Top 10 transfer portal impact players of Week 6

In the new era of college football, the transfer portal has become a significant component of roster construction. Throughout the 2026 college football season, On3 is breaking down the top 10 transfer portal impact players based on weekly performances. Here are the most impactful transfer portal players from Week 6:

1. UCLA RB Wayne Knight

On a day when starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava exited the game with an injury and UCLA’s offense had to slog its way to a win, the Bruins yet again turned to star running back Wayne Knight. The James Madison transfer got his revenue from the College Football Playoff against the Ducks, rushing for 103 yards on 22 carries. He added a rushing touchdown and had a receiving touchdown. His performance was critical in UCLA’s win at Oregon.

2. Kentucky QB Kenny Minchey

For the second consecutive week, Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey delivered the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime. Minchey finished the night 23 of 36 for 246 yards before running in the two-point attempt to knock off No. 10 LSU 35-34 in Lexington. The Wildcats are now 5-1 under first-year head coach Will Stein, and Minchey has played a critical role. He’s also thrown only one interception this season.

3. Indiana WR Nick Marsh

Needing a fourth-quarter spark, Michigan State transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh stepped up. He scored touchdowns of 44 and 75 yards in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 20-17 comeback win at Nebraska. The Indiana receiver finished the day with six catches for 187 yards. His second touchdown of the day came on the Hoosiers’ game-winning drive, with quarterback Josh Hoover tossing the ball to a wide-open Marsh for the 44-yard touchdown on 4th-and-1.

4. Houston TE Patrick Overmyer

The UTSA transfer tied the FBS single-game record for touchdown receptions by a tight end on Saturday, catching all four of Conner Weigman’s passing touchdowns. He finished with eight catches for 83 yards, as the Cougars improved to 5-1 on the season and set up a top-25 matchup with Oklahoma State this week.

5. Oklahoma RB Lloyd Avant

The stats are not going to show him as the top transfer performer of the week, but it felt like whenever Oklahoma needed to generate offense Saturday, Lloyd Avant stepped up. In his first Red River Rivalry game, the Colorado State transfer delivered. His 42-yard run was Oklahoma’s longest of the season, and his 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter was the Sooners’ first offensive score in the rivalry game in two years. He finished with 72 yards on 10 carries, but he was a difference maker on Saturday.

6. Kentucky RB CJ Baxter

The Texas transfer came up big for Kentucky in its win over LSU on Saturday night. While Kenny Minchey played a clean game and rushed for the two-point attempt to win the game, Baxter carried the ball 19 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry and ripped off a 72-yard run.

7. Missouri DL Donta Simpson Jr.

The Miami transfer anchored Missouri’s dominant defensive performance Saturday against Texas A&M. In the 27-6 win, Simpson was credited with two tackles for loss and was part of a defensive front that held the Aggies to 216 total yards and only 29 rushing yards.

8. Oregon State QB Braden Atkinson

The Mercer transfer continues to light up box scores in the Pac-12. Braden Atkinson was 29 of 38 for 409 passing yards without an interception in a 66-14 win over San Diego State on Saturday. He threw for five touchdowns in the win, bringing his count to 21 on the year, which currently leads all FBS passers. Atkinson has also thrown only two interceptions this season.

9. Wake Forest QB Gio Lopez

The former South Alabama and North Carolina transfer accounted for four touchdowns as Wake Forest cruised to a 38-14 win over rival NC State on Saturday. Lopez was 26 of 33 for 303 yards and three passing touchdowns while rushing for an additional score. Three of his four touchdowns came in the third quarter, helping the Demon Deacons take control of the game to move to 5-1 on the season.

10. Purdue RB Fame Ijeboi

Playing against his former Minnesota team, Fame Ijeboi had the best game of his college career. The running back rushed for 195 yards on 31 carries, averaging more than six yards per carry. He rushed for three touchdowns in the win, too, as Purdue improved to 2-1 in the Big Ten this season.