ESPN Ranks College Football's Top 25 Portal Classes From The 2026 Cycle

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1. LSU Tigers
LSU knew hiring Lane Kiffin would invite plenty of scrutiny, but also plenty of big fish in the transfer portal. Kiffin lived up to his reputation as a dealmaker by securing multiple top players in the portal.

Landing quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State was a high-wire act, but the Tigers emerged from the transfer cycle with one of the most dynamic players available and, if all goes according to plan, Leavitt's heir apparent in Husan Longstreet of USC. A cavalcade of new receivers, including Eugene Wilson III (Florida), Jayce Brown (Kansas State), Tre' Brown III (Old Dominion) and Winston Watkins (Ole Miss) should help revamp LSU's passing attack.

Add in Boise State defensive back Ty Benefield, who had the seventh-most tackles (105) among defensive backs nationally in 2025, and some reinforcements along the defensive line, including top-ranked edge Princewill Umanmielen, and the Tigers reloaded about as well as they could have hoped, though their offensive line depth remains a bit murky.

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