1st domino falls for Miami to make a move on dream QB in the transfer portal

The Miami Hurricanes remain completely focused on tomorrow's CFP semifinal showdown against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, but there are also a lot of unanswered questions about the 2026 roster, namely who's going to be playing quarterback.

We know that Brendan Sorsby, the top-ranked quarterback in the transfer portal, received an offer from the Hurricanes and was assumed to be the top choice, but he opted to sign with Texas Tech. Miami has also been linked to Sam Leavitt, but currently LSU appears to be the front-runner there. But a new option has emerged over the past 24 hours; Washington's Demond Williams, and now it looks certain he will not be returning to the Huskies. 

If Washington, who reportedly had Williams agree to a financial package of around $4 million, has moved on, it could mean that the Hurricanes' interest in the sophomore could be at a much deeper stage than we know. With Miami's football focus squarely on Thursday night, it's uncertain if the people with the Hurricanes have been engaged in talks with Williams (or any other quarterback) and for how long. 

Williams had a breakout season for the Huskies, throwing for over 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes and his playmaking skills extended to his legs, where Williams rushed for 611 yards and six touchdowns. 

When does the transfer portal window close?

As Cristobal and his staff make their final preparations for Thursday's semifinal showdown with the Rebels, they continue to conduct business in the portal with a little more than a week remaining in the window. The transfer portal opened on January 2, and it will close at the end of the day on January 16. 

So far, Miami has been taking in visitors, but commitments aren't expected until after Thursday's game. The Hurricanes are currently linked to several players and announcements could come as early as Friday.