Top 10 transfer portal impact players of Week 7

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 7:

1. West Virginia QB Michael Hawkins

Michael Hawkins delivered one of the more memorable performances in a weekend of historic upsets. The West Virginia quarterback threw for a career-high 464 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-42 win over Cincinnati. The Oklahoma transfer completed 25 of 33 passes without an interception, while rushing for 77 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was key in breaking a three-game losing skid for the Mountaineers.

2. Auburn QB Byrum Brown

Auburn pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 season on Saturday night, knocking off No. 1 Georgia in Athens. Quarterback Byrum Brown stepped up big, completing 15 of 26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 115 yards and a score. The former USF transfer finished with 265 yards of total offense as Auburn won its first game at Georgia since 2001.

3. Wake Forest QB Gio Lopez

The former North Carolina and South Alabama transfer continues to find success this season at Wake Forest. Gio Lopez was 16 of 23 for 267 passing yards and four touchdowns in Saturday night’s blowout win at Cal. Lopez averaged 11.6 yards per throw, helping the Demon Deacons improve to 6-1 on the season. He’s thrown just one interception through seven games and has emerged in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

4. Kentucky S Jordan Castell

Florida transfer Jordan Castell has made timely interceptions all year for Kentucky. On Saturday night at Oklahoma, Castell came up with two interceptions, including one with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to seal a Wildcats win, returning it for a touchdown. He finished with eight tackles and two pass breakups in the win, as Kentucky improved to 6-1 on the season in Year 1 under Will Stein.

5. Miami QB Darian Mensah

Darian Mensah was key in keeping the Hurricanes perfect, surviving double overtime against Florida State. The former Duke and Tulane transfer completed 23 of 34 passes for 326 yards with two touchdowns. The win over rival Florida State vaulted Miami to No. 1 in Sunday’s AP top 25 poll for the first time since 2002.

6. LSU EDGE Jordan Ross

While Ole Miss transfer pass rusher Princewill Umanmielen has been an instant impact playmaker on the LSU front seven, Jordan Ross has also been consistent for the Tigers. The Tennessee transfer finished with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a dominant win over Mississippi State on Saturday. He also forced pressure that led to a Mississippi State interception.

7. Tennessee LB Amare Campbell

Tennessee’s defense overwhelmed Alabama on Saturday, holding the Crimson Tide to 201 total yards and only 54 yards on the ground. Penn State transfer Amare Campbell posted eight tackles and two tackles for loss in the win.

8. LSU QB Sam Leavitt

Sam Leavitt turned in his best performance yet at LSU on Saturday. The Arizona State transfer was 31 of 38 for 289 yards and four touchdowns, finishing the day without an interception in a shutout 31-0 win over Mississippi State. It was a bounceback win for Leavitt and LSU after falling to Kentucky on the road in overtime last week.

9. Wisconsin S Marvin Burks Jr.

Despite a 17-7 loss at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night, Missouri transfer safety Marvin Burks Jr. kept the Badgers in the game. The Wisconsin defensive back posted four tackles and two interceptions, keeping the Badgers competitive with USC. Wisconsin’s offense struggled to move the ball, being held to just one touchdown.

10. Virginia Tech WR Que’Sean Brown

The Duke transfer was dominant in Virginia Tech’s 34-24 win over Georgia Tech. Wide receiver Que’Sean Brown caught six passes for 182 yards and a touchdown in the win, averaging 30.3 yards per catch. Brown has emerged as the Hokies’ top threat in the passing game with more than 600 receiving yards in seven games.