Today: Inside the football and basketball portals, Player of the Year watchlist, and the top roster retention wins.

If this email was forwarded to you, please subscribe.

TRANSFER PORTAL

College Football's Transfer Portal: The biggest spenders, highest-paid players & more on the massive NIL battles

Lane Kiffin, Cam Coleman, Sam Leavitt, Curt Cignetti

On3's Pete Nakos spoke with 14 Power Four general managers and NIL personnel staffers to go inside the transfer portal: which programs spent the most, who retained talent at the highest level, which players landed the biggest deals and how the bidding wars took shape. Sources were given anonymity to speak freely about the transfer portal.

"We're going to have multiple rosters over $40 million in college football this season," one Power Four general manager told On3.

Who spent the most? Here is the full list of top spenders.

Read Full Story

TRANSFER PORTAL

Inside college basketball's transfer portal roster moves that started months ago

This year's transfer portal will officially open on April 7th, the day after the national championship game. But many college coaches feel they can't wait that long to begin the process, worried they'll fall behind. Even with rules against tampering, early communication is already happening across the sport.

"You're not going to wait until the portal opens because if you want the kid, other schools are already recruiting him," an ACC coach told On3.

College coaches often communicate through people around the player, rather than contacting them directly. On3's Joe Tipton has the behind-the-scenes details on the upcoming basketball transfer portal.

Read Full Story

🚨Headlines

NCAA BASKETBALL

College Basketball National Player of the Year watchlist: Cam Boozer separates from the field

Cam Boozer, Yaxel Lendeborg, AJ Dybantsa

The race for National Player of the Year in college basketball has remained fluid throughout the season, but familiar names continue to surface. At the top, Duke freshman Cam Boozer has created separation from the rest of the field.

With roughly two-thirds of the season complete and most teams between 23 and 27 games played, the picture is becoming clearer. This week's breakdown features five freshmen, one sophomore, one junior, and three seniors, highlighting both elite veteran production and the impact of an outstanding freshman class. Below is a snapshot of the top 5, but the full watchlist can be viewed here.

1. PF Cam Boozer, Duke

22.6 PPG, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, 58.2% FG, 39.6% 3P

Boozer continues to anchor the race. He recorded his 15th double-double, and fifth in his last six games, in Duke's win over No. 1 Michigan. He leads the ACC in points and rebounds and tops Division I in Player Efficiency Rating (34.9), Win Shares (7.9), and Box Plus/Minus (19.8). His combination of production and efficiency has placed him firmly in the top tier nationally.

2. PF Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

14.6 PPG, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks, 49.8% FG, 30.8% 3P

Lendeborg turned in a 21-point, seven-rebound, three-assist, two-block performance against Duke and remains one of the most versatile bigs in the country. He ranks top-20 in the Big Ten in both steal and block percentage and sits top-10 in offensive and defensive rating. Nationally, he is second in Box Plus/Minus (16.8) and seventh in Win Shares per 40 minutes (.270).

3. SF AJ Dybantsa, BYU

24.9 PPG, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks, 53.3% FG, 36.3% 3P

Dybantsa nearly posted a triple-double with 29 points, 19 rebounds, and nine assists against Iowa State. He leads the nation in scoring while maintaining elite efficiency. The freshman tops the Big 12 in Player Efficiency Rating (29.6), Win Shares (5.4), and Box Plus/Minus (13.2) and ranks top-10 nationally in each metric.

4. PG Braden Smith, Purdue

14.9 PPG, 3.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, 47.5% FG, 41.2% 3P

Smith's value goes beyond counting stats. He is second nationally in assists per game and ranks 17th in Box Plus/Minus (11.9). His 43.7 assist percentage and 3.4 steal percentage underscore his two-way impact, while he continues to shoot over 41 percent from three for a top-10 Purdue team.

5. SF Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

16.4 PPG, 7.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, 47.7% FG, 37.0% 3P

Jefferson has been a steady force for Iowa State on both ends. He ranks 14th nationally in Win Shares (5.1) and 12th in Box Plus/Minus (12.5). In the Big 12, he sits sixth in defensive rating and top-20 in both steal and block percentage, reflecting his all-around influence.

See the full Top 10 watchlist here.

NCAA FOOTBALL

The top roster retention wins ahead of the 2026 college football season

Jadan Baugh, Trinidad Chambliss, Bryce Underwood

In college football's NIL and transfer portal era, it is easy to fixate on which coaches and programs land the biggest additions. But roster retention can be just as impactful. Keeping elite quarterbacks in place may matter even more than adding new pieces.

Here are five of the most significant retention jobs heading into 2026.

1. QB Bryce Underwood, Michigan

Michigan was rocked Dec. 10 when Sherrone Moore was fired for cause amid an inappropriate relationship that became a public spectacle. Beyond the off-field gravity, there were real questions about Underwood's future in Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, a stabilizing presence under difficult circumstances. He retained Underwood, who exceeded expectations as a true freshman despite turmoil behind the scenes. Having a QB in place is critical during a coaching transition, and Underwood could be primed for a breakout season under new leadership.

2. QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU created one of the coaching carousel's biggest soap operas. With Kiffin leaving before the Rebels' College Football Playoff run concluded, Pete Golding gained valuable time to build relationships as the interim leader.

There were questions about Chambliss' eligibility, but a Mississippi judge ruled Feb. 12 that he could return for 2026. That decision keeps one of the early Heisman Trophy candidates in Oxford and gives Golding stability entering his first full offseason as a head coach.

3. QB Dante Moore, Oregon

This is not a traditional retention case because Oregon did not undergo a coaching change. But when a quarterback with top-five NFL Draft potential elects to return, it is significant.

Moore should be viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in college football in 2026. With a loaded roster around him, the Ducks remain firmly in the national title conversation. These types of decisions are rare, though NIL may make them more common.

4. QB Demond Williams, Washington

Earlier this year, it felt like Washington might lose Williams under controversial circumstances. After 48 hours of discussions, head coach Jedd Fisch retained his starter.

Williams is one of the most electric quarterbacks in the country. Entering his second full year as the starter, Washington hopes to build on last season's nine wins. Keeping Williams in Seattle could determine whether Fisch's program takes another leap.

5. QB Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele, Cal

When first-year California head coach Tosh Lupoi joined Andy & Ari On3, he detailed his effort to keep Sagapolutele in the fold. The push included a frantic flight from Northern California to Hawaii without a change of clothes, relying on a Cal alumnus for transportation, making a personal pitch to the quarterback, and even napping on a beach bench in the same suit he wore to his introductory press conference.

It is a throwback recruiting story. Sagapolutele is one of the purest arm talents in the country entering his second year as the starter. After watching Fernando Mendoza leave and win big elsewhere, Cal couldn't afford another quarterback departure.

Read the full story from Ari Wasserman.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

After sitting behind Adrian Peterson and dealing with injuries, I transferred to Georgia Tech and went on to become the first player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons while leading the ACC in rushing back-to-back years.
In 2006, I rushed for over 1,000 yards, had seven straight 100-yard games, helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the ACC Championship Game, and accounted for 12 offensive touchdowns.
Before a 13-3 win over Clemson in 2007, my pregame speech went viral years later. I finished my career with 3,365 rushing yards at Georgia Tech before going on to the NFL and later becoming a prominent running backs coach.

Answer at the bottom.

SHAREWORTHY