The spring transfer portal window is closed.
The Nico Iamaleava drama – which led to the quarterback transferring from Tennessee to UCLA – was the highly-publicized move in this window – which lasted from April 16-25. It led to questions about the true intent of the transfer portal – is it a device to re-negotiate Name, Image and Likeness contracts? Iamaleava and his brother Madden are at UCLA, but the fallout from those transfers continues.
That was not the only piece of drama, however. What is going on with North Carolina? Bill Belichick did not talk much about the Tar Heels in an interview with "CBS News Sunday Morning." The Tar Heels have a roster overhaul in progress that is not all that different that does not look all that different from Colorado in its first year with Deion Sanders.
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Also, the curious case of Jaden Rashada continues at a new destination. Here are the winners and losers from the spring transfer portal:
Winners
Penn State
The Nittany Lions are among the national-championship favorites, and Drew Allar is considered one of the top quarterbacks for the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, Allar adds another receiver via the portal in Syracuse's Trebor Pena, who had 84 catches for 941 yards and nine TDs last season. Pena is an excellent possession receiver who caught 50% of his targets on passes of 10 yards or more for the Orange, according to Pro Football Focus. Pena joins Troy transfer DeVonte Ross and USC transfer Kyron Hudson. That trio will be the not-so hidden key to Penn State's national championship hopes.
UCLA
Sure, it was a sopa opera, but the Bruins did get Nico Iamaleava in the transfer portal. UCLA quarterbacks have averaged 12.3 interceptions per season the last three years, and the Bruins are 22-16 in that stretch. It is a run that included starters such as Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Dante Moore and Ethan Garbers. Iamaleava has NFL-caliber talent — and he could be drafted higher than DTR in 2026. Second-year coach DeShaun Foster has one of the top-five quarterbacks in the Big Ten, and there will be high interest in UCLA this season. When was the last time we said that and meant it?
Joey Aguilar
Aguilar transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA in the winter period, then completed the "trade" when Iamaleava transferred to UCLA. Now, Aguilar – who averaged 3,380 yards, 28 TDs and 12 interceptions for the Mountaineers last season – gets the chance to operate in Josh Heupel's quarterback-friendly offense at Tennessee. The Vols' leading passer averaged 2,888 yards, 24 TDs and four interceptions the last four seasons, and Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton were second-day draft picks. If Aguilar has a breakout season, then he will have a highly-regarded place in this odd chapter of Tennessee lore.
MORE: Why Joey Aguilar is trading schools with Nico Iamaleava
Ohio State
The retention level for the Buckeyes is strong. The defending national champions had one player – long snapper Morrow Evans – enter the spring portal. The Buckeyes kept all three quarterbacks in Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz and Tavian St. Clair. Ohio State also added North Carolina edge rusher Beau Atkinson – who had 7.5 sacks last season. West Virginia tackle Justin Terry – a 6-foot-6, 335-pound tackle from Pickerington Central High School – also transferred to Ohio State in the spring portal, where he will join running back CJ Donaldson, who transferred in the winter portal.
Texas
The Longhorns had 12 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft – and the Longhorns made six additions via the transfer portal. Syracuse defensive tackle Maraad Watson will add to the interior line. Cal tight end Jack Endries had 56 catches for 623 yards and two TDs. Emmett Mosley V had 48 catches for 525 yards and six TDs last season. That adds to a deep receiving room for quarterback Arch Manning.
John Mateer and Jadyn Ott
Mateer - a dual-threat Washington State quarterback who transferred to Oklahoma in the winter portal. Now, Ott, who had 2,597 yards and 24 TDs with the Golden Bears the last two seasons – is his running mate in the backfield. That gives new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle two exciting options in the running game. Combine Ott's 2023 season – where he rushed for 1,315 yards and 12 TDs – and Mateer's 2023 season – where he had 826 yards and 15 TDs – to see the possibilities. They combined to average 5.0 yards per carry in those seasons. Oklahoma will climb up the preseason polls as a result.
Losers
Nico Iamaleava
Who got more negative press in April – Nico Iamaleava or Shedeur Sanders? Iamaleava failed to re-negotiate a NIL deal, ghosted Tennessee on the day before the spring game and ended up at UCLA with a question that will linger until the 2026 NFL Draft. Iamaleava had 2,616 yards, 19 TDs and five interceptions in leading the Vols to a 10-3 record and College Football Playoff appearance last season, but he overestimated his value and Tennessee coach Josh Heupel took a stand. The ensuing mess was predictable, and Iamaleava is the one who will face the long-term criticism. Did Iamaleava see what happened with Sanders over the weekend? That's a signal that NFL teams do not want drama, and Iamaleava's play on the field at UCLA might not be enough.
MORE: How Nico Iamaleava's UCLA NIL package compares to reported offer at Tennessee
Madden Iamaleava
It gets worse. Madden Iamaleava – the younger brother of Nico – decommitted from UCLA and landed with Arkansas in January. Madden Iamaleava transferred back to UCLA to join his brother, and now the Arkansas Edge NIL collective is hiring an attorney to try to get $200,000 in a buyout clause. That is yet another messy situation involving NIL.
North Carolina
Imagine a program that had 31 incoming transfers and 50 outgoing transfers. North Carolina's roster turnover with first-year coach Bill Belichick continues, and the Tar Heels had seven players commit to other schools in the spring portal. That is not getting nearly the same amount of attention as Sanders' first year in Colorado. Linebacker Amare Campbell – who had 76 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season – entered the portal over the weekend. How will Belichick manage the roster overhaul with the Tar Heels in Year 1?
MORE: Bill Belichick's girlfriend shuts down question in awkward CBS interview
Cal
Ott was one of five Cal running backs who entered the transfer portal – which has to be a major headache for coach Justin Wilcox and first-year running backs coach Julian Griffin. The Golden Bears did add NC State's Kendrick Raphael and UTSA's Brandon High Jr. as spring-portal adds that should stabilize that room, but that kind of movement at a positional group is yet another side effect of the transfer portal.
Jaden Rashada
Rashada was the No. 6 quarterback prospect at Pittsburg (Calif.) High School while being recruited by Florida. A botched NIL deal led Rashada to go to Arizona State, where he played in three games and was 44 of 82 (53.7%) for 485 yards, four TDs and three interceptions. He transferred to Georgia and filed a lawsuit against Florida coach Billy Napier. Then, Rashada entered the portal again. Rashada landed with Sacramento State – a program that will elevate from the FCS to the FBS in 2026. It's not the path envisioned for a top-10 quarterback recruit.