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Gus Malzahn Retiring from Coaching
Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is retiring, according to On3Sports. The 60-year-old has been coaching at the collegiate level since 2006 after a decade-long run at the high school level and has had great success as an offensive coordinator and head coach. Malzahn was famously Auburn's offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011 and helped lead the Tigers to a 2010 National Championship with quarterback Cam Newton. Across 13 seasons as a head coach with Arkansas State, Aubrun, and UCF, he compiled a 105-62 record and finished as the National Champion runner up in 2013. As Florida State's play-caller in 2025, he led the Seminoles to the No. 1 total offensive in the ACC (472.1 PPG).
Source: On3.com
Source: On3.com
Texas Lands Wake Forest Transfer Sterling Berkhalter
Wake Forest wide receiver transfer Sterling Berkhalter has signed with Texas, according to Pete Nakos of On3. The rising sixth-year senior spent two seasons at North Carolina A&T before one year at Cincinnati and one year with the Demon Deacons. Last year, he set career highs in receptions (30), receiving yards (416), and receiving touchdowns (two). He'll join a talented WR room headlined by Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, and he'll help improve last year's offensive unit, which did not meet expectations under first-year starter Arch Manning.
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Michigan RB Bryson Kuzdzal Withdrawing from Transfer Portal
Michigan running back Bryson Kuzdzal, who entered the transfer portal on January 5, has decided to come back to the Wolverines program, according to On3's Pete Nakos. The Michigan native is entering his redshirt junior season after seeing his first action in 2025. In nine games last season, he tallied 336 total yards and four touchdowns on 80 touches. The 20-year-old is likely to work in a committee backfield alongside Jordan Marshall and Oklahoma transfer Taylor Tatum in 2026 under new head coach Kyle Whittingham. Michigan should be expected to continue to have a strong rushing attack, and if quarterback Bryce Underwood takes a step forward as a sophomore, it will only help its ground game.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi Signs with Michigan
Former Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has officially signed with Michigan, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Fowler-Nicolosi spent the last four years with the Rams, tallying 6,938 passing yards, 51 rushing yards, and 51 total touchdowns in 31 career games. The 22-year-old left the program last October. With Bryce Underwood locked into the starting role, Fowler-Nicolosi is expected to be the Wolverines' backup in 2026. However, should Underwood have to miss any time, Fowler-Nicolosi is a servicable signal caller with tons of game experience.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Darian Mensah Reaches Settlement with Duke, Expected to Land at Miami
Quarterback Darian Mensah and Duke have reached a settlement to allow him to enroll at a new school, according to On3. The University sued the signal-caller after he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, and a judge ruled on a temporary restraining order, allowing Mensah to enter the portal but not enroll at a new school before a preliminary injunction hearing on February 2. The new settlement comes with Duke dropping its suit against Mensah, and he is now expected to land at Miami, along with the Blue Devils' leading receiver Cooper Barkate. With Mensah taking over for Carson Beck in South Florida, the Canes should have a great chance to compete for the ACC Championship and make a second run at the College Football Playoff. Assuming Mensah officially signs with Miami, he'll have plenty of weapons to work with, including a receiver he is already familiar with and stud rising sophomore, Malachi Toney.
Source: On3.com
Source: On3.com
Arthur Smith to Become Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is finalizing a deal to be hired as the next offensive coordinator at Ohio State, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Smith had been interviewing for offensive-coordinator and head-coaching jobs in the NFL this cycle, but he'll head to the collegiate level for at least the 2026 season. The 43-year-old previously coached at the collegiate level with North Carolina and Ole Miss, but this will be the first OC job he's held at the level. It's an odd fit for the Buckeyes on paper, but Smith will have plenty of talent to work with. Before Smith was the OC for the Steelers, he was the Atlanta Falcons' head coach from 2021 to 2023. He will be replacing Brian Hartline, who left Ohio State to take the head-coaching job at South Florida. The last time Smith coached at the collegiate level was in 2010, when he was an administrative assistant and defensive intern at Ole Miss.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Arch Manning Undergoes Foot Surgery
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (foot) underwent minor foot surgery this week, according to Joe Cook of Inside Texas. The rising redshirt junior's procedure is described as a preventive minor surgery to address a previous injury. He will be limited this offseason, but he's expected back for Spring practice. After a tough start to his first full season as a starter, Manning came on late in the year as a passer and rusher. Overall, he tallied 3,163 passing yards, 399 rushing yards, 36 total touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The Longhorns' offensive line left a lot to be desired in 2025, but the program is taking steps to surround Manning with talent this offseason. So far, Texas has received commitments from offensive tackles Melvin Siani (Wake Forest) and Jonte Newman (Texas A&M), offensive guard Dylan Sikorski (Oregon State), wide receiver Cam Coleman (Auburn), and running backs Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State). If Manning can build on his late-season surge with his new weapons in place, he could be looking at a true breakout season in 2026.
Source: Joe Cook - Inside Texas
Source: Joe Cook - Inside Texas
College Football Playoff Expected to Remain a 12-Team Field in 2026
According to On3, the 2026 College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams, as it has over the last two seasons. There were expansion talks this offseason, with the Big Ten wanting 24 teams, and the SEC, Notre Dame, and the other eight conferences wanting 16 teams. The Big Ten and SEC were unable to come to an agreement, so talks have stalled, and a 12-team field will remain. However, there are some changes coming for next season. Starting in 2026, the champion of the Big 4 conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC) will all earn auto-bids. This means Duke would have made the CFP in 2025. Additionally, Notre Dame will be automatically in the field if it is ranked inside the top 12 teams. Expansion of the CFP is likely in the future, but it won't come until at least 2027.
Source: On3.com
Source: On3.com
Princewill Umanmielen Expected to Sign with LSU
Ole Miss star edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen is expected to land at LSU with former head coach Lane Kiffin, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Umanmielen spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Nebraska before joining the Rebels in 2025. In 15 games this season, he tallied 44 tackles (17 solo), 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one pass deflection. He was named a third-team All-SEC performer during his first year in the conference. Heading into his final collegiate season, he should be in for a big year in LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker's defensive system, and he could play his way into an early draft slot in the 2027 NFL Draft if he lives up to the potential.
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Alberto Mendoza Expected to Land at Georgia Tech
Indiana transfer quarterback Alberto Mendoza is trending to land at Georgia Tech, according to On3's Pete Nakos. The rising redshirt sophomore entered the transfer portal one day after the Hoosiers captured the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. Mendoza spent the 2025-26 season as the primary backup to his Heisman-Trophy-winning brother, Fernando. Across 10 game appearances over the last two years, he's tallied 19 completions on 25 attempts for 292 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He rushed 15 times for 187 yards and one score. The Yellow Jackets are tasked with replacing Haynes King this offseason, and backup Aaron Philo followed offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to Florida this offseason. Mendoza might be part of the solution if Nakos' projection is correct. UPDATE: Mendoza has officially signed with Georgia Tech.
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Duke Suing Quarterback Darian Mensah
Duke University is suing quarterback Darian Mensah, according to On3. Mensah announced his intention to enter the transfer portal just before it closed, but Duke is aiming to keep him with the program by filing the lawsuit on Tuesday. "In July 2025 Mensah signed a multi-year contract with Duke University that ends on December 31, 2026, and which provides Duke a number of rights, including exclusive rights throughout the term to Mensah's name, image and likeness ("NIL) with respect to higher education and football," the suit read. The result of this suit could have a major impact on college football moving forward. The former Tulane transfer is entering the second year of his contract with Duke, which reportedly pays him $4 million annually, and his deal prohibits another university from using Menah's NIL.
Source: On3 on X
Source: On3 on X
Alberto Mendoza Entering Transfer Portal
Indiana quarterback Alberto Mendoza plans to enter the transfer portal, according to On3. Mendoza spent the 2025 season as the backup to his brother, Fernando, for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Champion Hoosiers. In two seasons with the program, he tallied 19 completions on 25 attempts for 292 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Indiana has already signed former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover to be its starter in 2026, with the assumption that Fernando Mendoza will enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Alberto Mendoza was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2024. Given his name and ties to the Indiana program, he could see plenty of interest from lower-conference schools.
Source: On3 on X
Source: On3 on X
Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is entering the transfer portal, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. It was announced earlier this offseason that he would return to the Blue Devils for the 2026 season, but it appears that is not the case, as he enters on the final day of the open portal. In one season with Duke, Mensah ranked second in the country in passing yards (3,973). He threw for 34 touchdowns to just six interceptions en route to an ACC Championship Game win. He started as a freshman for Tulane in 2024, totaling 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Thamel reports that Miami, Tennessee, and Ole Miss are schools to watch in his recruitment, with Miami being the early favorite. The 20-year-old is yet another big-time quarterback to enter the portal in this loaded cycle.
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Weber State Signs former Ohio State, Cal Quarterback Devin Brown
According to Transfer Portal on X, former Ohio State and California quarterback Devin Brown has officially signed with Weber State. Brown was a top-50 overall recruit in the Class of 2022, but he has struggled to find his footing at the collegiate level. In three seasons with the Buckeyes, Brown played in 17 games for Ohio State, totalling 27 completions for 331 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He transferred to Cal last season, but he lost the quarterback competition to true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Brown will now play his final collegiate season under new head coach Eric Kyjar in the Big Sky Conference of the FCS.
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Source: Transfer Portal on X
Auburn, Ohio State the Lead Suitors for Kyle Parker
LSU wide receiver transfer Kyle Parker is trending to land at Auburn or Ohio State, according to On3. Parker was a four-star recruit out of Texas in the Class of 2023, but he did not earn significant playing time until his redshirt-sophomore campaign in 2025. After catching just three passes for 55 yards as a freshman, Parker hauled in 31 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns last season. Both Auburn (Cam Coleman) and Ohio State (Carnell Tate) are losing big-time wide receiver talents from last year's squad, so Parker could be an impact player right away for the Tigers or Buckeyes. Auburn has been trending as the team to beat for Parker, but Ohio State is making a late push in the recruitment process.
Source: On3.com
Source: On3.com
