Steven Johnson: Big 12 winners and losers in the transfer portal

As we’ve all learned by now, the transfer portal is a game-changer in college football.

You can reshape a whole unit, or in Deion Sanders’ case at Colorado, a whole team in a span of a few months. Reeling in studs from the portal while keeping yours out is now an essential function for every head coach.

The portal was very good to TCU coach Sonny Dykes in his first season as pick ups Josh Newton and Johnny Hodges became all-conference players while others like Alan Ali made it to the NFL after his lone season in Fort Worth.

With so many stars from last year’s national championship runner-up squad gone, Dykes hit the portal hard again and TCU amassed another solid portal class.

Now the question is: How it stacks up against the rest of the conference? Here are six Big 12 winners and loser from portal season:

Winners

TCU

Transfers: 13

Notable acquisitions: JP Richardson, Avery Helm, Trey Sanders, Willis Patrick, JoJo Earle, Dylan Wright

Notable losses: Jordan Hudson, Kyron Chambers

Dykes did it again with another top-20 portal class. The Horned Frogs reshaped their receiver rooms with the additions of Richardson (Oklahoma State), Wright (Minnesota), Earle (Alabama), Jack Bech (LSU) and Jaylon Robinson (Ole Miss). Helm (Florida) was one of the top cornerbacks of the spring while Patrick (Jackson State) held down one of the guard spots.

Richardson was the MVP of the spring while Sanders (Alabama) figures to be one of the top running backs for the Horned Frogs. TCU had plenty of needs in the portal and addressed most of them. Losing Hudson hurts as he was a starter at receiver, but the Horned Frogs have plenty of options to replace him.

Oklahoma

Transfers: 15

Notable acquisitions: Dasan McCullough, Jacob Lacey, Trace Ford, Rondell Bothroyd, Andrel Anthony, Austin Stogner

Notable losses: Theo Wease, Brey Walker, Jaden Davis

The Sooners landed a top-five recruiting and transfer class that should help turn a team around that went 6-7 in Brent Venables’ first season. McCullough (Indiana) was one of the top pass rushers available in the portal while Lacey (Notre Dame) and Ford (Oklahoma State) should help beef up the front seven.

Oklahoma had an impressive six transfers ranked as four stars including defensive lineman Davon Sears (Texas State), Bothroyd (Wake Forest), offensive tackle Walter Rouse (Stanford) and speedster receiver Brenen Thompson (Texas).

Kansas

Transfers: 11

Key additions: Logan Brown, Damarius McGhee, JB Brown, Patrick Joiner

Key losses: Steven McBride, Ky Thomas

The Jayhawks were one of the league’s surprises last year and their transfer portal haul could help them make more noise. Kansas addressed the defensive side with six commitments including McGhee (LSU), Brown (Bowling Green) and Joiner (Utah State). Those are the type of additions that could help Kansas take a leap on defense.

Kansas added a number of offensive linemen including Brown (Wisconsin), who was a five-star recruit in high school. Lance Leipold is also reuniting with running back Dylan McDuffie (Georgia Tech). McDuffie ran for 1,000 yards at Buffalo in 2021 before transferring to Georgia Tech last season.

Losers

Oklahoma State

Transfers: 13

Key additions: Anthony Goodlow, De’Zhaun Stribling, Dalton Cooper, Alan Bowman

Key losses: Spencer Sanders, Trace Ford, JP Richardson, Dominic Richardson, Bryson Green, Jabbar Muhammad, Mason Cobb

As you can tell by the list of losses, the Cowboys were hit hard by the transfer portal. Sanders left Stillwater to potentially be the backup quarterback at Ole Miss. Richardson was the team’s leading rusher while Richardson and Green were two of the Cowboys’ top four receivers. Cobb was one of the team’s top defensive lineman while Muhammad is coming off his best season at corner.

Even with the No. 21 transfer class, Oklahoma State has a lot to replace.

Iowa State

Transfers: 2

Notable additions: Arlen Harris Jr., Zachary Lovett

Notable losses: Tayvonn Kyle

The Cyclones didn’t lose much, but didn’t add much either. Harris (Stanford) had just two carries last season while Lovett (Missouri) played mostly special teams with the Tigers. Kyle was an emerging star at corner in 2019-20, but his role changed the last few seasons.

For a team that finished at the bottom of the Big 12 and lost superstars Will McDonald and Xavier Hutchinson, you would’ve expected Iowa State to be more aggressive.

Cincinnati

Transfers: 15

Notable additions: Emory Jones, Dee Wiggins, Donovan Ollie

Key losses: Jaheim Thomas, Joe Huber, Nick Mardner, Ja’Quan Sheppard, JQ Hardaway, Ben Bryant

With a coaching change, comes attrition and the Bearcats experienced plenty as Luke Fickell departed for Wisconsin. Fickell took four with him to Wisconsin. Thomas (Arkansas) had a breakout season in 2022 while Sheppard was first team All-AAC before moving onto Maryland. Hardaway (Kentucky) was one of the most decorated recruits in program history.

Cincy offset the loss of Bryant (Northwestern) by bringing in Jones (Arizona State). He’s talented, but has just been okay as a quarterback. The Bearcats could struggle in their first season in the Big 12.