Miami and Indiana's Transfer Portal Players Who Will Decide the National Championship

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Miami and Indiana's Transfer Portal Players Who Will Decide the National Championship

Kyle Wood · Athlon Sports

Wed, Jan 14, 2026 ·

11 min read

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The transfer portal has become an inextricable part of college football , and that holds especially true for the last two teams standing. No. 10 Miami and No. 1 Indiana rely on production from the portal all over their respective rosters. Even as the Hoosiers and Hurricanes prepare for the national championship game on Monday, they are gearing up for a repeat run with an eye on the portal.

Coach Mario Cristobal's Miami teams have historically signed highly rated high school recruiting classes, but the 'Canes have not been shy about bringing in reinforcements at positions of need to assemble a championship-caliber roster. That has included one-year rentals at quarterback, like Carson Beck , who followed in Cam Ward 's footsteps this season.

At Indiana, coach Curt Cignetti wielded the power of the portal to transform a perennial laughingstock into an annual contender. He brought a strong contingent of his James Madison roster with him when he made the move to Bloomington. Those Sun Belt products have more than held their own in the Big Ten . Cignetti has also added impact signal-callers in the portal; Heisman Trophy-winner Fernando Mendoza has the Hoosiers on the cusp of their first title one year after Kurtis Rourke led a breakthrough.

Ahead of Monday's game at Hard Rock Stadium, Athlon Sports broke down the top transfers on both teams and how they wound up at their respective schools.

National Championship Game Impact Transfer Portal Players

Miami quarterback Carson Beck reacts during the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss on Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Arizona.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Miami HurricanesTop Transfers

QB Carson Beck (Georgia)

Beck, a four-star prospect from Florida in the 2020 recruiting class, began his career at Georgia. He backed up quarterback Stetson Bennett IV when the Bulldogs won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 before he took over under center in Athens. Beck went 24-3 as the starter across the next two seasons, but Georgia never reached those same heights. After originally declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck hit the transfer portal and wound up back in the Sunshine State with the Hurricanes for his final season of eligibility.

The move to Miami was a boon for Beck, who was named third-team All-ACC and led his team to the CFP. His 29 touchdowns set a new career high, and he improved his accuracy from his final season with the Bulldogs. Beck was quiet in his first two College Football Playoff outings against Texas A&M and Ohio State , but he came to life against Ole Miss and ran in the game-winning touchdown in the final minute. A win on Monday would put Beck in rare air as a three-time national champion.

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DE Akheem Mesidor (West Virginia)

Mesidor has been in Coral Gables for four seasons, but he started out at West Virginia. The Canadian native finished his high school career in Florida as a three-star before enrolling with the Mountaineers in 2020. He made an immediate impact along the defensive line and was highly sought after when he hit the portal in 2022 ahead of Cristobal's first season back at his alma mater.

The sixth-year redshirt senior is enjoying his best season yet. Mesidor, who leads Miami with 10 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles, was named first-team All-ACC. He's a key part of the 'Canes' dominant defensive line, and Mesidor has elevated his play in the College Football Playoff with 1 1/2 sacks against the Aggies and two against the Buckeyes.

S Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee)

Thomas' addition addressed a clear area of need for the Hurricanes, and he has outperformed expectations. Originally a three-star prospect from Tennessee in the 2021 class, Thomas spent his first two seasons at Middle Tennessee before he transferred to play for the Volunteers.

In 2025, Thomas hit the portal again and landed at Miami. He's been a ballhawk for the Hurricanes with five interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has gotten the most out of Thomas, who was named second-team All-ACC with 3 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year. It was also Thomas who picked off Julian Sayin on Ohio State's final drive in the quarterfinals.

Miami wide receiver Keelan Marion celebrates with teammate CJ Daniels after catching a touchdown pass against Ole Miss during the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Arizona.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

WR Keelan Marion (BYU)

Marion had tepid Power 4 interest as a three-star 2020 prospect from Georgia. He wound up at UConn, where he spent two seasons before he transferred to BYU for his next two. Marion was brought into Miami in the offseason as part of an overhauled wide receiver room. He delivered a breakout season for the Hurricanes.

Marion set career-highs in receptions and receiving yards in 2025, more than doubling his output from his final year with the Cougars. He led Miami against Ole Miss with 114 yards on seven catches, including a 52-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the first half. Marion, who pulls double duty as an honorable mention all-conference kick returner, is second on the team in receptions and receiving yards behind star freshman Malachi Toney.

LB Mohamed Toure (Rutgers)

Toure has been in college even longer than Beck. Originally a 2019 three-star recruit out of New Jersey, he spent the first six years of his collegiate career at Rutgers . After two missed seasons due to injury, the grad transfer elected to spend his final year at Miami playing for a contender.

Toure is the Hurricanes' leading tackler, and he earned All-ACC honorable mention as an every-game starter. He's stayed busy in the CFP, deflecting passes and racking up tackles. Toure had a sack and a tackle for loss against Ole Miss. He's also 2-0 against Indiana in his career dating back to his time with the Scarlet Knights.

C James Brockermeyer (TCU)

Brockermeyer was a four-star prospect from Texas in the class of 2021 whose career began at Alabama. He never started a game for the Crimson Tide and eventually transferred to TCU, where he earned All-Big 12 honors in 2024. Brockermeyer hit the portal again in 2025 and joined the Hurricanes as the starting center for one of the country's strongest offensive lines.

Miami ranks among the national leaders in fewest sacks allowed, and Brockermeyer was named third-team All-ACC. The 'Canes' have done an excellent job of protecting Beck and opening up rushing lanes for Mark Fletcher Jr. — Brockermeyer is quite literally at the heart of that effort.

Other notable transfers:

WR CJ Daniels ( LSU )
DL David Blay Jr. (Louisiana Tech)
S Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State)
CB Keionte Scott ( Auburn )

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates with running back Roman Hemby after a touchdown against Maryland on Nov. 1, 2025, in College Park, Maryland.Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Indiana HoosiersTop Transfers

QB Fernando Mendoza (California)

Mendoza was lightly recruited out of high school in Miami. The 2022 three-star prospect ended up at Cal, the only power conference program that offered him. He was a two-year starter for the Golden Bears and actually played against the Hurricanes in 2024, a 39-38 loss in the Berkeley debut for " College GameDay ."

When Mendoza hit the portal there was a bit more interest in his services. After Kurtis Rourke's departure, Indiana needed a new quarterback. And besides, Mendoza's younger brother, Alberto, was already a Hoosier. The marriage between stoic Cignetti and jubilant Mendoza was beneficial for both sides. Mendoza became the first Heisman Trophy winner in IU history, leading his team to a Big Ten title and shooting up draft boards to the No. 1 slot.

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It took just one season for Mendoza to endear himself to Bloomington. With one more win, which would cap off an undefeated season and capture the Hoosiers' first-ever championship, he'll be a college football legend forever.

CB D'Angelo Ponds (James Madison)

Count Ponds among the JMU contingent who followed Cignetti from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten. He had no issue adjusting to the level of competition. Ponds was a three-star recruit from Florida in the 2023 class who wound up at James Madison, where he quickly made a name for himself.

Fast forward two seasons and Ponds is a two-time first-team Big Ten selection and an All-American, like Mendoza. Ponds is the leader of a secondary that's one of the best in the country at batting down passes and limiting big plays. He also made his presence known on the first play from scrimmage against Oregon when he recorded a pick-six on Dante Moore to put the Ducks in an early hole.

C Pat Coogan (Notre Dame)

Unlike some other Indiana players who didn't have national profiles until their arrival in Bloomington, Coogan was already known from his time at Notre Dame . The 2021 three-star recruit from Illinois was with the Fighting Irish for four seasons, and he started the last two at center — including Notre Dame's first-round CFP game against IU in 2024.

Coogan earning Rose Bowl Offensive MVP is a testament to his impact for the Hoosiers. Indiana was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the top offensive line in college football. Coogan is the heartbeat of a group that has set itself apart against top competition in both run blocking and pass blocking.

5 Reasons Why Indiana Will Beat Miami to Win Its First National Championship

Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher celebrates a fumble recovery against Wisconsin on Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana.© Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

LB Aiden Fisher (James Madison)

James Madison was the only school to offer Fisher, a zero-star 2022 recruit from Virginia. He carved out a role as a starter for the Dukes and followed Cignetti to Indiana in 2024. Now, Fisher, who earned Defensive MVP in the "Granddaddy of Them All," does a little bit of everything for the Hoosiers.

In two seasons at Indiana, Fisher has stuffed the stat sheet, earning first-team All-American and Big Ten honors as the leader of one the best defenses in college football. He's second on the team in total tackles and his play has not tailed off at all in the CFP. Fisher forced a fumble and recorded a sack in the blowout over Alabama. He also brought the heat against Oregon once again with a team-high nine tackles.

WR Elijah Sarratt (James Madison)

Sarratt is a testament to Cignetti's developmental abilities. A zero-star recruit from Maryland, Sarratt kicked off his college career in the FCS at St. Francis in Pennsylvania. A successful season with the Red Flash led to a transfer to James Madison in 2023, Cignetti's last season in Harrisonburg. Sarratt earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors and followed Cignetti to Indiana.

Sarratt fit right in at the Big Ten level, as he instantly became Rourke's go-to target and a bonafide big-play threat. Injuries kept Sarratt from playing a full season in 2025, but he still earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and leads the FBS with 15 touchdowns. Sarratt, who snagged two touchdowns in the Peach Bowl win over Oregon, has scored in nine straight games dating back to September. He ranks third all-time in Hoosiers history in receiving touchdowns with 23 across two seasons.

DL Tyrique Tucker (James Madison)

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Tucker was another zero-star 2022 recruit from Virginia who wound up at JMU. After he redshirted as a freshman, he carved out a role in the Dukes' rotation in 2023. Like Sarratt, Fisher and Ponds, he transferred to IU to follow his coach, a move that worked out well for him and the Hoosiers.

Tucker earned first-team All-Big Ten honors this season, piling up six sacks and leading one of the most fearsome run defenses in college football. Only Texas Tech allows fewer rushing yards per game than Indiana, a point of pride for Tucker and Co. on their path to the national championship.

Other notable transfers:

RB Roman Hemby (Maryland)
TE Riley Nowakowski (Wisconsin)
DL Mikail Kamara (James Madison)
RB Kaelon Black (James Madison)

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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