Most of the dust from the latest transfer portal window is settling across the country as spring semester and winter workouts began in earnest. Some teams improved the roster and some lost key starters to bigger programs. A closer look at the winners and losers from this round of transfers reveals a startling trend: G5 rosters are under attack. Most of the all-conference players from the six G5 programs in Texas bolted after the season to a Power Four roster if they had extra eligibility. 

WINNNERS 

Texas Tech Red Raiders 

The Red Raiders signed arguably the best transfer portal class in the whole country, especially when factoring in what left. Texas Tech signed 17 players, including 10 four-star recruits, while only losing one four-star or above player and that was former five-star receiver Micah Hudson, who has already stepped away from the Texas A&M football team after transferring to College Station. 

Joey McGuire’s program took major steps to revamping a defense that struggled in 2024. First, they hired former Houston defensive coordinator Shiel Wood. Then, they added star cornerbacks Dontae Balfour (Charlotte) and Tarrion Grant (Purdue) alongside defensive tackle Lee Hunter (UCF) and edge rusher Romello Height (Georgia Tech). The offense took steps to replace Tahj Brooks’ production at running back with fellow Manor product Quinten Joyner (USC). The offensive line was bolstered with the additions of Hunter Zambrano (Illinois State) and Will Jados (Maryland). 

Texas A&M Aggies 

Mike Elko is reinforcing the roster through the transfer portal ahead of Year 2 in Aggieland. The incoming class is smaller than last year’s at only 14 additions, but there are a few instant contributors on the list, especially at the skill positions on offense. The Aggies needed better weapons out wide for Marcel Reed, so they added Hudson (Texas Tech), Mario Craver (Mississippi State), Jonah Wilson (Houston), and KC Concepcion (NC State) at wide receiver and Amari Niblack (Texas) and Micah Riley-Ducker (Auburn) at tight end. 

Texas A&M lost a pair of NFL edge rushers to the draft in Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton. To bolster the pass rush in 2025, Elko signed T.J. Searcy (Florida), Dayon Hayes (Colorado), and Samuel M’Pemba (Auburn). They also signed cornerbacks Julian Humphrey from Georgia and Jordan Shaw from Washington. 

Houston Cougars 

Willie Fritz is replacing both coordinators while improving the roster in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail ahead of Year 2 in Third Ward. The prize signing was Conner Weigman, a former five-star quarterback who was a two-year starter at Texas A&M despite battling injuries throughout his career. He is from nearby Cypress Bridgeland and should improve the Coogs offense right away. Running back Dean Connors from Rice and wide receivers Harvey Broussard (Louisiana) and Amare Thomas (UAB). The Cougars also signed multiple offensive linemen, including Dalton Merryman (Texas Tech) and Alvin Ebosele (Baylor). 

SMU Mustangs 

No team in Texas utilizes the transfer portal more effectively than the Ponies under head coach Rhett Lashlee. They hope a trip to the College Football Playoff allows access to even better personnel over the coming years. SMU signed 14 transfer portal players while only losing three. One of those losses was quarterback Preston Stone (Northwestern), who lost his starting job to Kevin Jennings early in the 2024 season. The defensive line was reinforced with Terry Webb (Texas State) and Jeffrey M’Ba (Purdue). The secondary added a few playmakers, including cornerback Marcellus Barnes (Syracuse) and safety (Robert Rahimi (San Diego State). SMU fortified the quarterback room with veteran Tyler Van Dyke (Wisconsin) and dipped back into the Miami pipeline for offensive tackle Zion Nelson and running back Christopher Johnson). 

LOSERS

North Texas Mean Green 

For the second year in a row, North Texas’ leading passer, rusher, and receiver left Denton in the transfer portal. Quarterback Chandler Morris is headed to Virginia, wide receiver D.T. Sheffield is headed to Rutgers, and running back Shane Porter took a scholarship offer at UTEP. Stud freshman offensive lineman Tyler Mercer transferred to Kansas and tight end Oscar Hammond is off to Oklahoma State. 

The good news for the Mean Green is that Eric Morris proved his club can weather those storms on the offensive side of the ball. They didn’t miss a beat offensively despite a similar line change following the 2023 season. And the defense should be better. New defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity arrives from Sam Houston and brought many of his better players from Huntsville, including defensive lineman Briceon Hayes, linebacker S’Maje Burrell, and cornerback David Fisher. 

Texas State Bobcats 

The Bobcats must replace most of its production on both sides of the ball after losing numerous star players to graduation or the transfer portal. Quarterback Jordan McCloud and wide receiver Joey Hobert are out of eligibility, while running back Ish Mahdi transferred to Arizona. Offensive tackle Alex Harkey left for Oregon and defensive lineman Terry Webb is now at SMU. The Bobcats must also replace wide receiver Kole Wilson (Baylor) and cornerback Joshua Eaton (Michigan State). In all, Texas State lost 10 starters to the Power Four level. The quarterback battle in the spring should be fun considering G.J. Kinne dipped into the portal for Gevani McCoy (Oregon State), Holden Geriner (Auburn) and Nate Yarnell (Pitt).

Sam Houston Bearkats 

Coaching changes are hell on rosters in the new era of college football. K.C. Keeler left Sam Houston for the Temple job after the season while defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity moved to North Texas. A large group of players also contributed to the mass exodus by entering the transfer portal. Eight of those transfers are now at North Texas with Cassity. Star safety Caleb Weaver is at Duke and stud edge rusher Chris Murray is at Auburn. Running back Jay Ducker followed Keeler to Temple. The addition of quarterback Mabrey Mettauer from Wisconsin is intriguing.