appearances, but has shown flashes as Haynes Kings’ backup. However, with offense coordinator Buster Faulkner leaving for the Gators, Philo will continue his career in Gainesville, Florida.

15. Austin Simmons

Old team: Ole Miss
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

Simmons began the 2025 season as the starter for Ole Miss, but lost his spot not due to poor play, but because of the emergence of Trinidad Chambliss following an injury to Simmons. The left-hander is expected to stick with Ole Miss for its playoff run before heading to Missouri.

16. Ethan Grunkemeyer

Old team: Penn State
New team: TBD
Eligibility remaining: 3 years

The redshirt freshman stepped into a starting role following a season-ending injury to starter Drew Allar. He started the final seven games, which included four straight wins to end the season. Grunkemeyer finished his first year with 1,341 passing yards, nine total TDs and four interceptions.

17. Lincoln Kienholz

Old team: Ohio State
New team: Louisville
Eligibility remaining: 2 years

Kienholz competed with freshman Julian Sayin for the starting position for the Buckeyes this past season. However, with Sayin’s strong season, the path for Kienholz is closed. He committed to Louisville and playing for coach Jeff Brohm on Jan. 3.

18. Cutter Boley

Old team: Kentucky
New team: Arizona State
Eligibility remaining: 3 years

Cutter Boley committed to Arizona State on Jan. 3 and will be in line to replace Sam Leavitt. As a redshirt freshman in 2025, he threw for 2,160 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Boley started the final 10 games for Kentucky this season.

19. Katin Houser

Old team: East Carolina
New team: Illinois
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

The former Michigan State QB threw for 3,300 yards with 28 total TDs and 10 turnovers and led ECU to an 8-4 record. With his performance with the Pirates, he will to return to the Big Ten for his final year of eligibility at Illinois, replacing Luke Altmyer.

20. Jaden Craig

Old team: Harvard
New team: TCU
Eligibility remaining: 1 year

The Harvard star threw for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2025. Over his career, he has been a 24-game starter with 6,074 career passing yards with 63 career total touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He could prove himself for the NFL with a strong performance in the Power 4 conferences. He’ll replace Josh Hoover, who entered the portal and committed to Indiana.

The Las Vegas Raiders are No. 1 − and former owner Al Davis would doubtless be sick about it.

But the Silver and Black’s current Commitment to Excellence unfortunately extends only to summiting the apex of the 2026 NFL Draft order, the Raiders clinching − for lack of a better term − the spot Jan. 4 when the New York Giants, who cruised past Las Vegas 34-10 in Week 17, defeated the Dallas Cowboys in their regular-season finale. The Giants’ victory locked the Raiders into the league’s worst record, even though they improved to 3-14 by beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. But Las Vegas’ .538 strength of schedule, the weakest among the four 3-14 clubs, kept it in the No. 1 spot.

2026 NFL Draft first-round order

Las Vegas Raiders (3-14, .538 strength of schedule)
New York Jets (3-14, .552)
Arizona Cardinals (3-14, .571)
Tennessee Titans (3-14, .574)
New York Giants (4-13)
Cleveland Browns (5-12, .486)
Washington Commanders (5-12, .507)
New Orleans Saints (6-11, .495)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-11, .516)
Cincinnati Bengals (6-11, .521)
Miami Dolphins (7-10)
Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons (8-9, .495))
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9, .529)
Jets (from Indianapolis Colts (8-9, .538))
Detroit Lions (9-8, .490)
Minnesota Vikings (9-8, .514)

(Note: The Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers will join the list Sunday night. Spots 19 through 32 will be determined by when teams lose in the playoffs.)

Who will the Raiders draft first in 2026?

That will likely be a topic of some debate over the next four months, but Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana University will likely be the prohibitive choice − whether the Raiders use the pick or trade it.

Have the Raiders picked No. 1 overall before?

Yes, the then-Oakland Raiders chose QB JaMarcus Russell No. 1 overall in 2007 in one of the worst draft decisions in NFL history. Who could they have taken instead? Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch and Darrelle Revis all came off the board in the first half of Round 1.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted at potential offseason changes before the team’s final game.
Jones stated it would be inaccurate to solely blame defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for the team’s struggles.
The Cowboys finished with a 7-9-1 record, marking their second consecutive losing season.

Jerry Jones couldn’t even wait for the Dallas Cowboys’ final game to end before he started alluding to potential changes for the upcoming offseason. 

Before the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants, 34-17, on Sunday, Jan. 4, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager held court as is customary in the larger Jones universe. 

“I can make the case that we haven’t had a satisfactory defense for five or six years,” Jones said, via the Star-Telegram. “(It’s) everything. I think you can look back relative to decisions we made three years ago, five years ago and look at why we made some of the decisions we made on coaches. What did we expect from them relative to what we’re doing with our personnel?

“That’s why it’s inaccurate to put this on the evaluation of Eberflus. It really is. I don’t want it to sound like it’s as simple as evaluating Eberflus. It’s much broader than that.’

Dan Quinn, now the Washington Commanders’ head coach, coordinated the unit from 2021-23 and found success. But Jones qualified that the unit struggled to stop the run, in his view. 

Jones is no stranger to shaking things up. In the span of eight months, he traded for George Pickens, traded Micah Parsons away and traded for Quinnen Williams. 

“I think we can do some things to maybe make as dramatic a difference as we could have in a long time,” Jones told reporters. “You can take that either way you want to do it. You can take it because you’re as dissatisfied as you’ve been in a long time. You can say do you really want to evaluate. The good news about this is in many ways, it’s the same motions that you’re evaluating on our staff and how we play defense.”

The USA’s quarterfinal ouster means the world junior hockey championship will have a new champion for the first time since 2023.

Sweden gained a chance to win for the first time since 2012 when it defeated Finland in the early semifinal 4-3 in a shootout. Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg had a goal and assist and Chicago Blackhawks draft pick scored the shootout winner.

The Swedes’ opponent will be Canada or Czechia, who are facing off in the night game in what has become a big rivalry.

The Czechs have ousted Canada in the playoffs the past two years and Canada knocked off Czechia in the 2023 final. Canada won the team’s preliminary round meeting 7-5 but forgot to do a handshake line and Porter Martone patted a Czech player on the behind after he scored an empty net goal.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates on Sunday’s world junior championships semifinals. Follow along:

Canada vs. Czechia underway

Goalies are Canada’s Jack Ivankovic vs. Czechia’s Michal Orsulak.

Canada-Czechia lines

Canada vs. Czechia rivalry

Czechia ousted Canada the last two years in the quarterfinals. Canada beat Czechia in the 2023 gold-medal game.

When is Canada vs. Czechia?

The game is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Next up

Canada and Czechia will play in the second semifinal to determine the other gold-medal game opponent.

Final score: Sweden 4, Finland 3 (SO)

Sweden is heading to the gold medal game for the second time in three years.

Sweden wins in eighth round of shootout

Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scores to send Sweden to the gold-medal game. They’ll play the Canada-Czechia winner.

Shootout round five

Jack Berglund scores to extend shootout.

Shootout round four

Victor Eklund and Jasper Kuhta stopped

Shootout round three

Ivar Stenberg and Emil Hemming stopped.

Shootout round two

Anton Frondell stopped. Matias Vanhanen scores. 1-0 Finland

Shootout round one

Sweden’s Viggo Bjorck stopped as is Finland’s Leo Tuuva.

Shootout delay

They’re scraping the ice again.

Team Sweden will shoot first

Five-round shootout, then sudden death rounds if tied.

We’re going to a shootout

Sweden kills the penalty so we’re heading to a shootout.

Finland hits the crossbar

There’s 32 seconds left in the power play.

Finland power play

Viggo Bjorck is called for slashing. Finland won last year’s game on an overtime power play.

Sweden chance

Overtime so far

There’s 4:32 left. Good chances on either side.

Overtime underway

It’s 10 minutes of 3-on-3 sudden death before a shootout, if needed.

End of third: Sweden 3, Finland 3

2 minutes left

Tied 3-3.

Finland ties it up

Joona Saarelainen scores on a rebound of an Arttu Valila shot with 5:59 left to tie the game.

Sweden power play

Sweden on power play because of earlier call on Leu Tuuva. Sweden gets three shots but Finland kills it off. Petteri Rimpinen robs Jack Berglund.

Finland power play

Ivar Stenberg is called for tripping. Finland 0-for-2 so far. Finland gets chances but power play ends when Leo Tuuva is called for slashing.

Third period underway

3-2 Sweden. Winner goes to the gold-medal game. Loser plays for bronze.

End of second: Sweden 3, Finland 2

Two more strange goals in that period. Finland ties it up on a Sweden own goal and Sweden goes ahead after Petteri Rimpinen gets his stick stuck in the mesh after making a save. Shots are 20-15 Finland.

Finland pressure

The Finns hit the crossbar and two Swedish players break their sticks as Finland applies pressure late in the period. But Swedish goalie Love Harenstam dives out to cover the puck.

Sweden retakes lead on bank shot

Petteri Rimpinen is out of position with his stick stuck in the mesh after he make a save on Eddie Genborg. Genborg then banks in the puck off the goalie. Another strange goal in this game. Ivar Stenberg gets an assist for his second point of the game. Sweden 3, Finland 2

Finland ties it up on own goal

It’s an own goal as the puck comes off the glass and Swedish defenseman Alfons Freij puts it in off his goaltender as he tries to clear. Finland’s Jasper Kuhta get credit for the goal. Sweden 2, Finland 2

Sweden takes lead

Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg scores through a screen on a delayed penalty. Sweden 2, Finland 1

Second period underway

Score is tied 1-1.

End of first: Sweden 1, Finland 1

The start of the game was nearly disastrous for Finland. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen misplayed a puck for a Sweden goal at 36 seconds. Then Sweden went on a power play 16 seconds later. Finland killed that off and settled down. They got a tying goal with 3:34 left in the period. Finland-Sweden games tend to be tight, and that’s the case again. Finland leads in shots, 11-7.

Finland ties it up

Atte Joki takes a pass atop the right faceoff circle, gets into better position and beats a screened Love Harenstam for the tying goal. Sweden 1, Finland 1

Finland power play

Felix Carell is called for delay of game for putting the puck over the glass. Sweden kills it off. Finland gets two shots and lead 8-4 in shots for the game.

Finland power play

Casper Juustovaara is called for slashing. Sweden kills it off.

Sweden power play

Heikki Ruohonen is called for tripping at 52 seconds. Finland gets a big kill, allowing no shots.

Sweden takes early lead

Linus Eriksson flips a shot toward the net and it goes in at 36 seconds as Petteri Rimpinen appears to misplay it. Sweden 1, Finland 0

Lucas Pettersson update

Sweden’s Lucas Pettersson is missing the game because he’s ill.

Sweden vs. Finland game underway

It’s Sweden’s Love Harenstam vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen in net.

What channel is Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time are Sweden vs. Finland and Canada vs. Czechia world juniors hockey semifinals today?

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET (3:30 and 7:30 local time)

The Sweden-Finland game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET and Canada-Czechia will start at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors hockey semifinals: How to watch, stream

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships semifinals today

Jan. 4

All times p.m. ET

Sweden vs. Finland, 4:30

Canada vs. Czechia, 8:30

Sweden has powerful power play

Sweden’s power play is connecting at 45% in the tournament, second only to Canada (47%).

Sweden vs. Finland lineups

Sweden players to watch

Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell has five goals and seven points. Forward Jack Berglund (Flyers) and defenseman Alfons Freij (Jets) also have seven points. Forward Ivar Stenberg is expected to be a top draft pick in June. He has two goals and five points at the tournament.

Finland players to watch

Forward Heikki Ruohonen (Flyers) has two goals and six points. So does defenseman Lasse Boelius (Ducks). Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen (Kings) has played every minute of the tournament.

Sweden vs. Finland rematch

Sweden and Finland played in the 2025 semifinal, and Finland skated off with a 4-3 overtime victory. Benjamin Rautiainen scored the winner from a bad angle on the power play. Konsta Helenius, a Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, had four assists in the game.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog needed help getting off the ice after he crashed into the net during Sunday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Landeskog was reaching for a puck when he lost his balance and slammed into the post early in the second period. The net came off its moorings, but the forward was down on the ice and needed assistance going to the dressing room. He didn’t return to the game.

The Avalanche said Sunday he had an upper-body injury, and coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game that the captain was going to ‘miss some time,’ according to the Denver Post.

Landeskog had missed about three years with a knee injury before returning in the 2025 playoffs. After a slow start this season, he has 22 points in 41 games.

He has been named to the Swedish Olympic team. That’s four injuries in three days for Olympians, following Florida’s Seth Jones (Team USA) at the Winter Classic on Friday, Jan. 2, and Washington’s Tom Wilson (Team Canada) and Colorado’s Devon Toews (Canada) on Saturday.

MILWAUKEE, WI — Jordan Stolz is taking the long view.

Pre-qualified for the Milano Cortina Olympic team in all of his individual races, Stolz opted not to compete in the 1,500 meters Sunday. He lined up and started the race, fulfilling the requirement to finalize his spot at that distance, and then stopped after he took a few steps.

Stolz made the decision after a subpar performance in the 500 meters. Though he won the race, securing his spot at that distance, his time of 34.76 was well off his usual.

‘I wanted to see how my legs would feel today,’ Stolz said. ‘I tested it out in the 500 and it wasn’t a time that I was really too happy with. So I think it’s best just to take rest.’

Stolz is poised to be one of the biggest stars in Milano Cortina, a gold-medal favorite in four individual events. He swept the sprint events — the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters — at the 2023 and 2024 world championships, and won the season titles in all three distances last season.

This season, all Stolz has done is win the 1,000 and 1,500 meters at each of the four World Cups and five of the seven 500-meter races. Oh, he made the podium twice in the mass start, too, an event he just put back in his program after a three-year absence.

But the World Cup schedule took its toll. The four races occurred over a five-week span, and the last was less than four weeks ago. That meant that, after taking a bit of time to recover, Stolz could prioritize either his training or being in peak shape for the Olympic trials.

Wisely, he chose training.

‘The training block that I had before this was one of the best I’ve ever had. And I think that’s why I’m a little tired right now,’ said Stolz, who also picked up a cold earlier in the week.

‘… I think the best (thing) is to just go to the line in the 15, qualify my spot and then take a rest.’

Because it’s the Olympics that matter most, not the Olympic trials.

U.S. Speedskating changed its Olympic qualifying procedures to ensure its best skaters made the team after Erin Jackson almost missed being able to compete in the 500 meters at the Beijing Games.

Jackson, ranked No. 1 in the world in the distance at the time, finished third at the 2022 trials after a stumble at the start. Brittany Bowe, who won the race, relinquished her spot for Jackson, who went on to win gold in the 500 in Beijing.

Now athletes who win medals at the world championships can guarantee their spots ahead of trials by finishing in the top five in the same distance at two World Cups. Anyone who makes the podium at two World Cups is also guaranteed a spot at that distance.

Stolz had met that criteria for the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters after the second World Cup. He also guaranteed his spot in the mass start with two podium finishes, including a win at the last World Cup in Hamar, Norway.

That meant all he had to do was show up at trials. He could secure his spots for Milano Cortina without having to disrupt his training.

‘If I didn’t have this option, I would have had to take a little bit more rest,’ Stolz said. ‘That would have cut (my training block) down to only a week, and it just wouldn’t have been optimal. So being able to do this, now I can get the training in, get some races in. It helps a lot.’

It only makes sense.

The 21-year-old is a rare talent, and he has the chance to win more golds in Milano Cortina than any U.S. Winter Olympian since Eric Heiden, who won five at the Lake Placid Games. That is the goal, not performances at the Olympic trials that, ultimately, no one will remember.

‘I think I’m in a really good spot,’ Stolz said.

The Olympic trials are at the Pettit Center, Stolz’s home ice, and the stands are filled with his family and friends. He appreciates the rare opportunity to race in front of them, and a less-mature athlete might have been swayed by that and tried to put on a show.

But Stolz is as savvy as he is good. Being in peak shape in Milano Cortina is what’s important, and anything that takes away from that simply isn’t worth it.

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MILWAUKEE, WI — Nothing was keeping Brittany Bowe from earning another Olympic spot.

Bowe shook off a slight collision with Greta Myers during a crossover in the 1,500 meters, finishing almost two seconds in front of Myers and securing a spot in a second distance at the Milano Cortina Olympics. Bowe had qualified in the 1,000 meters Saturday.

‘I’m really happy with that race,’ Bowe said. I wanted to open up pretty quick and then just lock in and skate a solid race. I’m really happy with the execution and obviously thrilled about getting another starting position at the Olympics.’

Bowe has already said these Olympics, her fourth, will be her last. She will be 38 next month, and is more than satisfied with what she’s done in her career. ‘Blessed’ is a word she often uses. She’s a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, including in the 1,000 meters in 2022. She still holds the world-record holder in the 1,000 meters. She’s a four-time world champion.

Make no mistake, though, Bowe can still contend with the world’s best. She has been in the top five in both the 1,000 and 1,500 meters at the first four World Cups of the season, and Erin Jackson is the only person who gave her any kind of a challenge at the Olympic trials.

Jackson was the surprise winner in the 1,000 meters Saturday.

‘Competition drives me. Winning drives me. Performing better than expectation drives me,’ Bowe said. ‘I just really have a desire to be the best out there.’

And no one is going to get in her way. Literally.

As the skater in the inside lane, Myers was supposed to yield on their crossover. She didn’t, and the two were close enough that they made contact, with Bowe’s hand knocking Myers’ glasses off.

‘It was just tough how our speeds were aligned at the same time. It’s just unfortunate when that happens,’ Bowe said. ‘When I saw it was close, I actually tried to pick up my speed to go around her … even though it should be the inner lane to yield. But it’s my teammate and I wanted her to go. Unfortunately, we had a little collision.’

Bowe kept going as if nothing happened, and even tried to reassure Myers, one of her teammates in the team pursuit event, after the race. Myers was worried she would be disqualified for interference and, sure enough, she was.

Because it’s a selection event, however, Myers was given the opportunity to do a re-skate. She easily finished with the second-fastest time to earn a spot on the Olympic team.

‘I just told her to refocus and get this re-skate in, because there’s no question that she deserves that second starting position of the Olympics,’ Bowe said.

Emery Lehman and Casey Dawson went 1-2 in the men’s 1,500 meters to join Jordan Stolz in earning spots at that distance. Stolz had pre-qualified through his World Cup results, and opted to begin the race to secure his spot and then stop to conserve his energy.

Now that Bowe is officially on her way to her fourth Olympics, she’ll spend the next month training and trying to stay healthy. She’s at peace with her decision to retire, and doesn’t plan to do anything special or different in the leadup to the Milano Cortina Games.

Well, except decide whether to go to the women’s hockey gold-medal game, which is the night before Bowe’s 1,500-meter race.

Bowe’s longtime partner is Hilary Knight, captain of the U.S. women’s team. Knight has also said these Olympics, her fifth, will be her last.

‘I would love to get there, but I don’t know at this point,’ Bowe said. ‘My family will definitely be there. TBD if I will be there, but I really hope to be.

‘(Knight) wants me in the stands. But at the end of the day, we both know we have to do what’s best for each other,’ Bowe added. ‘But it would be great to celebrate her gold medal the night before I have a chance to do one myself.’

Wait! Is Bowe already calling the U.S. women to win gold?

‘Nothing but. Nothing but,’ Bowe said with a laugh.

The U.S. women are the favorites, having walloped archrival Canada 24-7 in the four Rivalry Series games in the fall. It’s the first time in the tournament’s six-year history that either team has swept the event.

‘It’s been a really fun journey the past four years to be able to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. It’s really been fun for me to be a fan, to be able to go to different Team USA events and not be the one stressed out about having to compete,’ Bowe said. ‘It’s just been so much fun to be able to do this together.’