Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
There are still some really big names left in the portal, and teams still have until Wednesday to process any lingering names entering the portal late. For the most part this year’s cycle is over though, so here are some early returns on this year’s superlatives from the SEC.
Best Class – LSU
This one is pretty simple. LSU got more signups than my niece selling girl scouts. Sorry Breighlynne, times are tight. Not at LSU though.
The idea that Lane Kiffin was going to come in and spend right away was never going to surprise anyone. The amount of players he’s landed and the amount of high quality players at that has been astounding. There were 124 players ranked a four star or higher by On3. LSU landed 11 of them. Nearly ten percent of the blue chips in this cycle will play in Baton Rouge next year.
It’s been an incredible run so far for Lane Kiffin, and he has all but sealed the No. 1 transfer portal class for this year. What’s even scarier is that they could still land two players in the portal, both ranked in the top five nationally.
LSU is in the middle of a couple more big swings in the transfer portal.
But that won’t affect the Tigers @CBSSportsCFB “A” grade this transfer class already has.
“The “Portal King” lived up to his name.”#LSU https://t.co/J2DwOFjtaQ pic.twitter.com/KQSJ9r7xZl
— Glen West (@glenwest21) January 19, 2026
Most Impressive Class – Kentucky
Kentucky is a perfect example of a new trend around college football on what a fresh start can look like for a struggling program. Kentucky, by their own admission, spent nearly $22 million on their men’s basketball roster. They then paid a $37.7 million buyout with Mark Stoops. It did not seem like a first time head coach was going to be given the keys to the car with such little experience behind the wheel. That’s exactly what Kentucky has done with Will Stein.
The Wildcats signed 29 players out of the portal as of Monday. That includes 20 Power 4 players and 14 players from SEC schools. They have quietly put together one of the best classes in the country, and could compete in year one of their new coach’s tenure.
I’m fully prepared for Will Stein to have Kentucky randomly in the CFP semifinals within 24 months
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) January 12, 2026
Class Clown – No one
All 16 of the SEC schools ended up in the top 40 of the 247Sports national rankings, and 11 SEC teams finished in the top 25. There was a case to be made for Vanderbilt who finished last in the rankings. There was also a case to be made for Alabama and Tennessee before the final weekend of the portal, but both made significant runs to land several guys at positions of need.
Most Likely to Succeed – Texas A&M
The criteria for this isn’t just the highest ranked class, but more so the most overlooked one that people aren’t talking enough about. That’s Texas A&M.
They were able to reload at several key positions. They lost only 14 scholarship players in the cycle and brought in 18 new players. That includes two former Alabama starters to shore up positions of need at wide receiver and offensive line. They were one of just six schools in the conference to be able to sign more players than they lost, and according to On3 not only did they have the highest ranked class in the conference, they also had the third highest in the country.
On3’s transfer portal rankings (which takes into account players brought in and players lost) currently has Texas A&M ranked as the #1 team in the portal.
Elko and the rest of the coaching staff have been COOKING👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/ZXF2VIfHYQ
— Barstool Texas A&M (@BarstoolTexasAM) January 12, 2026
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