College football awards 2025: Full list of finalists, winners for Heisman, Walker, Biletnikoff and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

We spend so much time talking about transfers, but there were still a significant number of freshmen who played prominent roles in 2025.

The next era of the college football transfer portal officially opens Jan. 2, but make no mistake -- the 2026 cycle is already underway. Behind the scenes, portal boards have been set for months. Agents are working phones. Players are making quiet decisions. As one source put it, "Deals are being struck."

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza leads the way on offense, while Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez tops the defensive selections.

How times change. The program voted the toughest job in the Power 4 won at least 10 games five times from 2010 through 2016.

Sherrone Moore led the Wolverines to a 9-3 record this season, finishing 18th in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

The college football rumors are already swirling about the top candidates to replace Sherrone Moore as the next Michigan coach.