The Gophers added 19 players from the transfer portal in the offseason, but nearly 40 total players have left the program over the last two seasons. We’re seven weeks into the 2026 college football season, so let’s check in on how Minnesota’s most notable transfer portal exits are performing at their new programs.

Koi Perich, S (Oregon)

There hasn’t been a Gophers transfer portal decision discussed more than Perich’s choice to head west. After a relatively slow start to the season, he has begun to find his groove. He had six total tackles in Week 7 against Nebraska, and he leads the team with 40 for the season. As much as he continues to be criticized, he continues to perform like a true defensive playmaker for Oregon.

Fame Ijeboi, RB (Purdue)

After torching the Gophers for 195 yards on the ground and three touchdowns, Ijeboi had his quietest game of the season against Washington. He finished with just 13 carries for 19 yards and one receiving touchdown. He now has 130 carries on the season for 568 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns.

Phillip Daniels, OT (Ohio State)

Daniels transferred to Ohio State before the 2025 season, and he has battled some injuries in 2026. He returned to the lineup against Indiana for the first time since Week 2 against Texas. He has played 161 total snaps this season and has allowed five QB pressures, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Other notes

Interior offensive lineman Cade McConnell transferred to Vanderbilt before the 2024 season, and this year is his second as a starter for the Commodores. He has struggled relatively this fall with a 46.0 PFF grade.

Malachi Coleman looked great in his first game with Wisconsin, grabbing four catches for 76 yards and one touchdown, but he has just one catch since. He played 16 offensive snaps for the Badgers against UCLA, and he’s settled into a rotational role in their wide receiver room.

Christian Driver has had a productive season at Abilene Christian as its leading receiver. He has 23 catches for 344 yards and two touchdowns on the season, all career highs.

Other players starting at their respective schools include offensive lineman Reese Tripp at Middle Tennessee State, defensive lineman Martin Owusu at Fresno State and defensive back Coleman Bryson at North Carolina. Players like cornerback Za’Quan Bryan at USF, linebacker Tyler Stolsky at West Virginia and offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai at Cal have struggled to find consistent roles.

Ijeboi, Perich and Daniels would all likely be starters if they were still at Minnesota, but it’s hard to think any other outgoing transfers would’ve had a big role with the Gophers. There are a lot of areas where Minnesota can improve as a program, but navigating the transfer portal is near the bottom of that list.

Source: Yahoo Sports