It’s become a holiday tradition rivaling Christmas stockings and letters to Santa.
Transfer portal season is here.
The window for undergraduate college football players to enter the transfer portal opens Dec. 9 and closes Dec. 28, with coaches looking to snag as many stars as their name, image and likeness funds allow.
Here’s a look at the players coming and going from USC and UCLA listed in most recent order of their announcements via social media and media reports, with the caveat that players listed as entering the portal can potentially stay at their current schools if they do not find another landing spot.
Leaving UCLA: Joseph Firebaugh Jr. | Kicker
Size: 6-2, 195 pounds
Class in 2025: Graduate transfer
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One
Buzz: The emergence of Mateen Bhaghani as one of the nation’s top kickers left no discernible role for Firebaugh, who played sparingly during his three seasons with the Bruins. In 2022, Firebaugh converted an extra point against Colorado and another one against Alabama State, in addition to making a kickoff in the latter game.
Leaving USC: Denis Lynch | Kicker
Size: 5-8, 185 pounds
Class in 2025: Redshirt junior
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One
Buzz: Lynch was USC’s starting kicker for two seasons before he was passed up by transfer Michael Lantz in 2024. He was automatic on extra points, missing just one of his 140 attempts between 2022 and 2023 but plagued by inconsistency on field goals. He hit just 25 of 46 during his stint as the Trojans’ kicker.
Leaving USC: Gino Quinones | Offensive guard
Size: 6-3, 302 pounds
Class in 2025: Redshirt senior
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One, maybe two
Buzz: Another interior lineman is out the door for USC. Quinones was one of the few players still left from the Clay Helton era — and the Trojans’ most experienced interior lineman. But injuries derailed his last two seasons, just as he was expected to compete for a starting job. He can slot in at either center or guard. He may have two years of eligibility because of injury, pending a decision from the NCAA.
Leaving USC: Amos Talalele | Offensive guard
Size: 6-4, 340 pounds
Class in 2025: Redshirt sophomore
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Three
Buzz: Talalele lost a competition last August to start for USC at right guard and played in a reserve role most of last season. But his decision to leave probably comes as a surprise to USC’s staff. Talalele was expected to step into a starting spot next season. He’ll try to find that elsewhere, while USC finds itself dangerously thin on the interior of its offensive line.
Leaving UCLA: T.J. Harden | Running back
Size: 6-2, 220 pounds
Class in 2025: Senior
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One
Buzz: Harden took a considerable step back in production this season, though a big part of his regression was attributable to the struggles of UCLA’s offensive line. After running for 827 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023 as a part-time starter, Harden managed just 506 yards and two touchdowns in 2024 as the featured running back. His average yards per carry also declined from 5.3 in 2023 to 4.1 in 2024, and he only topped 100 yards in a game once during the latter season.
Leaving UCLA: Justyn Martin | Quarterback
Size: 6-4, 220 pounds
Class in 2025: Redshirt junior
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Buzz: Having been a fourth-stringer just a year ago, Martin was on track to compete for UCLA’s starting job after impressing in a spot start on the road against Penn State. Filling in for injured teammate Ethan Garbers, Martin completed 22 of 30 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions against the Nittany Lions. Now, the dual-threat quarterback will presumably take his talents elsewhere, leaving the Bruins in need of a veteran transfer.
Coming to UCLA: Jaedon Wilson | Wide receiver
Size: 6-3, 178 pounds
Former school: Arkansas
Class in 2025: Redshirt senior
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One
Buzz: Big things were expected from Wilson after he scored Arkansas’ first touchdown of the 2023 season on a 65-yard screen pass against Western Carolina. But he never made more than three catches in a game that season and plummeted on the depth chart. He played eight snaps and logged no statistics during the Razorbacks’ 70-0 victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff to open 2024, sending him into the transfer portal. At UCLA, he’ll be fighting for playing time at one of the deepest positions on the team.
Leaving USC: Miller Moss | Quarterback
Ever since he was a boy, Miller Moss dreamed of being USC’s starting quarterback. He followed that dream as a touted prospect into a crowded quarterback room at USC. And he waited three years as a backup, biding his time as many others in his class bolted for the transfer portal instead.
Moss’ chance to lead USC’s offense lasted through one outstanding bowl performance and nine games of an up-and-down season before Moss was replaced by his own backup, and the window at his dream school had closed suddenly.
By Monday morning, three weeks after he was replaced, Moss made it official that he plans to enter the transfer portal, leaving USC after four seasons.
Leaving UCLA: Collins Acheampong | Edge rusher
Size: 6-7, 270 pounds
Class in 2025: Redshirt sophomore
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Four
Buzz: A four-star prospect out of Santa Margarita High, Acheampong was expected to bolster the Bruins’ defensive line after spending one season redshirting at Miami (Fla.). But he spent most of the season recovering from injuries and never appeared in a game. His next college snap will be his first.