The One-Year QB: How the Transfer Portal Reshapes Development in College Football

A growing trend across Power 4 programs is to rely on experienced transfer quarterbacks to win now, sidelining long-term development. The article notes that many national contenders used transfer QBs this season, that 2026 could see dozens more, and that elite prospects transfer multiple times, creating pressure to perform immediately. This has diminished patience for in-house growth, pushed players toward mid-major paths for early reps and higher earnings, and turned quarterback development into a “one-year lease” rather than a multi-year process.