Gone are the old days of the Big 12 Conference. Just a handful of the original 12 remain after another round of conference realignment. A familiar face returned as the Colorado Buffaloes jumped ship from a sinking Pac-12 to return to where it all started in 1996.
Coach Prime and the Buffs seem to command the headlines these days, especially in Big 12 country. They aren’t the only team looking to fill the void left by the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns exit to the SEC. There are four new teams who join after the conference also added four other teams prior to the 2023 season. Among the new teams that will could lead the charge are the Utah Utes.
As is the case every offseason prior to and after spring football, the transfer portal has been a major tool for reshaping ones roster. No one has done more with the portal than the Buffs, but they aren’t the only ones improving their rosters. These five teams were the clear winners of the portal this offseason.
1
Colorado Buffaloes
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Who else would we have at the top spot other than Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. They had an impressive offseason with raiding the transfer portal. The team has added a total of 40 players to the roster, while saying goodbye to another 41. The roster needed to add quality depth in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Mission accomplished by Coach Prime.
Notable Transfers:
- Quency Wiggins, DL: LSU Tigers
- Preston Hodge, S: Liberty Flames
- Tyler Johnson, IOL: Houston Cougars
- Will Sheppard, WR: Vanderbilt Commodores
- Dallan Hayden, RB: Ohio State Buckeyes
For more on the Buffs, check out Colorado Buffaloes Wire
2
Utah Utes
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It is a new era of football for the Utah Utes as they join the Big 12 after the Pac-12 imploded down the stretch of the 2023 season. The team gets starting quarterback Cam Rising back, who led them to back-to-back conference titles before a horrific knee injury sidelined him in 2023. This year the team added some quality weapons for Rising to throw to.
Notable Transfers:
- Dorian Singer, WR: USC Trojans
- Taeshaun Lynons, WR: Washington Huskies
- Carsen Ryan, TE: UCLA Bruins
3
TCU Horned Frogs
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After a dream season that ended with a trip to the CFP national championship in 2022, last season had to feel like a nightmare for Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs. They struggled to win three games in conference play with a myriad of issues down the stretch going just 2-4 in the second half of the season and missing out on the postseason. Dykes took to the portal to try and address some of their issues.
Notable Transfers:
- Braylon James, WR: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- NaNa Osafo-Mensah, DL: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Ken Seals, QB: Vanderbilt Commodores
- Drake Dabney, TE: Baylor Bears
4
UCF Knights
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Last season the UCF Knights looked like a team that could contend with the big boys of the Big 12 but that train derailed early in the season for Gus Malzahn. The team lost five straight games as they opened conference play. It was better down the stretch but the season ended with losses in two of the final three games. As we march closer to the 2024 season, the Knights welcome 27 new faces to the roster. Will it be enough to do better than 3-6 in Big 12 play? Only time will tell.
Notable Transfers:
- Agiye Hall, WR: Texas Longhorns
- Evan Morris, TE: Michigan State Spartans
- Ja’Varrius Johnnson, WR: Auburn Tigers
- K.J. Jefferson, QB: Arkansas Razorbacks
- Tre’Quon Fegans, CB: USC Trojans
5
Houston Cougars
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Outside of defying the NFL’s cease and desist letter, the Houston Cougars were making waves on the recruiting trails. The newest head coach, Willie Fritz, added a total of 27 transfers thus far with one player rated as a four-star commit. Linebacker Corey Platt Jr. of Tulane followed his head coach to H-Town in an attempt to turn around the program.
Notable Transfers:
- Corey Platt Jr, LB: Tulane Green Wave
- Mekhi Mews, WR: Georgia Bulldogs
- J.D. Rhym, CB: Auburn Tigers
- Zeon Chriss, QB: Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
- Jayden York, TE: Texas Tech Red Raiders
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/transfer-portal-big-12-winners-colorado-buffaloes/