Big Ten Transfer Portal Rankings: Indiana Leads After Winter Window

Indiana Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti is building a dynasty in Bloomington, and he's doing it largely through the transfer portal.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Big Ten conference saw significant activity in the transfer portal during the recent winter window, with Indiana leading the way by adding 16 new players to its roster. Other notable transfer acquisitions include Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon, and UCLA. The conference is poised to continue its dominance, with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti expressing confidence in the league's future success.

Why it matters

The transfer portal has become an increasingly important tool for college football programs to quickly rebuild and retool their rosters. By aggressively utilizing the portal, Big Ten teams are demonstrating their commitment to staying competitive and maintaining their position as one of the top conferences in the nation.

The details

Indiana Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti has led his team to a national championship victory and is now focused on repeating that success. To that end, the Hoosiers have brought in 16 new players through the transfer portal, including quarterback Josh Hoover (TCU), wide receiver Nick Marsh (Michigan State), and running back Turbo Richard (Boston College). Penn State, under new head coach Matt Campbell, followed suit by adding 22 players from Campbell's former institution, Iowa State. Ohio State took a different approach, focusing on experienced replacements for players who departed via the transfer portal, while Oregon and UCLA also made significant additions to bolster their rosters.

  • The winter transfer portal window recently closed.
  • Indiana Hoosiers won the national championship in 2025.

The players

Curt Cignetti

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers football team, who has led the program to a national championship and is now focused on building a dynasty through the transfer portal.

Josh Hoover

A transfer quarterback from TCU who is expected to replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the leader of Indiana's offense.

Matt Campbell

The new head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who brought in 22 players from his former institution, Iowa State, to help spearhead his new offensive scheme.

Rocco Becht

The transfer quarterback from Iowa State who is expected to lead Penn State's offense under new head coach Matt Campbell.

Tony Petitti

The commissioner of the Big Ten conference, who expressed confidence in the league's continued success following Indiana's national championship victory.

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What they’re saying

“Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done.”

— Curt Cignetti, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers (Associated Press)

“I feel like we're just getting started.”

— Tony Petitti, Big Ten Commissioner (Yahoo! Sports)

The takeaway

The Big Ten's aggressive use of the transfer portal has allowed its teams to quickly rebuild and retool their rosters, positioning the conference to maintain its dominance in college football. This strategy highlights the growing importance of the transfer portal as a tool for program-building and the conference's commitment to staying at the forefront of the sport.