College football in 2026 is truly a war of attrition. Teams have always had to account for losing players through graduation and pursuing their dreams at the next level, but the transfer portal era has made building depth and keeping position groups stocked with talent an unenviable task. Recruiting will always be the foundational piece of any contending program, but if you want to consistently place yourself in title talks, using the transfer portal is not only an additional

In a timely boost to their defensive backfield, Notre Dame has landed Colorado transfer cornerback DJ McKinney, who officially committed to the Fighting Irish on January 12, 2026. The Irish have officially gotten their first commitment out of the Transfer Portal.