With the NCAA transfer portal window set to swing open in January 2026, college football programs across the country are already jockeying for position, and few are as active—or as intriguing—as Virginia Tech and Penn State. The two storied programs have undergone seismic changes in recent weeks, and their new head coaches, James Franklin at Virginia Tech and Matt Campbell at Penn State, are already shaping the future of their rosters by targeting high-impact transfers and leveraging established relationships.
James Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech after his midseason dismissal from Penn State sent shockwaves through the college football landscape. Now at the helm of the Hokies, Franklin is wasting no time in identifying key needs, with quarterback and edge rusher sitting atop his priority list for the 2026 campaign. According to 247Sports, Virginia Tech’s staff is leaning into prior relationships, positional value, and roster fit as they build their board for the upcoming portal season. All players currently on their radar have already announced their intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal, setting the stage for a potentially transformative offseason in Blacksburg.
Quarterback is the position drawing the most attention, and Franklin’s search could take him right back to his former program. One name that’s gained traction is Ethan Grunkemeyer, a current Penn State quarterback who has yet to announce his intentions for 2026. The Athletic’s Manny Navarro recently highlighted Grunkemeyer as a possible target for Virginia Tech, noting that the quarterback’s decision could hinge on his comfort level with Penn State’s new regime. “Beau Pribula is an option, but former Penn State coach James Franklin recently hired Ty Howle and Danny O’Brien to run the offense and coach quarterbacks, respectively,” Navarro wrote. “Those guys were just working with Grunkemeyer in State College. Grunkemeyer hasn’t announced his plans for 2026.”
The familiarity factor cannot be overstated. Franklin’s hires of Ty Howle and Danny O’Brien—both of whom worked with Grunkemeyer at Penn State—suggest a concerted effort to lure the quarterback to Blacksburg should he decide to leave Happy Valley. With Penn State set to face Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, December 28, 2025, Grunkemeyer’s immediate focus remains on the field, but his future is a hot topic in college football circles.
Meanwhile, Franklin isn’t putting all his eggs in one basket. Another quarterback option for Virginia Tech is Beau Pribula, who is reportedly on his way out of Missouri. Pribula’s experience and skill set make him a viable candidate to lead the Hokies’ offense as Franklin seeks to quickly establish a new identity in Blacksburg. The urgency is palpable, as the Hokies look to rebound from recent struggles and reassert themselves as contenders in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
While Virginia Tech’s transfer portal strategy is still taking shape, Penn State is undergoing its own dramatic transformation under new head coach Matt Campbell. Campbell, who took over the Nittany Lions program on December 8, 2025, has wasted no time in making his mark, particularly by tapping into his Iowa State connections. In a bold move, Campbell has already brought seven former Iowa State commits to Penn State, including three in just the past week. Three-star linebacker Keian Kaiser, along with offensive linemen Pete Eglitis and Mason Bandhauer, have all pledged to the Nittany Lions, signaling a new era in State College.
This aggressive approach has paid immediate dividends in the recruiting rankings. Prior to Campbell’s arrival, Penn State found itself outside the top 136 FBS teams nationally, largely due to the 54-day search for Franklin’s replacement. Since Campbell’s hiring, however, the Nittany Lions have climbed to 122nd in the national recruiting rankings, with nine total commits as of December 27, 2025. Campbell and his staff are far from finished, with eyes still on additional recruits ahead of the February signing period and a keen interest in the transfer portal.
Perhaps the most tantalizing transfer target for Penn State is Benjamin Brahmer, the towering Iowa State tight end who is poised to enter the portal in 2026. Brahmer, who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 255 pounds, is ranked as the No. 1 tight end and No. 16 overall player in the 2026 transfer portal cycle, according to both 247Sports and On3 Sports. His on-field production backs up the hype: over three seasons, Brahmer has hauled in 75 receptions for 977 yards, including 37 catches for 446 yards and six touchdowns during the 2025 season, averaging over 12 yards per grab.
Brahmer’s connection to Campbell is undeniable. As the former Iowa State head coach, Campbell recruited and developed Brahmer, and now Penn State has emerged as an early contender for his talents. According to On3 Sports, the Nittany Lions are firmly in the mix for the highly sought-after tight end, whose addition could provide an immediate boost to a Penn State offense in transition.
Brahmer’s journey to this point is a testament to his perseverance and skill. A member of the 2023 recruiting class, he was a three-star prospect out of Pierce High School in Nebraska, ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the state and the No. 32 tight end nationally by a consensus of recruiting services. His rapid ascent to the top of the transfer portal rankings underscores both his individual growth and the importance of the portal in modern college football roster management.
Campbell’s willingness to "raid" his former program has not gone unnoticed. In addition to Brahmer, the influx of Iowa State talent to Penn State has energized the fan base and raised expectations for the Nittany Lions’ future. "Campbell has been busy behind the scenes, signing a reported seven former Iowa State commits to the Nittany Lions instead, including three in just the past week," reported On3 Sports. The strategy is clear: leverage existing relationships to build a competitive roster quickly.
As the transfer portal window approaches, both Virginia Tech and Penn State find themselves at pivotal crossroads. For Franklin and the Hokies, the quest for a quarterback and defensive playmakers could define the early stages of his tenure. For Campbell and the Nittany Lions, the integration of Iowa State standouts and the pursuit of top-tier transfers like Brahmer are central to the program’s resurgence.
The coming weeks promise no shortage of drama as players weigh their options and coaching staffs make their pitches. With so much talent in flux and high-profile names still undecided, the transfer portal season is shaping up to be one of the most compelling in recent memory. For fans in Blacksburg and State College alike, the future is brimming with possibility—and the next chapter is about to be written.
