While FSU's transfer portal business has had its share of ups and downs, many Seminoles fans have been able to take solace in the fact that Miami has not yet been able to secure a top quarterback through the transfer portal.
The Hurricanes have tried with Brendan Sorsby and failed. They tried with Sam Leavitt and failed. They allegedly tried with Demond Williams Jr. and failed. Then they offered Ty Simpson $6.5 million (LOL), and he turned them down. But even the most optimistic of FSU fans knew the Hurricanes were going to continue to swing until they got a hit, and if the reports from CBS Sports are accurate, their next move could shake up the system.
NEW: Duke has concerns that star quarterback Darian Mensah could enter the transfer portal, multiple sources tell our @chris_hummer and @mzenitz.
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) January 16, 2026
Mensah finished the 2025 season second nationally with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
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If Miami gets Mensah, it says a lot about FSU football
FSU's failures in the transfer portal are probably a little overstated. Yes, it's treu that this hasn't been a star-packed portal class, but the Seminoles have secured some good talent while having to spend unexpected time and resources to retain players that were considered building blocks.
But when the portal opened, FSU was searching for a quarterback and things looked very promising when DJ Lagway and Anthony Colandrea came to Tallahassee for visits on the first weekend, only for both to leave without deals. When the Seminoles signed Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels, it looked like Mike Norvell and staff were settling.
On the flip side, Miami has struck multiple times this offseason trying to find a quarterback, but the Hurricanes are settling for anything. If one closes, they are kicking down another one. That has to be frustrating for FSU fans, who have seen the hated rival sign a quarterback in 2024 that Mike Norvell wanted and watched him become a Heisman finalist and the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and then watched Miami sign another big-name quarterback and advance to the CFP Championship game.
Now if the Hurricanes can steal Mensah from Duke, it's going to be another instant where they got who they wanted and FSU got the first player that was willing to say yes.