Kansas football’s transfer portal class landed squarely in the middle nationally and toward the bottom of the Big 12, according to On3’s latest Transfer Portal Index.
The Kansas Jayhawks finished No. 54 nationally, a reflection of a large cycle that brought 30 newcomers to Lawrence while seeing 25 players depart. Kansas’ incoming group carried an average rating of 62.63, while outgoing players averaged 64.72, producing an overall index score of minus 11.
Highly ranked transfers were not the focus, but a high-quality class all around. Kansas did not land any four-star or five-star transfers and leaned almost entirely on three-star additions, taking a depth-first approach rather than chasing splashy names. The Jayhawks did post a slight positive bump in adjusted NIL value, up $55,000, though the overall math still tilted toward more experience leaving than arriving.
When narrowing the lens to conference rivals, Kansas ranked 12th in the Big 12, ahead of only a handful of league foes.
At the top of the conference stood the Texas Tech Red Raiders, which finished first in the league and nationally after adding six four-star transfers and posting a massive plus $3.5 million adjusted NIL figure. The Houston Cougars followed, with the BYU Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats rounding out the Big 12’s top four portal classes.
West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Colorado made up the next tier, while Kansas slotted just above the Kansas State Wildcats, Cincinnati and the Utah Utes. The Iowa State Cyclones finished last among conference teams in the portal rankings.
For Kansas, the numbers underscore a familiar offseason theme under Lance Leipold, focusing on competition, roster turnover and development rather than headline grabbing additions. The Jayhawks again attacked the portal to rebuild depth at multiple positions, betting on fit and coaching to elevate under the radar additions.
Portal rankings rarely tell the full story, and Kansas has previously turned modestly rated transfers into Big 12 starters and all conference contributors. Still, on paper, the gap inside the league was clear this cycle, with Texas Tech surging and several programs outpacing KU\asnas in star power and resources.
Spring practices and the fall will decide whether Kansas can once again outperform its portal profile, but for now, the Jayhawks sit in the national middle class and face an uphill climb in the Big 12 race.