The National Chanpionship stage comes with more than bright lights and pressure. For both Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes, it also comes with an unusual calendar twist.
Because of their postseason run, the NCAA granted both programs a special five-day transfer portal extension, keeping the window open through January 24, 2026. It is a small grace period, but one that always invites curiosity, speculation, and a little unease.
Indiana has already seen one move. Backup quarterback Alberto Mendoza entered the portal and signed with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The timing stood out more than the football impact, a reminder that even while chasing history, roster realities do not pause.
Miami’s list has been longer. Six Hurricanes entered the portal on Tuesday, including linebacker Bobby Washington Jr., quarterback Emory Williams, safety Amari Wallace, and four-star defensive lineman Artavius Jones. It reads like significant turnover, but inside the program, the expectation is that the championship core remains intact. These are departures, not disruptions.
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The louder noise has come from outside the buildings.
On social media, fans have been openly wishing for chaos. Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker has been the subject of countless “he should transfer” posts, despite no indication from Becker or those around the program that such a move is even being considered. It is speculation filling space, nothing more.
Miami’s rumor cycle, however, has had sharper edges.
It began with a parody account claiming freshman star Malachi Toney was preparing to enter the portal, listing the Ohio State Buckeyes, USF Bulls, and Florida Gators as preferred destinations. The post spread quickly. Old recruiting photos resurfaced. The whispers grew louder.
Then Toney’s mother, Shatravia “Toni” Toney, stepped in.
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“Don’t get it twisted, we’re home,” she wrote. Later came another message, simpler and more pointed. “And it’s still go Canes…back in the lab.”
Toney turned 18 in September. He has already become one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the sport, coming off a season with more than 1,300 rushing and receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He is headed for award watchlists, preseason All-America teams, and a massive NIL market, wherever he lines up next fall.
The expectation is that he stays in Miami. But the window is still open. Three days remain. And in a sport where certainty has become rare, even the obvious feels temporary.
At this stage of college football, surprise is no longer the exception. It is part of the landscape.
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