The 2026 college football season is almost here, bringing massive roster shifts across the ACC. Key playmakers like quarterback Darian Mensah and running back Justice Haynes are changing the conference landscape. Here are the top ACC football transfers you need to know before kickoff.
Top ACC Football Transfers to Know Before the Season
Darian Mensah (Duke to Miami)
After Carson Beck left for the NFL, Miami needed a massive spark at quarterback. Enter Mensah, who crosses the conference line from Duke. Mensah brings high-upside play and elite arm talent that could finally push the Hurricanes over the hump into a consistent playoff threat. Mensah is easily one of the most notable ACC football transfers of the season, and probably the most notable.
Lincoln Kienholz (Ohio State to Louisville)
Louisville secured a major win by landing former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. Under head coach Jeff Brohm, Kienholz has the precise skillset to command a high-octane offense. His ability to stretch the field makes the Cardinals a sleeper contender in the conference power rankings.
Justice Haynes (Michigan to Georgia Tech)
Georgia Tech completely revamped its offensive profile under new coordinator George Godsey. Grabbing Haynes from Michigan gives them a proven difference-maker in the backfield. Despite an injury-shortened 2025 campaign where he still racked up 857 yards and 10 touchdowns, Haynes is primed for a massive workload in Atlanta.
Cooper Barkate (Duke to Miami)
Mensah didn’t move alone from the Research Triangle down to South Florida. Wide receiver Cooper Barkate followed his quarterback to Miami after a stellar 2025 run. Barkate’s route-running precision instantly replaces departed production on the outside and gives the Hurricanes an elite downfield safety valve, making Barkate one of the most significant ACC football transfers of the season.
Damon Wilson II (Missouri to Miami)
With star pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. heading to the pros, Miami needed immediate, explosive depth on the edge. Damon Wilson II arrives from Missouri boasting elite athleticism and heavy-handed disruption. Expect him to slide right into a primary starting role on a reloaded Hurricanes defensive front.
Jaquez White (Troy to Virginia Tech)
New leadership under head coach James Franklin in Blacksburg means a new era for the Virginia Tech Hokies. While Franklin brought familiar faces from Penn State, Troy transfer cornerback Jaquez White is turning heads in camp. Coming off a 67-tackle and three-interception season, White provides the lockdown secondary play Virginia Tech needs to climb the standings. If the Hokies make a massive leap this season, this will be one of the most significant ACC football transfers to remember.
Chris Jones (Southern Miss to Florida State)
The Florida State Seminoles are looking to rebound from a tough 2025 campaign, and defensive reinforcement was priority number one. Chris Jones arrives in Tallahassee after logging 179 total tackles and 4.5 sacks over two dominant seasons at Southern Miss. His sideline-to-sideline speed will stabilize the middle of the FSU defense. Head coach Mike Norvell is certainly on the hot seat, so Jones must become one of the most significant ACC football transfers of the season and help put Florida State back on the map immediately.
What to Expect as the Season Approaches
Roster turnover via the portal has completely rewritten the narrative for programs trying to catch the top tier. Teams like Miami and Georgia Tech won big during the cycle, while some traditional powerhouses must rely on cohesive chemistry to counter these high-profile acquisitions. Tracking how these individual stars transition into new playbooks will define the early weeks of the fall schedule. When it comes to tracking ACC football transfers, Miami specifically has reloaded with great talent from the portal, but there is no guarantee that the chemistry will be there. However, if it is, the skill is there for this team to dominate the conference.
