Ranking the offseason for every Power 4 college football team

The college football offseason used to feature slight to moderate turbulence from December to February, followed by a period of calm. Not anymore.

The offseason comes in waves, upending rosters and coaching staffs, sometimes more than once, before things settle down. Every team must be prepared to minimize losses and make significant gains. Those who succeed can make history. Those who fail can also make history. Just look at Indiana and Florida State in 2024.

ESPN college football reporters Adam Rittenberg, Max Olson, Eli Lederman and Bill Connelly set out on the herculean task of ranking the offseasons for every Power 4 team, as well as national runner-up Notre Dame. Certain teams had more players enter the NFL draft or simply run out of eligibility than others. We took these losses into account but truly focused our analysis on three areas:

Retention of key (non-draft-eligible) players

Retention of key coaches or staff upgrades

Player additions, primarily through the transfer portal but also high school recruits

All three elements matter as these teams build for conference relevance and College Football Playoff bids. An impressive portal haul doesn’t always equate to a great offseason, especially if the team is also losing players and coaches it wanted to keep. Teams that didn’t add much from the portal, but retained coveted players and assistant coaches, meanwhile, end up with offseasons to be celebrated.

Here are our conference-by-conference rankings and team breakdowns, as well as a national list of the 10 best offseasons.

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Big Ten | Notre Dame | SEC | Overall top 10

Key additions: DE Will Heldt, WR Tristan Smith, LB Jeremiah Alexander

Key departures: RB Phil Mafah, LB Barrett Carter, DB R.J. Mickens

Top incoming recruits: DT Amare Adams, RB Gideon Davidson, DE Ari Watford

Biggest coaching move: The Tigers needed a defensive shake-up, and coach Dabo Swinney landed a big name in defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who left national semifinalist Penn State for Clemson. Allen, a former Indiana head coach, oversaw a Penn State defense that finished No. 8 nationally in points allowed and will bring experience and energy to a Clemson unit that fell off sharply last fall.

What went wrong: There’s not much to critique within what was a relatively quiet, if effective offseason for a Clemson roster that returns well-positioned for another playoff run. If we’re nitpicking, it’s worth looking at the Tigers’ lack of proven, high-end replacements for 1,115-yard rusher Phil Mafah and two-time All-America linebacker Barrett Carter. Four-star freshman Gideon Davidson might emerge as one of the nation’s top first-year rushers, and 2024 freshman All-America linebacker Sammy Brown looks like Clemson’s next great linebacker, but the Tigers’ postseason aspirations will be reliant at least in part on developing underclassmen at a pair of key positions.

What went right: Clemson finally dipped into the transfer portal for a big fish. Allen arrived to revamp a limp Tigers pass rush, and Swinney & Co. gave him a top player to work with in Purdue transfer edge rusher Will Heldt, a third-year pass rusher who logged 56 tackles and five sacks last fall. Adding Heldt to a returning defensive line unit led by T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, Allen and Clemson have the makings of a fearsome defensive front in 2025. Transfer pass catcher Tristan Smith (Southeast Missouri State) turned heads with a standout spring game performance and joins a loaded Tigers wide receivers room after catching 76 passes for 943 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.

Connelly’s take: The Tigers lead the nation in returning production and potentially made an upgrade at defensive coordinator. That’s a pretty good offseason! The only thing holding them back here is a merely fine recruiting haul. It’s good that Swinney is using the transfer portal now, but he’s still only barely using it.

Key additions: QB Carson Beck, DB Xavier Lucas, DT David Blay

Key departures: QB Cam Ward, WR Xavier Restrepo, LB Francisco Mauigoa

Top incoming recruits: OC S.J. Alofaituli, CB Jaboree Antoine, WR Joshua Moore

Biggest coaching move: Miami needed to reboot on defense, and coach Mario Cristobal turned to Corey Hetherman, who had successful FBS coordinator experience at Minnesota and James Madison. Hetherman oversaw a Gophers defense that ranked No. 5 nationally in yards allowed and No. 9 in points allowed last fall.

What went wrong: Miami missed on a handful of transfer portal quarterbacks to replace Cam Ward, including Ward’s former Washington State teammate and Oklahoma transfer John Mateer, before landing Carson Beck. The same UCL injury that ended Beck’s 2024 season kept him sidelined during spring camp and will be a story to watch into the fall. Seven NFL draft picks — the program’s highest count since 2017 — and more than a dozen portal exits leave the Hurricanes with loads of production to replace, particularly at wide receiver.

What went right: Cristobal got Beck and added skill talent all around him in a renovated Miami offense this offseason. Transfer wide receivers CJ Daniels (LSU), Keelan Marion (BYU) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati) present intriguing new options on a team that lost its top six pass catchers from 2024. Former Alabama and TCU center James Brockermeyer joins what could become Cristobal’s strongest offensive line unit since taking over the Hurricanes, with North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown arriving alongside Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle in a deep backfield. Hetherman’s first priority will be to repair a leaky secondary that struggled over the back half of the 2024 season. A deep cast of transfer newcomers headlined by Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Ethan O’Connor (Washington State) and Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) gives the first-year coordinator plenty to work with.

Connelly’s take: Recruiting? Good. Defensive coordinator change? Necessary. If Hetherman is the right hire and Beck is healthy and awesome, Miami made itself better this offseason. But that’s a pair of mighty ifs.

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Lane Kiffin takes jab at Carson Beck

Lane Kiffin makes a joke about Carson Beck’s reported $4.3 million deal with Miami.

Key additions: QB Darian Mensah, DT Josiah Green, DB Caleb Weaver

Key departures: G Caleb Krings, DT Kendy Charles, WR Jordan Moore

Top incoming recruits: DE Bryce Davis, OLB Bradley Gompers, WR Jamien Little

Biggest coaching move: Manny Diaz’s ability to retain both of his primary coordinators and others following a nine-win season is noteworthy, and he filled a vacancy at running back with Northwestern’s Chris Foster. He brings experience within the state from East Carolina and Appalachian State, has coached standout backs such as Keaton Mitchell, and will work with veteran back Jaquez Moore, who returns from an injury-plagued season.

What went wrong: The Blue Devils lost a lot at wide receiver with the departures of Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol, who combined for 115 receptions for 1,659 yards and 17 touchdowns. Duke really needs a lift from transfers Andrel Anthony, who played only eight snaps last season as he recovered from a knee injury, and Cooper Barkate, an FCS All-America selection at Harvard. The Blue Devils also were light on defensive transfers despite losing many of their top performers on that side of the ball, including top tacklers Ozzie Nicholas, Alex Howard and Cameron Bergeron.

What went right: After a nine-win season in Diaz’s first year, Duke showed no signs of dropping off. Although quarterback Maalik Murphy set records in his lone season as a Blue Devil, Duke boldly landed transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, a better fit for coordinator Jonathan Brewer’s offense. Mensah has three years of eligibility left. The Blue Devils also retained many of their top non-seniors, including standout cornerback Chandler Rivers and offensive tackle Brian Parker II. They didn’t add a lot of defensive transfers, but Josiah Green and Jaiden Francois should help. Diaz kept almost his entire staff together.

Connelly’s take: Diaz landed one of the top quarterbacks in the portal and will enjoy solid continuity heading into Year 2. The turnover in the skill corps and at linebacker hurts a little, though.

Key additions: QB Tommy Castellanos, WR Duce Robinson, CB Jeremiah Wilson

Key departures: CB Azareye’h Thomas, DT Joshua Farmer, WR Ja’Khi Douglas

Top incoming recruits: RB Ousmane Kromah, DT Kevin Wynn, OT Chastan Brown

Biggest coaching move: After a stunning backslide from 13-1 to 2-10, coach Mike Norvell had to shake up his staff, bringing in splashy coordinators Gus Malzahn (offense) and Tony White (defense). Malzahn is the big name — the former head coach at UCF, Auburn and Arkansas State, who has mentored Norvell — but White might be even more impactful, as a Rocky Long disciple with a track record of improving defenses.

What went wrong: The Seminoles likely welcomed a heavy dose of roster turnover following the program’s disastrous 2024 campaign, but they did lose several former blue-chip recruits, such as quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, wide receiver Hykeem Williams and defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. The spring portal exit of junior college wide receiver Jordan Scott — who joined the program in January — marked another disappointment. A series of late adds in the 2025 recruiting cycle only did so much to make up for decommitments from 10 ESPN 300 prospects last fall.

What went right: The fall will tell the full story, but Norvell appears to have taken a pair of positive steps toward a turnaround with the coordinator hires of Malzahn and White, and both will have a bevy of transfers to work with. Tommy Castellanos arrives with fresh weapons in 6-foot-6 Duce Robinson and former Tennessee speedster Squirrel White behind a new-look offensive line. On defense, White brings 2024 breakout pass rusher James Williams (5.0 sacks last fall) with him from Nebraska to a front seven revamped with seven total transfers. Jeremiah Wilson, No. 11 in ESPN’s spring portal rankings, comes over from Houston and marks a potential impact addition in the secondary.

Connelly’s take: We’ll see how much improvement is possible after an almost unprecedented collapse, but Norvell washed as much stink off the program as he could, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Key additions: QB Chandler Morris, WR Jahmal Edrine, S Devin Neal

Key departures: S Jonas Sanker, WR Malachi Fields, C Brian Stevens

Top incoming recruits: QB Cole Geer, OLB Isaiah Reese, WR Isaiah Robinson

Biggest coaching move: There’s status quo in Charlottesville as coach Tony Elliott retained his entire on-field staff from 2024, when the team made a two-win improvement. After an aggressive transfer portal push, Virginia is banking on continuity with coordinators Des Kitchings (offense) and John Rudzinski (defense), and a staff that has tried to build back the program.

What went wrong: Not a whole lot as Virginia had its smoothest and most productive offseason under Elliott. The team lost its top receiver in Malachi Fields to Notre Dame, though, as well as No. 1 tight end Tyler Neville. Although Jahmal Edrine is an interesting addition, he has a lot riding on him to reboot the passing attack with Chandler Morris. Jonas Sanker was Virginia’s only first-team All-ACC selection in 2024, and he leaves a significant void after leading the team in total tackles (98) and tackles for loss (8.5). Virginia’s offensive line turns over quite a bit from last season with seven additions via the portal. Experienced transfers should help there, but the group still must figure out how to jell.

What went right: Virginia ramped up its investment and aggressiveness in the portal to give Elliott what should be his best roster since taking over as head coach. The team added an experienced quarterback in Morris, who had 3,774 passing yards and 31 touchdowns for North Texas last season, as well as some nice insurance in Nebraska transfer Daniel Kaelin. Edrine is among the key additions on offense, and Virginia bolstered its return game with James Madison’s Cam Ross. Virginia made a strong push for offensive line transfers, and its defensive additions could really stand out, including linebacker Mitchell Melton (Ohio State), safety Devin Neal (Louisville) and cornerback Ja’son Prevard (Morgan State).

Connelly’s take: Elliott kept his coordinators and added some exciting playmakers through the portal. That’s good, though the fact that he needed this many transfers after three seasons isn’t an encouraging sign of a strong culture taking root.

Key additions: QB Miller Moss, LB Clev Lubin, WR TreyShun Hurry

Key departures: QB Tyler Shough, DE Ashton Gillotte, CB Quincy Riley

Top incoming recruits: DE C.J. May, ILB Caleb Matelau, WR Kamare Williams

Biggest coaching move: Deion Branch had been part of Louisville’s support staff and even served as interim head coach for a bowl win in 2022, but in February he joined the on-field coaches at a position he knows well — wide receiver. The MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX starred for Louisville, earning first-team all-league honors, and will now coach a group that includes seniors Caullin Lacy and Chris Bell.

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What went wrong: Between the graduations of Michael Gonzalez and Jonathan Mendoza and portal exits by Monroe Mills (Virginia) and Austin Collins (Syracuse), the Cardinals are down four of their top five offensive linemen, in terms of snaps, from a year ago. Louisville has supplemented with the additions of six transfer linemen this offseason. That group is led by Mahamane Moussa (Purdue), Naeer Jackson (Florida International) and Makylan Pounders (Mississippi State), but this unproven offensive line unit remains a potential liability for an otherwise loaded offense. The Cardinals experienced similar turnover in the secondary, where the program brought on five transfers — only one of them from the Power 4 — to replace four starters on the back end of the defense.

What went right: The Cardinals retained running backs Isaac Brown (1,527 all-purpose yards in 2024) and Duke Watson and added portal pass catchers Dacari Collins (NC State) and TreyShun Hurry (San Jose State) alongside veteran receivers Lacy and Bell. Together, they’ll surround USC quarterback transfer Miller Moss, who arrives to replace Tyler Shough in an offense that finished 13th nationally in yards per game (449.2) a year ago. Clev Lubin (Coastal Carolina) joins the Cardinals after notching 9.5 sacks in his first FBS season last fall, landing as a prized offseason addition alongside three other transfer newcomers on a defensive line unit replacing six players who combined for more than 200 tackles last fall.

Connelly’s take: Coach Jeff Brohm has quickly become one of the nation’s more reliable portal shoppers, and his Cardinals return some serious star power at running back. But having to fill tons of holes at receiver, offensive line, defensive line and defensive back opens up so many opportunities for regression.

Key additions: WR Eric Rivers, OT Malachi Carney, DL Akelo Stone

Key departures: WR Eric Singleton Jr., TE Jackson Hawes, DT Zeek Biggers

Top incoming recruits: OT Josh Petty, S Tae Harris, DT Christian Garrett

Biggest coaching move: After losing defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci to the NFL, coach Brent Key selected Texas assistant Blake Gideon to lead the unit. Gideon hasn’t been a defensive coordinator — he oversaw special teams at Houston and Ole Miss — but brings extensive experience in the secondary, where he starred at safety for Texas before coaching defensive backs at four programs.

What went wrong: Eric Singleton Jr.’s departure wasn’t totally unexpected, but it certainly stings, as he brought elite speed to Georgia Tech’s passing game, averaging 13.5 yards per reception. The Yellow Jackets lost other notable transfers such as offensive tackle Corey Robinson II, an honorable mention All-ACC selection who landed at Arkansas, and linebacker Romello Height, who left for Texas Tech. Santucci’s departure after only one season creates the potential for disruption on defense. Although Gideon projects well, he hasn’t been a primary defensive coordinator before.

What went right: After a season in which Georgia Tech won some big games but could have won more overall, the roster is set up for potentially big things this fall. Key retained his starting offensive backfield of quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes, as well as backup quarterback Aaron Philo, who could be key, given King’s injury history. Receptions leader Malik Rutherford also is back after briefly considering a transfer in December. As colleague Dan Murphy recently detailed, safety Clayton Powell-Lee came very close to entering the portal before returning. Gifted offensive playcaller Buster Faulkner is also back to work with King.

Connelly’s take: Keeping the Faulkner-King combo was great, as was adding maybe FIU’s two best players to an already speedy skill corps. Considering how important physicality was to 2024’s success, however, turnover in the trenches is worrisome.

Key additions: DE Jahkai Lang, OG Addison Nichols, DT Jeffrey M’Ba

Key departures: RB Brashard Smith, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, DE Elijah Roberts

Top incoming recruits: OT Dramodd Odoms, QB Ty Hawkins, WR Daylon Singleton

Biggest coaching move: Coach Rhett Lashlee kept his staff intact after reaching the ACC title game and the CFP, which provides great continuity entering 2025. Defensive coordinator Scott Symons has been in the mix for head coaching roles but will return to SMU for his fourth season to oversee a playmaking unit.

What went wrong: Can the Mustangs sustain their 2024 success and follow up on the 11-3 finish that took SMU to the conference title game and a playoff appearance in the program’s ACC debut? Hanging on to Symons and offensive coordinator Casey Woods will help. But failing to add a proven, impact newcomer to step in for 1,332-yard rusher Brashard Smith or a replacement for top pass catcher Roderick Daniels Jr. could bite the Mustangs. Symons’ steel will be tested as well, with SMU potentially preparing to replace upward of 80% of its starting 11 on defense, including top tackler Kobe Wilson and defensive tackles Jared Harrison-Hunte and Elijah Roberts.

What went right: The Mustangs made size and depth on both sides of the line of scrimmage a priority ahead of their first ACC season last fall. That paid off for an offensive line that allowed only 18 sacks (T-30th nationally) and paved the way for the league’s seventh-ranked rushing attack. SMU accounted for the losses of center Jakai Clark and right guard Justin Osborne with Oklahoma transfer Joshua Bates and Arkansas’ Addison Nichols, a 12-game starter last fall, along with veteran Miami transfer Zion Nelson. The Mustangs drew similar dividends on a defensive line that finished seventh in rushing yards per game (100.7). Jeffrey M’Ba, Damarjhe Lewis and Texas State portal newcomer Terry Webb will be given the tall task of replacing Harrison-Hunte and Roberts.

Connelly’s take: Lashlee held on to his quarterback and both coordinators. That’s an undeniable plus, but it’s pretty easy to be a little worried about the receiving corps as well as a defense that could have as many as nine new starters.

Key additions: OT Kendall Stanley, WR Cataurus Hicks, DE Blaine Spires

Key departures: OL Branson Taylor, TE Gavin Bartholomew, WR Konata Mumpfield

Top incoming recruits: OT Jordan Fields, WR Bryce Yates, DE Trevor Sommers

Biggest coaching move: Coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t change much on the staff after an active offseason the year before. Offensive coordinator Kade Bell, who helped Pitt rise to No. 15 in passing in his first season, received a new contract with a raise earlier this year. He remains an intriguing name to watch in upcoming coach cycles.

What went wrong: Pitt followed a 7-0 start last fall with six consecutive losses to close the season, then suffered a pair of blows on defense via transfer portal exits of cornerback Ryland Gandy (Indiana) and defensive end Sincere Edwards (UCF). Tack on the graduations of All-ACC safety Donovan McMillon and third-leading tackler Brandon George and Pitt has holes to fill as it rebuilds a defense that finished 91st nationally in points allowed last fall (28.4). The Panthers could have a replacement for Edwards if Blaine Spires can rediscover his 2023 form. Redshirt sophomore Cruce Brookins will be among the returners Pitt hopes will step in to fill the void left by McMillon’s exit.

What went right: For at least one half of the 2024 season, Pitt proved it could play winning football with quarterback Eli Holstein and all-purpose running back Desmond Reid guiding the offense. The Panthers will need to identify a replacement for Konata Mumpfield, but they’ve crucially reinforced an offensive line that struggled mightily last fall with the transfer additions of offensive tackles Jeff Persi (Michigan) and Kendall Stanley (Charlotte) along with guard Keith Gouveia (Richmond). If that group can find cohesion, Bell should be able to get more out of an offense that averaged 19.2 points per contest over its final five regular-season games.

Connelly’s take: Narduzzi retained all the sparkly offensive puzzle pieces that produced improvement last season, which is good. But we’ll see whether incoming transfers can provide a boost for what has been a mediocre defense for two straight years.

Key additions: OL Tomas Rimac, RB Terion Stewart, DE James Djonkam

Key departures: RB Bhayshul Tuten, DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, CB Mansoor Delane

Top incoming recruits: WR Micah Matthews, ILB Brett Clatterbaugh, QB Kelden Ryan

Biggest coaching move: Coach Brent Pry had to fill two coordinator roles — Chris Marve was fired, Tyler Bowen left for Ohio State — and took different routes with the replacements. He tapped former Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery, who has coordinator experience from Baylor and other stops, to lead the offense. Sam Siefkes is a lesser-known name but has FCS and Division III defensive coordinator experience and spent the past four seasons with two NFL teams.

What went wrong: Turnover was the theme of the Hokies’ offseason after a disappointing 7-6 finish last fall. But not much of it was especially good as Virginia Tech saw more than two dozen players exit via the transfer portal and lost a handful of key contributors to the NFL. Among those gone in 2025 are top rusher Bhayshul Tuten, sack leader Antwaun Powell-Ryland and all five starters from a defensive back unit that finished in the top half nationally in passing yards allowed per game (215.9). With the portal departures of left tackle Xavier Chaplin (Auburn) and center Braelin Moore (LSU), the Hokies could feature five new starters on the offensive line this fall.

What went right: Virginia Tech held on to redshirt senior quarterback Kyron Drones and added reinforcements in the portal to help Montgomery turn around an offense that finished 88th nationally in yards per game (367.8) last fall. Running back transfers Terion Stewart (Bowling Green), Marcellous Hawkins (Central Missouri) and Braydon Bennett (Coastal Carolina) make for an intriguing trio to replace Tuten and former backup Malachi Thomas (Purdue transfer). Former Tennessee running back Cameron Seldon is expected to play wide receiver for the Hokies in 2025, and Virginia Tech added needed experience at the position in pass catchers Donavon Greene (Wake Forest) and Isaiah Spencer (Jackson State). Tomas Rimac, a 29-game starter at West Virginia, represents the program’s most experienced newcomer on a renovated offensive line.

Connelly’s take: Pry’s first three seasons in Blacksburg have been decent but unspectacular, and having to make major changes — two coordinators, double-digit defensive transfers — could make things much better or much worse. The range of possible outcomes for Tech is enormous this season.

Key additions: S Jeremiah Johnson, OT Teague Andersen, OLB Joseph Adedire

Key departures: OT Anthony Belton, WR Kevin Concepcion, S Bishop Fitzgerald

Top incoming recruits: RB Deandre Desinor, OT Ta’Khyian Whitset, OC Isaac Sowells Jr.

Biggest coaching move: After his 12th season as coach, Dave Doeren replaced both coordinators, promoting veteran playcaller Kurt Roper to oversee the offense and bringing in D.J. Eliot, who has Big 12 and SEC defensive coordinator experience and spent time in the ACC at Florida State, to call the defense. Roper and Eliot worked together at Colorado in 2018, and their familiarity should help as NC State comes off its worst season since 2019.

What went wrong: After a disappointing 2024 season, NC State took some hits in the portal, namely with Kevin Concepcion, who led the team in receptions (48) and touchdown catches (6) and landed at Texas A&M. Bishop Fitzgerald, an honorable mention All-ACC selection, had three interceptions and eight pass breakups. NC State also lost linebacker Kamal Bonner, No. 3 rusher Kendrick Raphael, cornerback Brandon Cisse and others. The bigger transfer losses seemed to come on defense, which will have a new system under Eliot and possibly a steeper learning curve.

What went right: Despite the changes, NC State has a clear vision on offense with quarterback CJ Bailey, who completed nearly 65% of his passes with 17 touchdowns as a freshman. Bailey has gone through the entire offseason as the starter and has familiarity with Roper, who has coached the quarterbacks. NC State retained leading rusher Hollywood Smothers as well as tight end Justin Joly and wide receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes, who should help account for Concepcion’s departure. The team didn’t add a ton of surefire defensive starters in the portal but picked up depth with players such as linebacker Kenny Soares (Northwestern), end Sabastian Harsh (Wyoming) and cornerback Jamel Johnson (Temple).

Connelly’s take: The defense’s sudden collapse needed to be addressed, and Doeren brought in an experienced (if uninspiring) coordinator and lots of new transfers. That’s good, though it’s hard to feel too strongly, good or bad, about the overall moves here.

Key additions: QB Gio Lopez, DE Pryce Yates, OL Daniel King

Key departures: RB Omarion Hampton, DE Beau Atkinson, OT Howard Sampson

Top incoming recruits: QB Bryce Baker, WR Adrian Wilson, DT Nicco Maggio

Biggest coaching move: All is quiet at UNC except for six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick taking over as coach, hiring sons Steve and Brian to the staff, and adding other notable names such as former UConn coach Bob Diaco and former North Carolina and NFL running back Natrone Means to the staff. The “Chapel Bill” era will be quite the experiment, as North Carolina is going all-in on football.

What went wrong: There was some expected turbulence around the Belichick hire and a brand-new way of operating. North Carolina lost several starters, including Beau Atkinson, who led the team in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (12) last season, and linebacker Amare Campbell (6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss in 2024). Both could have been centerpieces for the defense, which already loses tackle Jahvaree Ritzie, linebacker Power Echols, cornerback Alijah Huzzie and others. North Carolina also lost a likely depth option on the offensive line in tackle Zach Rice, ESPN’s No. 8 overall recruit in the 2022 class.

What went right: North Carolina found its quarterback in the spring portal with Gio Lopez, a dual-threat left-hander who ranked 22nd nationally in total offense (274.7 YPG) last season for South Alabama. Lopez gives coordinator Freddie Kitchens a building block, and North Carolina brings back wide receiver Kobe Paysour and adds speed threat Aziah Johnson from Michigan State. Omarion Hampton’s loss certainly will be felt in the run game, but North Carolina added Michigan transfer Benjamin Hall to the group. The new staff seemingly made some gains with its defensive transfers, including Pryce Yates and Gavin Gibson, a productive nickelback at East Carolina last fall. North Carolina also added some good options to boost its offensive line depth.

Connelly’s take: Hiring one of the best football coaches of all time was certainly a nice start, but the off-the-field drama hasn’t been encouraging, and aside from maybe the defensive front six, it’s hard to guarantee that the Heels have a single unit that is more talented than it was a year ago.

Key additions: G Tommy Matheson, OT Amir Johnson, QB Dylan Lonergan

Key departures: DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, OT Ozzy Trapilo, C Drew Kendall

Top incoming recruits: OLB Griffin Collins, RB Mekhi Dodd, QB Shaker Reisig

Biggest coaching move: The Eagles hired Jordan Thomas to oversee a defensive line that loses standout pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and others. Thomas spent the past three seasons as assistant defensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns, but he’s a former player and assistant at San Diego State, an increasingly popular coaching tree because of the defensive success under Rocky Long.

What went wrong: Boston College’s best teams are built at the line of scrimmage, and the Eagles will feel the departures of Ezeiruaku, Ozzy Trapilo, Drew Kendall and others. Ezeiruaku was ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and the Eagles didn’t add many obvious impact transfers on defense. Transfers such as Michigan linebacker Jason Hewlett have potential, but Boston College will need holdovers such as KP Price, Daveon Crouch and Carter Davis to carry the unit. The running game will have a different look as Kye Robichaux and Treshaun Ward move on. BC added transfer Vaughn Pemberton, a backup at Ball State.

What went right: The Eagles retained many of their top players, including wide receiver Lewis Bond and productive defenders such as Price, Crouch and Davis. Quarterback Grayson James, who took over for Thomas Castellanos down the stretch in 2024, went through the offseason as the team’s projected starter. Guard Logan Taylor, an honorable mention All-ACC selection, is back, and Boston College had some of its biggest transfer portal gains at offensive line, a signature position group under coach Bill O’Brien. The team avoided major shakeups to the coaching staff and the roster, and it has a chance to take another step in O’Brien’s second season.

Connelly’s take: The Eagles definitely lost more than they gained in the trenches, but it’s been a relatively quiet offseason for O’Brien & Co., and quiet definitely doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Key additions: QB Steve Angeli, QB Rickie Collins, OT Kam Pringle

Key departures: QB Kyle McCord, RB LeQuint Allen, WR Trebor Pena

Top incoming recruits: S Demetres Samuel, OT Jayden Mann, ILB Antoine Deslauriers

Biggest coaching move: Coach Fran Brown retained offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, despite some outside interest, and added two new assistants in special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield and wide receivers coach Myles White, a former NFL and CFL wideout. Brumfield has ACC experience from Georgia Tech and Virginia, while White will oversee a new-look receivers room after spending 2024 working with the Green Bay Packers.

What went wrong: The Orange couldn’t do anything about the NFL departures of playmakers Kyle McCord, LeQuint Allen and Oronde Gadsden II or offensive line starters Savion Washington and Jakob Bradford. But the portal exits of Trebor Pena (Penn State), top defensive tackle Maraad Watson (Texas) and starting center J’Onre Reed (USC) took a hammer to Syracuse’s returning veteran depth after a 10-3 finish in Year 1 under Brown. The program struggled to retool at key positions via the portal, particularly in the skill spots on offense, leaving question marks hovering over a unit that led the nation in passing yards per game (370) last fall.

What went right: Syracuse might not have another quarterback like McCord, but at least there are options as the program moves forward without college football’s 2024 passing leader. The Orange added Rickie Collins in the winter portal window, and Brown named the former top-200 recruit as starting quarterback at the end of spring camp last month. Two weeks later, Syracuse added Steve Angeli, an experienced fourth-year passer from Notre Dame who could challenge Collins for starting snaps this fall. While so much else remains uncertain for the Orange, there’s solidity in the quarterback options.

Connelly’s take: Brown held on to Nixon and landed two intriguing new QBs. That’s good. The massive turnover at receiver and on the offensive line was discouraging, however, and a pretty shaky defense didn’t add any guaranteed difference-makers.

Key additions: OT Fa’alili Fa’amoe, DE Gabe Kirschke, C Devin Kylany

Key departures: C Luke Petitbon, CB Jamare Glasker, WR Horatio Fields

Top incoming recruits: QB Elijah Oehlke, DE Cole Funderburk, OT Will Saba

Biggest coaching move: New coach Jake Dickert made the cross-country move from Washington State and brought several assistants with him, but both coordinators, Rob Ezell (offense) and Scottie Hazelton (defense), were not on Dickert’s staff. Ezell is a dynamic up-and-coming assistant with Nick Saban ties who helped South Alabama rise to 19th nationally in scoring. At Wyoming, Dickert worked under Hazelton, who has been defensive coordinator at Michigan State, Kansas State and North Dakota State.

What went wrong: Wake Forest not surprisingly lost a big group to the portal amid the coaching transition, including three likely key contributors at wide receiver in Horatio Fields, Deuce Alexander and Donavon Greene. The team tried to backfill with transfers but will need several of the newcomers to be surprisingly productive. Luke Petitbon, a mainstay on the offensive line the past two seasons, transferred to Florida State, while another line starter, Keagen Trost, landed with Missouri. Other than running back and tight end, where Harry Lodge returned after spending the spring at Georgia Tech, Wake Forest will lean on transfers at every offensive position.

What went right: The team retained its best offensive player in running back Demond Claiborne, who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last season and has drawn excellent reviews from the new coaches. Wake Forest also brought back leadership and production on defense with players such as safety Nick Andersen (team-high 122 tackles in 2024) and linebacker Dylan Hazen (seven tackles for loss last season). Dickert delivered eight transfers from Washington State, including bolstering the offensive line with tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe and center Devin Kylany and the wide receiver group with Carlos Hernandez. In quarterback transfers Robby Ashford and Deshawn Purdie, Wake Forest has two different but capable options to lead the offense.

Connelly’s take: After back-to-back 4-8 seasons, a complete overhaul isn’t the worst thing in the world. But this is a complete overhaul — new coaching staff, nine or 10 new offensive starters, eight or nine new defensive starters. Might take a while for things to jell.

Key additions: QB Devin Brown, DE TJ Bush Jr., LB Harrison Taggart

Key departures: QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Jaydn Ott, LB Teddye Buchanan

Top incoming recruits: QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, OG Justin Hasenhuetl, TE Jacob Houseworth

Biggest coaching move: Cal has two new coordinators, although Bryan Harsin, the former Auburn, Boise State and Arkansas State coach, is the headliner. He returns to coaching for the first time since 2022, https://wol.com/ranking-the-offseason-for-every-power-4-college-football-team/