ACC football transfer portal tracker live updates: Who's on the move?

College football's version of free agency has changed the sport, and there have been changes to the transfer portal itself this winter.

The portal period now runs from Jan. 2-16, with an extra five-day window (Jan. 20-24) for teams playing in the national championship. Thespring portal window in April is no longera part of the schedule, so January is the only open window for teams to add via the portal in 2026.

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Here's a look at who is expected to be on the move in the ACC this winter (players have either announced intention to transfer or it's been reported they will enter portal):

Note: Players who enter portal can return to their respective schools.

Boston College

• TE Stevie Amar

• LB Jason Hewlett

• TE Ty Lockwood

• QB Dylan Lonegran

• CB Ashton McShane

• RB Turbo Richard

• DL Sterling Sanders

• S Omar Thornton

• QB Devin Brown

• EDGE TJ Bush

• QB EJ Caminong

• LB Luke Ferrelli

• LB Buom Jock

• LB Curlee Thomas

'I believe in Cal.'Freshman star QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele won't enter portal

Clemson

• RB Keith Adams Jr.

• LB Jamal Anderson

• DB Khalil Barnes

• LB Dee Crayton

• ATH Marquise Henderson

• CB Shelton Lewis

Duke

• TE Vance Bolyard

• CB Vontae Floyd

• RB Peyton Jones

• S Kenzy Paul

• DT Terry Simmons

• OL Jack Small

• S Maliki Wright

Florida State

• S Ashlynd Barker

• DB Cai Bates

• WR Jayvan Boggs

• DL Tyeland Coleman

• RB Kam Davis

• TE Luke Douglas

• DL Jamorie Flagg

• WR Camdon Frier

• QB Brock Glenn

• LB Omar Graham

• DT L A Jessie Harrold

• OL Tye Hylton

• OL Manasse Itete

• DL Jayson Jenkins

• DE Jaden Jones

• DB Edwin Joseph

• RB Jaylin Lucas

• OT Mario Nash Jr.

• LB Jayden Parrish

• TE Randy Pittman Jr.

• DB Ja'Bril Rawls

• RB Gavin Sawchuk

• OL Lucas Simmons

• WR Willy Suarez

• DB Smoke White

Georgia Tech

• QB Aaron Philo

Louisville

• QB Deuce Adams

• QB Brady Allen

• RB Shaun Boykins Jr.

• RB Isaac Brown

• EDGE AJ Green

• TE Nate Kurisky

• DB Daeh McCullough

• RB Duke Watson

Miami

• WR Ny Carr

• WR Ray Ray Joseph

• WR Chance Robinson

• DL Daylen Russell

• TE Brock Schott

• DL Donta Simpson

• S Markeith Williams

NC State

• WR Terrell Anderson

• LB Elijah Groves

• WR Noah Rogers

• RB Hollywood Smothers

• EDGE Justin Terrell

• WR Christian Zachary

North Carolina

• QB Bryce Baker

• WR Paul Billups

• OT William Boone

• CB Khalil Conley

• WR Chris Culliver

• WR Javarius Green

• OL Trevyon Green

• LB Khmori House

• WR Aziah Johnson

• TE Jake Johnson

• QB Max Johnson

• OT Miles McVay

• OL Jani Norwood

• WR Jason Robinson

• TE Yasir Smith

• LB Tyler Thompson

• WR Kenedy Uzoma

• CB Ty White

• DB Malcolm Ziglar

Pittsburgh

• S Jesse Anderson

• LB Rasheem Biles

• WR Zion Fowler

• RB Juelz Goff

• QB Eli Holstein

• DL Omari Abor

• LB Kyle Ferm

• OL King Large

• EDGE DJ Warner

Stanford

• OT Jack Leyrer

• WR Myles Libman

• WR Jason Thompson

Syracuse

• WR Johntay Cook

• WR Darrell Gill

• LB James Heard

• EDGE Derek McDonald

• S Kaylib Singleton

• QB Jakhari Williams

• RB Yasin Willis

Virginia

• EDGE Mekhi Buchanan

• WR Suderian Harrison

• CB Ja'son Prevard

• CB Dre Walker

• OL Tyshawn Wyatt

Virginia Tech

• EDGE Keyshawn Burgos

• LB James Djonkam

• DB Christian Ellis

• WR Tucker Holloway

• CB Dante Lovett Jr. (Memphis)

• QB Garret Rangel

• LB Michael Short

• QB Pop Watson

Wake Forest

• WR Chris Barnes

• RB Tate Carney

• EDGE Cole Funderburk

• WR Ben Grice

• DL Mateen Ibirogba

• TE Harry Lodge

• WR Micah Mays

• QB Elijiah Oehlke

• OT Nathan Pahanich

• WR Elijah Reid

• WR Reginald Vick

When does college football transfer portal open?

The portal period now runs from Jan. 2-16, with an extra five-day window (Jan. 20-24) for teams playing in the national championship. Thespring portal window in April is no longera part of the schedule, so January is the only open window for teams to add via the portal in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:ACC football transfer portal tracker: Updates for players on move

byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

ACC football transfer portal tracker live updates: Who's on the move?

College football's version of free agency has changed the sport, and there have been changes to the transfer porta...

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Patriots ignite scrutiny with handling of Stefon Diggs, Christian Barmore | Opinion

Just when it seemed theNew England Patriotswere riding the perfect, storybook wave of momentum toward their return to theNFL playoffs, stuff hits the fan.

Look at Stefon Diggs. Accused of smacking his former chef and trying to choke her during an alleged Dec. 2 incident as a beef over apparent back pay escalated. Really? The go-to receiver is facing a felony charge for strangulation or suffocation.

Consider Christian Barmore. Accused of throwing the mother of his 2-year-old child to the floor and issuing threats during an alleged Aug. 8 argument that stemmed from disagreements about the room temperature and that she was making food. Seriously? The 315-pound defensive tackle is facing a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault and battery.

Two key players, two rounds of allegations that they committed heinous crimes surfaced on back-to-back days this week. Bad timing. Bad optics. The NFL had enough regular season-finale plotlines to set up Week 18, but as 2025 transitioned to 2026, thePatriotshave another version of in-with-the-new drama.

At this point, as Patriots coach Mike Vrabel insisted, they are allegations. Attorneys representing both players have flatly denied the accusations.

"We've made a statement, we've taken the allegations very seriously, and what comes of that, I think then we'll have another discussion," Vrabel said during a midweek news conference. "But I don't think we have to jump to any sort of conclusions right now and let the process take its toll."

Of course, Vrabel has a vested interest in keeping the players on the field. This isn't to question the coach's integrity. Trumped-up allegations happen. Yet it sure sounds like the Patriots might have jumped to some conclusions.

In their Tuesday statement, the team said, "We support Stefon."

In the Wednesday statement, the team indicated that it was aware of the incident involving Barmore shortly after it occurred. Yet apparently, the team reached the conclusion that whatever happened wasn't serious enough to remove a key player from the lineup.

Which reminds me: In 1996, the Patriots renounced their rights to fifth-round defensive tackle Christian Peter a week after drafting him because Myra Kraft, wife of the team owner, learned of Peter's history of violence against women and insisted as much while backlash from women's groups mounted. Early in Robert Kraft's ownership, it set a tone for the Patriots standards.

That was a long time ago. Myra, bless her, passed in 2011.

Then again, as Vrabel maintains, these are allegations. It's just that the nature of the allegations are disturbing enough to raise red flags. Yet unlikethe assault on a fan by Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalfthat was captured on video andresulted in a two-game suspension, it's difficult to assess when there's no apparent evidence (at least in Diggs' case).

You might think Roger Goodell – no stranger to managing sticky fallout from domestic violence cases – would step right in and take the players off the field and put them on the Commissioner's exempt list while the legal process plays out.

Indeed, that's a possibility – just not this week, with the worst-to-first Patriots (13-3) hosting theMiami Dolphinson Sunday.

According to the fine print of the NFL's personal conduct policy, a player can be placed on the exempt list, which amounts to a paid leave of absence, when formal charges for a felony or violent crime are forwarded with a grand jury indictment, charges by a prosecutor or an arraignment in a criminal court.

Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 23 – two days before the AFC title game.

Barmore has an arraignment date of Feb. 3 – five days before Super Bowl 60.

Of course, there's no guarantee the Patriots will advance to the AFC Championship Game or the franchise's first Super Bowl since the Tom Brady era. But the way things have gone this season, you can't call it a pipe dream.

Vrabel returned to jolt New England to prominence ASAP, illustrating just how impactful the right coach in the right situation can be. New England was 4-13 inJerod Mayo's only campaignas Bill Belichick's successor in 2024. Now the Patriots have a chance to seize the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. And while Drake Maye has blossomed into an MVP candidate in his second season – with Diggs assisting that effort with big plays and big leadership – the Patriots snapped Buffalo's streak of five consecutive AFC East titles.

None of that, however, should matter when weighing the status of Diggs and Barmore.

And no, Goodell doesn't have to wait on the arraignment dates to make a call. There's also fine print in that same personal conduct policy that stipulates a player can be placed on the exempt list on a limited, temporary basis to allow time for the league to conduct a preliminary investigation of an alleged crime of violence.

So, what's happening with that feature of the policy in these cases?

In the allegations against Barmore, first reported by Boston-area television station WCVB, the police report includes photographs the woman provided of her bruises. And the Patriots were aware of the incident back in August? Hmmm.

The team apparently had no qualms about putting him on the field. It makes you wonder what type of evidence is needed – an elevator video, maybe – to have some domestic violence cases hit home.

"Again, allegations," Vrabel said, "and we want to make sure that the court – that those ongoing court proceedings – and once those are satisfied, then we'll come to whatever decision that we have to make."

It's a decision that goes far beyond the Patriots. Sure, there are nuances.

In the allegations against Diggs, there are no photographs of bruises. No third-party witnesses. It seems to be a classic case of he-said, she-said. Does it matter that the apparent victim didn't alert police until Dec. 16 – two weeks after the incident – and didn't decide to press charges until Dec. 23?

Sometimes, it takes a while for victims to come forward. And in this case, there are discussions about a potential monetary settlement.

In the meantime, Vrabel insists the fresh revelations are not a distraction for his team.

Yeah, right. No, it shouldn't interfere with game-planning and practices. Yet the timing of this is less than ideal for the Patriots, with the playoffs looming. And there's still some level of energy expended on this by the participants and others inside the organization. So, distraction or not, it's not exactly business as usual – at least not for everyone.

Said Vrabel, "It's things we have to handle, and every day there's distractions, some are smaller than others."

It's just that this developing issue has the potential of growing into a much bigger distraction for the Patriots – complete with bad optics.

Contact Jarrett Bell atjbell@usatoday.comor follow on X:@JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Patriots' handling of Stefon Diggs, Christian Barmore raises concerns

byAlpha World

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January 02, 2026

Patriots ignite scrutiny with handling of Stefon Diggs, Christian Barmore | Opinion

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Bowl game schedule today: Previewing the four college football matchups on Jan. 2

With 2026 now officially underway, thecollege football seasonis nearly at its end. But before we wrap things up in the Bowl Subdivision with next week'sCollege Football Playoff semifinalsand the subsequent title game, we have one more full day of bowl games to enjoy.

If it's big-name programs you want, Friday's lineup might not appeal to you. But the slate does feature a couple of squads inthe US LBM Coaches Poll, as well as some of the nation's premier academic institutions. One of the prime-time contests will hopefully live up to our placement in the bowl rankings – several of which, we freely admit, were wildly off the mark. Here are the Friday bowl offerings.

Armed Forces Bowl: Texas State vs. Rice

Time/TV:1 p.m. ET, ESPN in Fort Worth, Texas.

Why watch:The last full day of the bowl season kicks off with a pair of Lone Star State squads without much shared history. These same two teams did, however, square off in the First Responder Bowl two years ago, with theBobcatstaking a 45-21 decision. The 2025 campaign wasn't a huge success for either program, but both should enjoy this opportunity. Unfortunately, Owls starting QB Chase Jenkins and backup Drew Devillier have announced plans to transfer, meaning either Lucas Scheerhorn or Patrick Crayton Jr., both little-used freshmen, will be pressed into service. The Bobcats should have most of their primary contributors, including QB Brad Jackson and WRs Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn.

Why it could disappoint:Texas State generates a ton of long scoring plays, and the Owls tend to give them up. That certainly looks ominous from a competitive standpoint.

Best of bowl season: Mascots, trophies, celebrations, Gatorade baths

Liberty Bowl: No. 25 Navy vs. Cincinnati

Time/TV:4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Memphis, Tenn.

Why watch:With a double-digit win season and the Commander in Chief's Trophy secured, the Midshipmen have one more goal to attain, a Top 25 ranking to finish the campaign. The Bearcats briefly cracked the poll themselves this fall before closing the year on a four-game skid. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby is in the portal, so the start will go to Brady Lichtenberg, who has attempted just six passes but completed four of them. Navy QB Blake Horvath will look to close out his outstanding career on a high note, with help as usual from RB Alex Tecza and SB Eli Heidenreich.

Why it could disappoint:It shouldn't. Even with most of its regular lineup, Navy doesn't usually win with wide margins but by executing better in the details. Expect a close one here.

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State

Time/TV:8 p.m. ET, ESPN in Charlotte, N.C.

Why watch:Year one in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, under Jake Dickert unquestionably exceeded expectations. TheDemon Deaconsnow look to close out the year by giving their new head coach a mayo bath. TheBulldogsmanaged just one victory in SEC play but were within a score on a couple other occasions. Wake QB Robby Ashford wasn't always an accurate passer but usually got the ball where it needed to go. He will be without draft-bound RB Demond Claiborne and breakout WR Chris Barnes who is in the portal. The Mississippi State offense will be in the hands of freshman Kamario Taylor, who didn't have much luck in his Egg Bowl start against Ole Miss but does have some speedy weapons at his disposal.

Why it could disappoint:Wake's most significant strides this fall were on the defensive side, which was demonstrably not the case for the Bulldogs. Miss State could win a shootout, so it might behoove the Deacons to moderate the tempo.

Holiday Bowl: No. 20 Arizona vs. SMU

Time/TV:8 p.m. ET, Fox in San Diego.

Why watch:The non-playoff bowl calendar closes in – usually – sunny San Diego, where the Wildcats and Mustangs could put on an offensive show. Both teams should have most of their top producers participating. Arizona QB Noah Fifita threw for 2,963 yards and 26 TDs, with WR Kris Hutson serving as primary target and RB Ismail Mahdi leading the ground game. SMU counters with QB Kevin Jennings, who also has 26 scoring tosses but twice as many picks with 10 on the season. He spreads the ball well, but TE Matthew Hibner is a valuable weapon in the red zone.

Why it could disappoint:We hope this one delivers the goods, but both teams have opportunistic defenses that thrive on takeaways. It might get away if those occur early, as happened to SMU in last year's playoff appearance.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College football bowl games today schedule features four matchups

byAlpha World

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January 02, 2026

Bowl game schedule today: Previewing the four college football matchups on Jan. 2

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Dog Rescued From South Carolina River Island

A dog stranded on an island in South Carolina's Waccamaw River was successfully rescued by first responders Tuesday afternoon, and has since been reunited with its owner.

Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) crews were dispatched to the Chris Anderson Landing off East Highway 9 in the Longs community after receiving reports of a dog in distress, alone on a river island.

The rescue operation involved boat crews from HCFR Station 40 (Hickory Grove) working alongside environmental officers from the Horry County Police Department. The team successfully reached the island, secured the dog with a leash, and transported the animal safely back to shore.

"The very agreeable dog was happy to be saved," HCFR officials reported on social media.

byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

Dog Rescued From South Carolina River Island

A dog stranded on an island in South Carolina's Waccamaw River was successfully rescued by first responders Tuesday afternoon, and has...

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Russia puts death toll from Ukrainian strike on occupied village at 27. Kyiv rejects accusation

Russian authorities said Friday that the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike they said struck a café in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraine's Kherson region rose to 27 people. Kyiv denied attacking civilian targets.

Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman of Russia's main criminal investigation agency, the Investigative Committee, said in a statement that a Ukrainian drone strike on a café and hotel in the village of Khorly, where at least 100 civilians were celebrating New Year's Eve overnight into Thursday, killed 27 people, including two minors. A total of 31, including five minors, were hospitalized with injuries.

A criminal probe on the charges of carrying out an act of terrorism has been opened, Petrenko said.

Kyiv denied attacking civilians. Spokesman of Ukraine's General Staff, Dmytro Lykhovii, told Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne on Thursday that Ukrainian forces "adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law" and "carry out strikes exclusively against Russian military targets, facilities of the Russian fuel and energy sector, and other lawful targets."

Lykhovii said that General Staff has published an explicit list of targets that the Ukrainian army struck on the night of New Year's Eve. The list did not include strikes on occupied parts of the Kherson region.

Lykhovii noted that Russia has repeatedly used disinformation and false statements to disrupt the ongoing peace negotiations.

The Associated Press could not independently verify claims made about the attack.

Russia's accusations against Ukraine come amid a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Moscow alleged that Kyiv launched a long-range drone attack against a residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in northwestern Russia overnight from Sunday to Monday.

Kyiv has called the allegations of an attack on Putin's residence a ruse to derail ongoing peace negotiations, which have ramped up in recent weeks on both sides of the Atlantic.

In his New Year's address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a peace deal was "90% ready" but warned that the remaining 10%, believed to include key sticking points such as territory, would "determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live."

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday that he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's son-in-law andadviser Jared Kushnerhad a "productive call" with the national security advisers of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine "to discussadvancing the next stepsin the European peace process."

Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia conducted what local authorities called "one of the most massive" drone attacks at Zaporizhzhia overnight.

At least nine Russian drones struck the city, damaging dozens of residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure, head of the regional administration, Ivan Fedorov, wrote on Telegram on Friday. There were no casualties, the official said.

Overall, Russia fired 116 long-range drones at Ukraine last night, according to Ukraine's Air Force, which said that 86 drones were intercepted, while 27 more have reached their targets.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported Friday that its air defenses intercepted 64 Ukrainian drones overnight over multiple Russian regions.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia's Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, on Friday also accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out a missile strike on the city of Belgorod. Two women were hospitalized with injuries, Gladkov said. The strike shattered windows in multiple residential buildings and damaged an unspecified "commercial" facility and a number of cars, according to the official.

byAlpha World

in

January 02, 2026

Russia puts death toll from Ukrainian strike on occupied village at 27. Kyiv rejects accusation

Russian authorities said Friday that the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike they said struck a café in a Russian-oc...

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