In the early morning hours of Christmas Day, children all around the world race down the hallway to see if a rotund mythical man in a red suit has left some gifts for them under the tree before he scurried his way back up the chimney to his reindeer-powered sleigh and disappeared into the night.
It’s a tradition passed down through generations, and while it’s not the true reason for the season, it is something that children anticipate almost year-round.
It’s not so different for college football fans, who wait all year long to see what happens in late August or early September. Only, nowadays, those games are often won or lost in December when the winter transfer portal window is open.
Teams all around the country are rebuilding and supplementing their rosters with players who are looking for better opportunities. Every team in the Big 12 is already dealing with the portal exits and arrivals for the 2025 season, and some have had a better time than others.
What if everyone could land the one missing piece of the puzzle? What if the transfer portal were like Saint Nicholas himself and visited every Big 12 school this evening and gave them the No. 1 available player on their transfer portal wish list?
Here’s what it would look like.
Arizona Wildcats
Luke Petitbon, IOL, Wake Forest
Arizona needs some help along the offensive line as they’re set to lose several starters from this year’s team. Luke Petitbon is one of the top-rated interior offensive linemen in the portal and would immediately offset the loss of Wendell Moe (Tennessee).
Arizona State
Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
So, this one would be a bit awkward and feels like it might not be the best thing for half the fans in the state of Arizona, but boy, would ASU be happy to lock up the top available cornerback in the portal and take him from the in-state rival while they’re at it.
Baylor Bears
Walker White, QB, Auburn
This might be the most likely to come true of any “miracle” on the list, as the Bears are currently favored to land the four-star freshman from Little Rock. Sawyer Robertson is undoubtedly BU’s immediate future, but White would be someone to get excited about as the long-term option.
BYU Cougars
David Gusta, DL, Washington State
BYU is about to lose a boatload of experience and talent from its defensive front, and in the grand scheme of things, Pullman (WA) isn’t all that far away. David Gusta is the No. 1 available defensive tackle available in the portal right now, and with BYU being relatively nearby, this one could make sense.
Cincinnati Bearcats
Max Klare, TE, Purdue
I’ve got to admit that I fell for a troll post on Klare committing to Cincinnati on Monday, and I even went as far as copy the link so I could send it to a friend. Then, I realized that it probably wasn’t real and… well.. now he’s committed to Ohio State. But, in this story, it’s the Bearcats who land the No. 1 transfer tight end.
Colorado Buffaloes
Zachariah Branch, WR, USC
Colorado is set to lose Travis Hunter to the NFL, so their biggest need could be met by getting a superstar wideout with elite talent and ball skills. Zachariah Branch would give them just that, and as a bonus, they’d probably land his brother, too — who happens to be an uber-talented defensive back. You can’t replace Travis Hunter one-for-one, but this would be the next best thing.
Houston Cougars
Tyler Onyedim, DL, Iowa State
Tyler Onyedim is one of the highest-rated defensive linemen available in the portal, and with what the Coogs are losing up front, he’d be a huge addition. Houston’s defense was stout in 2024, but will need some help in the portal if it hopes to maintain that level of play next season.
Iowa State Cyclones
Fa’alili Fa’amoe, OT, Washington State
Iowa State has addressed the loss of a couple of wideouts after this season, so the best thing they could do is get an insurance policy for their quarterback. Enter Fa’alili Fa’amoe, the standout tackle from Wazzu that is already getting second round NFL grades. In reality, he’ll probably be making more than most portal quarterbacks when all is said and done.
Kansas Jayhawks
Justice Haynes, RB, Alabama
KU fans have watched Devin Neal play his final game in a Jayhawks uniform, and now they’ve got to find a replacement for the best running back in school history. Justice Haynes is the No. 1 available running back in the country right now, and would be one heck of a get for Lance Leipold and company.
Kansas State Wildcats
Biggest Need: Linebacker
Terry Kirksey, Alec Marenco, and Kameron Sallis all hit the transfer portal and Austin Moore is set to move on to the next level. Add to that the fact that the Wildcats have had injury issues at that position in recent years, and it’s a glaring need for the defense heading into 2025.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Malachi Nelson, Quarterback, Boise State
Oklahoma State needs a quarterback that they can build around for the foreseeable future, and although he’s not as highly-touted as he was coming out of high school, Nelson still has all the tools to be an elite quarterback. He was once committed to OU, and getting a former five-star guy like him could excite any fan base.
TCU Horned Frogs
Tyler Johnson, IOL, Colorado
A former standout at Houston, Tyler Johnson never really got going at Colorado but would fill an immediate need for the Horned Frogs, who just lost their starting center to the portal. Johnson is a guard, but he’d still fill a void for Sonny Dykes going into 2025.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Some Hot Tortillas and Cocoa
Texas Tech has done WORK in the portal, and the only thing Santa needs to leave behind in Lubbock is some fresh tortillas to throw and some hot chocolate to sip on while the Red Raiders beat up Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.
UCF Knights
Dequan Finn, QB, Baylor
Before getting injured, I felt that Dequan Finn was one of the most underrated players in the Big 12. With Scott Frost back in Orlando, and Finn more than capable of running his offense, this pairing would be a match made in heaven.
Utah Utes
Kevin Concepcion, WR, NC State
Utah has added some big-time athletes at quarterback and running back since the portal window opened, and adding a name like Concepcion might send the fanbase back into a frenzy of expectations in 2025.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Dequan Finn, QB, Baylor
The only place in the Big 12 that Finn might fit better than UCF right now is West Virginia. Can you imagine what an athlete like Finn would do in a Rich Rod offense? I’m not saying he’d be the second coming of Pat White, but…
