Louisville football has had one of the best Transfer Portal runs in the nation this offseason. The Cardinals have received 13 commitments, including eight from Tuesday. The Cardinals really got the ball rolling when they secured their QB1 for next year in Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz.
Entering this offseason, the Cardinals fans were having a bit of a debate. Some wanted Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals to attack the portal for the fourth straight year, while others wanted to develop redshirt freshman Deuce Adams and give him the starting role.
Well, Adams made that choice easy for Louisville, as the backup quarterback entered the Transfer Portal after two seasons with the Cardinals. Now that Adams is in the portal, the former Cardinal is linked to a Big Ten powerhouse, which is quite confusing because he will be the backup for at least the next two seasons.
Related: Every NCAA Transfer Portal player who committed to Louisville football yesterday
Former Louisville Qb linked to Big 10 Powerhouse in Transfer Portal
Brady Allen and Mason Mims' transferring was expected and not a surprise; if Adams had been transferring, many thought he would try to be a starter this year or next. However, with him being linked to Michigan, that isn’t he case at all. The Wolverines are set at the QB position for at least the next two years, as true freshman Bryce Underwood was their starting QB last season and will be their starting QB at least the next two seasons.
Per an ESPN source, former Louisville QB Deuce Adams will be visiting Michigan, Wisconsin and James Madison in the upcoming days. He has three years of eligibility remaining. https://t.co/KwRNKjJV9W
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2026
Adams, linked to Michigan, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense as the Cardinals fans would have loved him as their backup QB. Kienholz will likely be here for the next two seasons, and Adams would have been a solid backup if that is the role he is looking for.
However, when a player enters the portal, they are usually looking for a new home to increase their snaps and secure a path to an important role on the team. If Adams were to commit to Michigan, he would have a long journey to becoming their starter with Underwood in the QB room.
Adams was also linked to Wisconsin, which, again, he would be committing to as the backup for at least two more seasons, as the Badgers just earned Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph’s commitment, and he is only a sophomore.
So, the grass isn’t always green for these student-athletes once they enter the portal. And with Adams linked with these two Big 10 giants, maybe Brohm can work some magic to bring his backup QB and former 3-star commit back to Louisville. The Cardinals, as of now, only have Kienholz and Briggs Cherry in their QB room.
Adams started in just one game in his two seasons with Louisville. He finished last year's campaign completing 15 of 21 passes and 112 yards, including his game against SMU, where he finished 12-of-17 for 94 yards.
Cardinals fans loved Adams for his mobility and arm strength, which he brought to Louisville’s QB room. The Transfer Portal has a lot of positivity, but some players also face a harsh reality, as it doesn’t always guarantee a better situation once they enter the portal.
Related: Who's coming and who's going: Louisville football 2026 Transfer Portal tracker
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