The Wisconsin Badgers are looking ahead to the offseason, where they’re expected to field a huge transfer portal class, starting at the quarterback position.
Expected to have more financial resources, the Badgers will need to go get a quarterback in the transfer portal, preferably one of the top options available.
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Who are those quarterbacks? Let’s look at the top transfer portal options that have already declared their intentions to head elsewhere in 2026.
Brendan Sorsby
When it came to the 2025 NFL Draft, Brendan Sorsby was the biggest domino. He could’ve been selected high in the draft, but is entering the transfer portal and is arguably the top quarterback available.
Sorsby had a great year at Cincinnati, throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He’s a dual-threat, rushing for 580 yards and another nine scores, while possessing impressive arm talent.
There are already reports that he could fetch up to $4 million in the transfer portal. We’ll see how high the price tag goes, but there should certainly be big interest here.
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DJ Lagway
The Florida transfer is moving on after a down sophomore year. He had 2,264 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in an injury-riddled year. Still, he’ll probably be sought after in the portal after showing promise as a freshman with his arm talent.
Dylan Raiola
Another five-star sophomore is hitting the portal with Dylan Raiola moving on after a 2,000-yard, 18-touchdown, six-interception season. There’s a lot still to be had here with Raiola, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a top program (Oregon?) go after the talented sophomore.
Drew Mestemaker
College football’s leader in passing yards this year (4,129) was redshirt freshman Drew Mestemaker of North Texas. He immediately becomes one of the more coveted quarterbacks in the portal and I’m not sold that he just follows Eric Morris to Oklahoma State without listening everywhere (although that’s a realistic possibility).
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As a first-year starter, Mestemaker threw for 4,129 yards, 31 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while adding five scores on the ground.
Rocco Becht
The Iowa State transfer is moving on after three years in Ames. He’s got the most wins of any projected returning quarterback (26), and has thrown for 9,274 yards in his career.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if he reunites with Matt Campbell, but that’s another quality productive starter going elsewhere to a top program in 2026.
Josh Hoover
Another really productive college quarterback, Josh Hoover is moving on as the top projected returning quarterback in passing yards (9,629) and passing touchdowns (71). He should get some significant interest as well.
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Sam Leavitt
The Arizona State breakout quarterback is heading elsewhere after dealing with injuries in his redshirt sophomore season this year.
He threw for 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions this season after going for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions when Arizona State made the College Football Playoff a season ago.
He should field some big offers.
Kenny Minchey
Minchey is the least experienced of the names here, but the talent is there for the former Notre Dame transfer, who lost out on the starting competition to C.J. Carr.
He’s a dual-threat option, and Wisconsin is interested here.
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Aidan Chiles
Chiles faced some injuries this season, but threw for 1,392 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions, while completing 63.1 percent of his passes at Michigan State.
I’d expect a big program to look here at another former five-star recruit with some pro potential.
Beau Pribula
Pribula is on the move again after one season at Missouri, where he faced a leg injury after being the starter to begin the season.
Wisconsin was interested a season ago. We’ll see if they go at him again.
Colton Joseph
One of the most productive dual-threats in the Group of 5 last year, Colton Joseph is someone the Badgers have early interest in. He’s only a sophomore and threw for 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions on 9.0 yards per attempt.
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He also ran for over 1,000 yards on the ground, adding double-digit touchdowns (13) there again for the second straight year.
Aaron Philo
The other top inexperienced option, Philo was the backup to Haynes King at Georgia Tech the last two years.
A redshirt freshman, Philo had a great performance in place of King against Gardner-Webb, throwing for 373 yards in his lone start.
Badgers outlook
If we’re being honest, the Badgers need to go get one of these quarterbacks. If Wisconsin is truly looking to compete with NIL, they need to sling it around at quarterback and go get a top option in the transfer portal.
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Each of these players will likely have some big competition for them. Teams like Oregon, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Miami, Texas Tech, Penn State, LSU, and others all need starting quarterbacks and can compete financially for them.
We’re about to see if Wisconsin can really find a way to attract a top quarterback to Madison, given how its offenses have played over the last few seasons.
