Duke and Florida pace the 2026-27 transfer portal reshuffle

Florida’s unprecedented retention could push the Gators toward a preseason No. 1, Illinois kept its Final Four core and added depth, Duke reloaded with a veteran guard and solid frontcourt, and Texas stacked four portal pieces to form a versatile, defensively elite lineup. Kansas State overhauled with nine transfers but lacks a top-tier impact signee, while Wake Forest and Notre Dame suffered losses with limited immediate fixes. The Big East looks stronger overall as Xavier, Providence, Marquette and DePaul upgrade. Overall, the portal season rewards teams that retain key players and pair them with high-impact transfers, even as the top free-agent pool is smaller than last year.