Bowl Subdivision rosters are rounding into form with the conclusion of the springtime transfer window, a period defined by Nico Iamaleava’s abrupt departure from Tennessee.
If the biggest story of the spring, Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA was just one of several set to shake up the race for the College Football Playoff. Others include new Penn State receiver Trebor Pena and the Volunteers adding of quarterback Joey Aguilar after his brief stint with the Bruins.
In contrast to the feeding frenzy that is the winter portal window, the spring period is more about plugging specific roster spots that have developed heading into or coming out of offseason workouts.
One good example is the work done this past month by Oklahoma, which brought in one splash target in California running back Jadyn Ott, two potential depth pieces in McNeese State receiver Jer’Michael Carter and Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, a developmental defender in Utah State defensive lineman Ricky Lolohea and a possible new starting kicker in Texas-San Antonio transfer Tate Sandell.
While the transfer window has closed, players will continue to join new programs over the next few weeks. Led by UCLA, Tennessee and Penn State, these are the biggest winners and losers from the spring portal:
Winners
UCLA
The drama and controversy over Iamaleava’s exit from Tennessee has overshadowed the impact his arrival will have on UCLA. After coming up one win shy of bowl eligibility in coach DeShaun Foster’s debut, the Bruins’ addition of Iamaleava pushes them into the second tier of Big Ten teams fighting for seven or more wins during the regular season. While not a finished product after one season as a starter in the SEC, Iamaleava is immediately one of the most proven quarterbacks in the Big Ten and a dramatic upgrade over what UCLA had at the position heading into spring practice.
Tennessee
One of the quarterbacks in the Bruins’ room heading into offseason workouts was former Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, who signed with UCLA during the winter period before swapping spots with Iamaleava and joining Tennessee last month. Aguilar tossed 56 touchdowns against 24 interceptions with another 452 yards and five scores on the ground across two seasons with the Mountaineers, leaving as one of the most productive passers in program history. While not a match for Iamaleava’s athleticism or potential and a bit too turnover-prone this past season, Aguilar has the experience and comfort level in a quarterback-driven scheme to keep Tennessee in the mix for a return to the playoff. That’s a pretty good on-the-fly signing given what the Volunteers lost in Iamaleava and the lack of options in the springtime portal.
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Penn State
Penn State made one of the biggest single moves of the spring in landing former Syracuse receiver Trebor Pena, who seemed destined for Miami once he entered the portal but instead gives the Nittany Lions a huge piece at a position of need. Just think back to the matchup with Notre Dame in the playoff semifinals, when Penn State receivers combined for zero receptions in a brutal loss. One of three transfers at quarterback Drew Allar’s disposal, Pena is an elite move-the-sticks receiver who had 84 grabs for 941 yards in 2024. Given what the Nittany Lions have at quarterback, running back, the offensive line and now out wide, you can see why this team might be the best in the FBS.
Boise State
The defending Mountain West champions did lose former All-America punter James Ferguson-Reynolds, who transferred to Oregon. (The Ducks must’ve admired Ferguson-Reynold’s 68-yard boomer in the Broncos’ narrow loss last September.) But Boise State had one of the biggest wins of the spring with senior defensive tackle Braxton Fely’s decision to return to the program after briefly entering the portal last month. Fely is one of two reigning all-conference picks on the Broncos’ defensive front, along with a rising star in junior edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan. Boise’s spring additions include former Arizona edge Sterling Lane II, one of five transfers set to join the defensive line next season.
Losers
California
No team had as much offensive production hit the portal, especially at running back. A potential starter and at minimum a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Sooners, Ott ran for a combined 2,212 yards in his first two years before dipping to 385 yards in 2024. Counting the winter portal, Ott is one of five backs to leave the program; coach Justin Wilcox added three in return, including former North Carolina State backup Kendrick Raphael. Another huge loss this spring was tight end Jack Endries, who transferred to Texas after pulling down a team-high 56 catches last season.
Stanford
The combination of the spring window and former coach Troy Taylor’s dismissal has left the cupboard even barer for former Stanford quarterback and new general manager Andrew Luck, leaving the Cardinal in the mix for the bottom spot among Power Four teams in the USA TODAY Sports post-spring 1-136 rankings. The biggest departure was senior David Bailey, an elite edge rusher and potential preseason All-America pick who transferred to Texas Tech. Other departures include Maikkula, who should contend for a starting spot on the interior of the Sooners’ offensive line, and new Texas receiver Emmett Mosley V, who led all ACC freshman with 48 catches last year.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin did have a productive dip into the spring portal by reeling in all-conference long snapper Nick Levy from Purdue, an experienced Group of Five offensive lineman in former Central Michigan starter Davis Heinzen and a productive Championship Subdivision tight end in Missouri State’s Lance Mason. But the Badgers also quickly lost two intriguing newcomers in former Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and former Idaho receiver Mark Hamper, who both left the program before the end of spring drills.