USDA S1 Portal Fever - W3 Update

🏛️ USDA OFFICIAL PORTAL TOP 250 REPORT

Week 3 Update | Two Advances Remaining

We have reached the point where the Transfer Portal is no longer theoretical.

Players are committing. Boards are narrowing. NIL is being deployed. Some programs have already banked major additions, while others are sitting on recruiting classes that could change dramatically over the final two advances.

There are really three races happening simultaneously:

1. Who is actually winning the Transfer Portal?
2. How much will the portal reshape the overall recruiting rankings?
3. Who finishes with one of USDA’s coveted Top-5 overall classes?

For reference, the Portal Top 250 breaks down as:

5★ — #1-9
4★ — #10-203
3★ — #204-250

And importantly, the overall EA class ranking is cumulative. The portal is being added onto the recruiting foundation these teams already built. That means a team can have an incredible portal and still not finish with a Top-5 overall class — and a team with a dominant HS class does not have to win the portal to remain near the top.

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💰 THE PORTAL RACE RIGHT NOW

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Before projecting anything, we already have a leader.

🥇 TEXAS A&M — CURRENT #1 PORTAL CLASS

3 commits | 3 four-stars | 59.40 Portal Points

Texas A&M deserves considerably more recognition than it has gotten in the projection conversation.

The Aggies have already turned three of their portal recruitments into commitments:

#18 — committed
#39 — committed
#116 — committed

That has produced the current #1 transfer class in USDA at 59.40 points.

And they’re not finished.

A&M remains involved with:

#21 — Texas A&M / Ole Miss
#37 — Texas A&M / Colorado
#84 — Texas A&M / Oklahoma
#181 — Texas A&M

That’s a very important distinction.

A&M doesn’t presently have one of the remaining five-stars on its board, so it probably doesn’t have the same ultimate portal ceiling as Texas, Oklahoma, LSU or Ohio State.

But A&M has already done something those programs haven’t:

They’ve closed.

Three Top-116 four-stars are already signed, including two inside the Top 40.

If A&M wins #21 and even one of #37/#84, this could become one of the deepest premium four-star portal classes in the league.

This is exactly how you win a portal without chasing only the nine five-stars.

Portal status: CRUSHING IT.

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🥈 NEBRASKA — 44.65

Nebraska currently sits second in the transfer rankings with three commitments.

Their committed group isn’t as top-heavy as A&M’s — one four-star, one three-star and one two-star — but Nebraska has a massive closing board.

The Huskers are sitting on:

#7 Kodi Greene — battle with Ohio State
#12 — Nebraska
#78 — Nebraska
#104 — Nebraska
#118 — Nebraska / Colorado
#120 — Nebraska / BYU
#190 — committed
#220 — Nebraska
#244 — Nebraska
#249 — committed

The entire Nebraska portal changes if they win #7.

Landing Greene would give Nebraska a five-star centerpiece on top of considerable volume.

Even without him, there are enough four-star opportunities here to construct a very large portal class.

Portal status: Huge volume potential.

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🥉 MICHIGAN — 39.80

Michigan has two four-star portal commits already:

#86 — committed
#201 — committed

But the Wolverines’ entire portal headline is sitting at #3 overall.

Zion Elee — Ohio State vs Michigan

Michigan also remains involved with:

#25 — Michigan / Ole Miss
#89 — Michigan / Oregon
#150 — Michigan
#176 — Michigan / Washington

This is one of the clearest boom-or-good portal profiles.

Michigan already has a respectable floor.

Win Elee and #25? Suddenly we’re talking about one of the best classes in the portal.

Lose Elee and it’s still productive — just not transformative.

Portal status: One five-star battle away from exploding.

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LSU — 39.80 CURRENT, BUT LOOK OUT

LSU is technically tied with Michigan in current portal points with two four-star commitments.

That’s misleading.

This board is enormous.

LSU currently sits strongest with:

#6 Kelvin Obot — 5★
#51 — 4★
#85 — 4★
#119 — 4★
#134 — 4★
#154 — 4★
#226 — 3★

Already committed:

#107 — 4★
#185 — 4★

And battles remain at:

#14 — Arkansas / LSU
#188 — OSU / LSU / FSU
#196 — LSU / Notre Dame
#202 — LSU / Ohio State

This might be the best complete portal board in USDA.

It has a five-star.

It has high four-stars.

It has middle four-stars.

It has volume.

And LSU isn’t dependent on winning every contested battle.

Even an average close should produce an excellent haul.

A great close could produce the #1 portal class and #1 overall class simultaneously.

Portal status: Probably the most complete board in the country.

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🔥 THE OTHER PROGRAMS MAKING SERIOUS NOISE

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OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma currently has just one portal commitment reflected in the transfer rankings:

#24 — committed

That puts OU only ninth in the current portal standings.

Do not be fooled by that.

Look at what remains:

#2 Jared Curtis — Miami / Oregon / Oklahoma
#9 Jordyn Adams — Oklahoma
#17 — Oklahoma
#50 — Oklahoma
#54 — Oklahoma / Georgia
#63 — Oklahoma
#84 — Oklahoma / Texas A&M
#105 — Oklahoma / Tennessee
#109 — Oklahoma
#112 — Oklahoma / Colorado

This is a monster closing board.

Oklahoma may be sitting ninth in committed portal points today and finish first.

The biggest fork is obvious:

Jared Curtis.

If OU lands #2, it gives the Sooners two Top-9 portal five-stars when combined with projected #9 Jordyn Adams.

Even if Curtis goes elsewhere, Oklahoma can still build one of USDA’s deepest four-star hauls.

Portal status: Sleeping giant.

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TEXAS

Texas may have the most top-heavy portal board in USDA.

#1 Drew Mestemaker — Texas
#8 Linkon Cure — Texas
#41 — Texas

Then:

#4 Bralan Womack — Texas / Notre Dame / Oregon
#29 — Notre Dame / Texas

There isn’t LSU-level volume.

But if Texas lands Mestemaker and Cure, that’s already two of the nine five-stars available in the entire portal.

Win Womack too?

That’s three of the Top 8 portal players.

Nobody needs an explanation for what that would mean.

Texas is probably the program most likely to make its portal class look modest numerically while being absolutely devastating in terms of talent acquisition.

Portal status: Highest-end star hunting operation.

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OHIO STATE

Ohio State has arguably the most consequential pair of contested recruitments remaining:

#3 Zion Elee — Ohio State / Michigan
#7 Kodi Greene — Ohio State / Nebraska

And underneath those:

#11 — Ohio State
#20 — Ohio State / Pitt
#38 — Ohio State
#115 — Ohio State / Tennessee
#117 — Ohio State
#188 — OSU / LSU / FSU
#202 — LSU / OSU
#238 — Ohio State

Their final portal class could look wildly different depending on those first two decisions.

Win neither: still good.

Win one: excellent.

Win both?

Ohio State may finish with the most impressive top-three portal haul outside Texas.

Portal status: Highest variance among the major contenders.

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ALABAMA

Alabama has one enormous piece sitting right in front of it:

#5 Malik Autry — Alabama

Then:

#19 — Notre Dame / Alabama
#43 — Penn State / Alabama
#46 — Alabama
#246 — Alabama / Charlotte

This is not a volume board.

It’s a precision board.

Autry gives Alabama one of the nine elite portal prospects. If they add #19 and #43, this class starts looking very different very quickly.

Portal status: Quality-over-quantity close.

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FLORIDA STATE

Florida State might win the unofficial award for most names still alive on a board.

FSU is involved with:

#16
#26
#35
#59
#68
#88
#99
#108
#139
#156
#159
#169
#188
#213
#227

That’s absurd volume.

There isn’t currently a Top-9 five-star in the FSU group, so their portal class probably won’t have the headline punch of Texas or Ohio State.

But fifteen meaningful targets create a very real opportunity for Florida State to produce one of the deepest four-star classes in the league.

Portal status: Volume king candidate.

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GEORGIA

Georgia is quietly all over the Top 100:

#31 — Georgia
#49 — Georgia
#54 — Oklahoma / Georgia
#57 — Georgia
#58 — Georgia
#65 — UCLA / Georgia
#76 — Georgia / Miami
#87 — Arkansas / Georgia
#100 — Georgia / Tennessee

Then #135, #174 and #227 deeper into the pool.

Georgia doesn’t have a five-star target on this board.

But a sweep anywhere close to the current leaders would create a huge four-star haul.

The Bulldogs’ current overall class ranking of #23 means they’re too far back for a Top-5 overall run, but the portal itself could be a major success story.

Portal status: Under-the-radar four-star accumulation.

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WASHINGTON

Washington is another team quietly everywhere:

#22 — USC / Washington
#32
#47
#70
#74
#126
#176
#182
#191

The Huskies aren’t threatening the national overall Top 5, but they could climb substantially from their current #19 overall ranking.

Portal status: Quietly productive.

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📈 CURRENT TRANSFER CLASS STANDINGS

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The actual commitments already recorded tell an interesting story:

1. Texas A&M — 59.40
3 commits | 3 four-stars

2. Nebraska — 44.65
3 commits | 1 four-star, 1 three-star, 1 two-star

T-3. Michigan — 39.80
2 commits | 2 four-stars

T-3. LSU — 39.80
2 commits | 2 four-stars

5. Florida — 34.85
2 commits | 1 four-star, 1 three-star

6. Auburn — 34.85
2 commits | 1 four-star, 1 three-star

7. Vanderbilt — 29.85
2 commits | 2 three-stars

8. North Texas — 29.85
2 commits | 2 three-stars

9. Oklahoma — 20.00
1 commit | 1 four-star

10. Georgia Tech — 20.00
1 commit | 1 four-star

That gives us one of the most important themes of Week 3:

The current portal standings and the projected final portal standings could look almost nothing alike.

A&M deserves the flowers for being #1 right now.

But Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio State, Alabama and Notre Dame are still sitting on enormous unresolved pieces.

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⚔️ THE RECRUITMENTS THAT WILL DEFINE THE PORTAL

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#2 Jared Curtis

Miami / Oregon / Oklahoma

Three programs, three totally different implications.

Oklahoma winning him could help decide the overall #1 class.

Oregon winning him dramatically raises the ceiling of the current #12 overall class.

Miami winning him gives a current #13 overall class the signature acquisition it needs.

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#3 Zion Elee

Ohio State / Michigan

This isn’t just a portal battle.

This is potentially a Top-5 overall recruiting class battle.

OSU currently #5. Michigan #7.

One elite player may create separation between them.

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#4 Bralan Womack

Texas / Notre Dame / Oregon

Potentially the single most consequential recruitment left.

Notre Dame currently sits #2 overall.

Texas sits #9 but already projects #1 and #8.

Oregon sits #12.

Womack could strengthen an existing Top-2 class, complete a ridiculous Texas five-star haul, or trigger a huge Oregon rise.

⸻

#7 Kodi Greene

Ohio State / Nebraska

Ohio State wants to protect a Top-5 class.

Nebraska wants to turn its giant portal budget and current #2 transfer class into a signature haul.

Huge recruitment.

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#14

Arkansas / LSU

LSU does not need this one.

That’s what makes their board so dangerous.

If they win it anyway, it’s another premium piece on top of an already loaded class.

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#19

Notre Dame / Alabama

This could have direct implications for two programs fighting around the national Top 5.

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#21

Texas A&M / Ole Miss

This one deserves more attention.

A&M already owns the #1 portal class.

Ole Miss currently sits #6 overall.

Whoever wins this four-star directly strengthens one class while denying another program trying to break into the Top 5.

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#22

USC / Washington

This is USC’s highest remaining portal target.

For a team trying to defend the #1 overall class, that makes this far more important than the ranking alone suggests.

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🏆 CURRENT OVERALL RECRUITING RANKINGS

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The national board currently reads:

1. USC — 248.95
4 5★ | 13 4★ | 5 3★

2. Notre Dame — 246.20
3 5★ | 15 4★ | 5 3★

3. Oklahoma — 243.60
2 5★ | 19 4★ | 4 3★

4. LSU — 241.95
3 5★ | 14 4★ | 3 3★

5. Ohio State — 239.30
2 5★ | 15 4★ | 5 3★

6. Ole Miss — 236.00
2 5★ | 14 4★ | 4 3★

7. Michigan — 234.60
0 5★ | 20 4★ | 8 3★

8. Alabama — 231.60
2 5★ | 15 4★

9. Texas — 229.50
2 5★ | 12 4★ | 4 3★

10. Penn State — 224.40

Then:

11. Indiana — 215.05
12. Oregon — 212.90
13. Miami — 212.65
14. Texas A&M — 212.05
15. UCLA — 211.25
16. Texas Tech — 211.05
17. Florida — 209.05
18. Georgia Tech — 205.15
19. Washington — 202.70
20. Auburn — 193.35

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📈 WHO IS BEST POSITIONED TO RISE?

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TEXAS — #9

Nobody has more upward potential.

Texas has only 18 players currently counted, so it still has room for premium additions to matter.

And those potential additions are:

#1
#8
Potentially #4
#29
#41

If #1 and #8 hold, Texas should climb significantly.

If Womack joins them, the Longhorns have a legitimate chance to blow straight through the Top 5.

Arrow: ⬆️⬆️⬆️

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LSU — #4

LSU doesn’t have as far to rise.

That’s precisely why they are so dangerous.

They’re already only 7 points behind USC, and there are a huge number of probable additions remaining.

LSU doesn’t require chaos.

They just need their board to close normally.

Arrow: ⬆️⬆️

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OKLAHOMA — #3

OU is only 5.35 points behind USC today.

Jordyn Adams alone strengthens the top of the class.

The enormous four-star board provides depth.

And Curtis would be the accelerator.

Arrow: ⬆️⬆️

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ALABAMA — #8

A current gap of 7.7 points to fifth is absolutely manageable.

Autry is a five-star.

Then Alabama has #19, #43 and #46.

This is a legitimate late Top-5 run.

Arrow: ⬆️

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TEXAS A&M — #14

A&M probably isn’t making a Top-5 overall run from 212.05 with only two advances remaining.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t one of the biggest risers to watch.

They already own the #1 actual portal class, and #21/#37/#84/#181 provide more opportunities.

A&M could finish with a Top-10 overall recruiting class if the close is strong, despite entering Week 3 at #14.

More importantly, they have already established one of the league’s better transfer hauls.

Arrow: ⬆️⬆️

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FLORIDA STATE

FSU isn’t currently visible in the Top 20 screenshot, but the sheer size of its board makes it one of the biggest potential ranking climbers outside the headline national race.

This is a program capable of adding a large collection of four-stars over the final two advances.

Arrow: ⬆️⬆️

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📉 WHO SHOULD BE NERVOUS?

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USC — NERVOUS ABOUT #1, NOT NECESSARILY TOP 5

This remains the correct distinction.

USC has 248.95 points already banked.

That is a major cushion.

Its remaining board:

#22
#83
#129
#131
#145
#171
#219
#232

There’s plenty of talent there.

What USC does not have is a Top-9 five-star.

That creates a scenario where USC continues improving while LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Ohio State or Texas improves faster.

USC losing #1? Very believable.

USC collapsing entirely out of the Top 5? Possible, but requires several teams to close extremely well.

⸻

OLE MISS — #6

Ole Miss is only 3.30 points out of fifth.

But compare the remaining board:

#21
#25
#42
#53
#189

Very good.

Now compare that with Ohio State potentially adding #3 and #7 or Texas adding #1 and #8.

Ole Miss can recruit well and still get passed because the teams around them have higher-upside portal pieces.

Risk: High.

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MICHIGAN — #7

Michigan’s 20 four-stars give it a remarkable floor.

The problem is top-end scoring.

That’s why Elee matters so much.

If Michigan wins #3, the class suddenly gains the elite piece it lacks.

Lose Elee, and Michigan is largely relying on more four-star volume to catch teams that already have multiple five-stars.

Risk: Moderate-to-high.

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OHIO STATE — #5

OSU has the best board among the teams around the cut line.

But because #3 and #7 are battles rather than guarantees, the Buckeyes could still swing dramatically.

They are simultaneously:

A threat to finish Top 3.

and

A threat to fall out of the Top 5.

That’s what two unresolved five-star battles will do.

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🏆 THE FINAL TOP-5 RACE

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At this point I would divide it into three groups.

STRONGEST POSITION

USC
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
LSU

I would be surprised if more than one of these four fell out.

THE WAR FOR THE REMAINING SPACE

Ohio State
Texas
Alabama
Ole Miss
Michigan

Those five programs are fighting for what could effectively be one or two openings, depending on whether one of the current top four slips.

EXTREME DARK HORSES

Oregon
Miami

Both would require premium five-star wins plus substantial movement elsewhere.

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🔮 PROJECTED FINAL RANKINGS

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With two advances remaining, and assuming clear leaders generally hold while contested battles split rather than one school sweeping everything:

1. LSU

Current: #4

My pick to finish #1.

LSU has the best combination of an already-elite score, a likely five-star addition, and enormous remaining four-star volume.

They do not need to win every battle.

That’s the critical advantage.

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2. OKLAHOMA

Current: #3

OU should get #9 plus several four-stars.

If Jared Curtis chooses Oklahoma, I would probably flip OU to #1.

Their class already has 19 four-stars, meaning its depth is absurd.

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3. NOTRE DAME

Current: #2

The current class is too strong to ignore.

Three five-stars. Fifteen four-stars.

And Womack could provide another elite piece.

Notre Dame has a legitimate path to #1, but I’m projecting a slight LSU/OU edge based on remaining volume.

⸻

4. USC

Current: #1

USC falls in my projection — but only to fourth.

That’s not a criticism of the class.

It’s a reflection of what the teams immediately behind USC still have available.

USC already has four five-stars, more than anyone currently in the Top 12.

That enormous existing foundation is why I still think USC survives the Top-5 assault.

⸻

5. TEXAS

Current: #9

I’m moving Texas into my projected Top 5.

Why?

#1 + #8.

Two additional five-stars layered onto a class with two already puts Texas into a dramatically different scoring profile.

They don’t even necessarily need Womack to threaten fifth.

If Texas wins #4 as well, then forget fifth.

They’re entering the discussion for #1.

⸻

6. OHIO STATE

Current #5

This is basically a coin flip with Texas in my projection.

If Ohio State wins either #3 or #7, fifth becomes extremely realistic.

If OSU wins both, they’re probably Top 3-4.

I’m projecting them just outside because neither five-star battle is currently secure.

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7. ALABAMA

Current #8

Autry moves the needle.

A few additional four-star victories keep Alabama firmly in the conversation.

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8. MICHIGAN

Current #7

The Elee decision defines their ceiling.

Without him, the 20-four-star foundation remains excellent but probably lacks enough high-end scoring to crack five.

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9. OLE MISS

Current #6

Ole Miss is in immediate striking distance today but has less closing firepower than the teams around it.

They may actually recruit well over the final two weeks and still slide several spots.

⸻

10. TEXAS A&M

Current #14

This is my biggest non-five-star mover.

A&M already has the #1 transfer class in the league.

Three four-star transfers are banked.

Several more meaningful recruitments remain.

I don’t think the overall Top 5 is realistic from 212.05 this late, but a Top-10 overall finish combined with one of the country’s best portal hauls absolutely is.

And from a roster-building standpoint, that might matter more than the final ranking number.

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📌 FINAL WEEK 3 READ

Best current portal performance: Texas A&M.

Best overall portal board: LSU.

Most explosive portal board: Texas.

Most dangerous late closer: Oklahoma.

Biggest five-star swing team: Ohio State.

Best four-star volume opportunity: Florida State.

Team most likely to lose its current ranking despite recruiting well: Ole Miss.

Current #1 most vulnerable to being passed: USC.

Team I currently project to win the overall recruiting crown: LSU.

And the biggest thing to remember with two advances remaining:

USC is defending points already earned.

LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Ohio State are trying to add to elite classes.

Texas is trying to crash the party with stars.

And Texas A&M is quietly doing exactly what the Transfer Portal was designed for — rapidly upgrading its roster with proven blue-chip talent.

The first two weeks established the market.

These final two advances decide who actually won it.