ACC, SEC Benefit from Transfers Between Leagues

Players shifting between the two power conferences often stay close to home in the overlapping Southern footprint.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college football game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the official team colors of the ACC and SEC schools mentioned in the story.The fluid movement of top college football talent between the ACC and SEC showcases the competitive recruiting landscape in the shared Southeastern region.Greensboro Today

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) are seeing an influx of transfers moving between the two leagues, with players often seeking to stay closer to home within the shared Southern region. High-profile examples include running back Jahmyr Gibbs leaving Georgia Tech for Alabama, and receiver Keytaon Thompson playing two seasons at Virginia after three at Mississippi State. Coaches from both conferences note the natural draw of the regional recruiting base and the desire for players to return home.

Why it matters

The transfer movement between the ACC and SEC highlights the ongoing evolution of college football, with players leveraging the expanded transfer portal to find new opportunities closer to home. This trend benefits both conferences by allowing them to add talented players who can make an immediate impact, while also reflecting the competitive recruiting battles for top prospects in the shared Southeastern states.

The details

Several notable transfers have occurred between the ACC and SEC this offseason, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs leaving Georgia Tech for Alabama, receiver Tyler Harrell going from Louisville to Alabama, and running back Tiyon Evans transferring from Tennessee to Louisville. Other moves include defensive end Jared Ivey going from Georgia Tech to Ole Miss, running back Henry Parrish Jr. moving from Ole Miss to Miami, and receiver Tayvion Robinson transferring from Virginia Tech to Kentucky.

  • The 2026 college football season is set to feature many of these high-profile transfers between the ACC and SEC.

The players

Jahmyr Gibbs

A running back who transferred from Georgia Tech to Alabama after ranking third in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game.

Keytaon Thompson

A receiver who has played two seasons at Virginia after spending three seasons at Mississippi State in the SEC.

Geoff Collins

The fourth-year head coach at Georgia Tech, who has seen both players leave his program and others join via the transfer portal.

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What they’re saying

“'I think it is kind of a natural move.'”

— Keytaon Thompson, Virginia receiver

“'There's a (base) about five, five-and-a-half-hour radius of your campus that you focus on in recruiting. I think the same thing happens in the transfer portal as well, but then you expand that because they might have gone at a distance and now they want to come back home for whatever reason. I don't think that's too uncommon.'”

— Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech head coach

What’s next

As the 2026 season approaches, college football fans will be closely watching to see how the latest wave of ACC-SEC transfers perform and impact their new teams.

The takeaway

The growing trend of players transferring between the ACC and SEC reflects the competitive nature of college football recruiting in the shared Southeastern region. Both conferences are benefiting from this player movement as they look to add talented players who can contribute immediately and stay close to home.