Did FCS Teams Who Brought In The Most 2023 D1 Transfers Improve?

The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh.

The FCS has been impacted negatively and positively by the portal. Several FCS standouts have moved to the FBS. But the FCS has also seen many FBS transfers have a huge impact on their team. FBS teams spending more scholarships on transfers has also allowed the FCS to get a higher level of high school recruit.

Portal movement was at its high point heading into the 2023 season. There were about 314 FCS-to-FBS transfers, 546 FBS-to-FCS transfers, and 353 FCS-to-FCS transfers.

---

---

Many FCS programs brought in double-digit D1 transfers from other FBS and FCS schools. Some schools did it out of necessity after losing multiple transfers. Some schools did it to plug holes. Other schools did it for a roster overhaul to try and get good fast.

The results can be a mixed bag.

Sometimes an influx of transfer talent can make a team improve rapidly. The 2022 Samford team is an example of that. Other times, too many transfers don’t mesh well on and off the field.

Of course, there are many factors in year-to-year records improving or getting worse. It isn’t always hand-in-hand with how many transfers a program brings in. Regardless, below is a look at FCS teams who brought in the most D1 transfers for the 2023 season and how their records compared to 2022.

RELATED: How Did 2023 FCS-To-FBS Transfers Perform?

Jackson State — 29 (17 FBS, 12 FCS)

2022 record: 12-1
2023 record: 7-4
Win difference: -5

Florida A&M — 28 (17 FBS, 11 FCS)

2022 record: 9-2
2023 record: 12-1
Win difference: +3

Northern Arizona — 28 (18 FBS, 10 FCS)

2022 record: 3-8
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: +2

Incarnate Word — 23 (20 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 12-2
2023 record: 8-2
Win difference: -4

Campbell — 21 (17 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 5-6
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: 0

Robert Morris — 20 (7 FBS, 13 FCS)

2022 record: 0-11
2023 record: 4-7
Win difference: +4

Stony Brook — 18 (15 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 0-10
Win difference: -2

Northern Iowa — 17 (15 FBS, 2 FCS)

2022 record: 6-5
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: 0

Samford — 17 (9 FBS, 8 FCS)

2022 record: 11-2
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: -5

Abilene Christian — 15 (14 FBS, 1 FCS)

2022 record: 7-4
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: -2

Northwestern State — 15 (9 FBS, 6 FCS)

2022 record: 4-7
2023 record: 0-6
Win difference: -4

Season was canceled in late October

UT Martin — 15 (11 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 7-4
2023 record: 8-3
Win difference: +1

2024 Portal Trackers:

• FBS-to-FCS Transfers
• FCS-to-FBS Transfers 
• FCS-to-FCS Transfers

Missouri State — 14 (10 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 5-6
2023 record: 4-7
Win difference: -1

North Alabama — 13 (10 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 1-10
2023 record: 3-8
Win difference: +2

Tarleton — 13 (4 FBS, 9 FCS)

2022 record: 6-5
2023 record: 8-3
Win difference: +2

Alabama A&M — 12 (10 FBS, 2 FCS)

2022 record: 4-7
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: +1

Bethune-Cookman — 12 (9 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 3-8
Win difference: +1

Delaware — 12 (5 FBS, 7 FCS)

2022 record: 8-5
2023 record: 9-4
Win difference: +1

Eastern Kentucky — 12 (5 FBS, 7 FCS)

2022 record: 7-5
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: -2

Montana — 12 (10 FBS, 2 FCS)

2022 record: 8-5
2023 record: 13-2
Win difference: +5

Murray State — 12 (10 FBS, 2 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 2-9
Win difference: 0

Rhode Island — 12 (8 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 7-4
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: -1

Austin Peay — 11 (5 FBS, 6 FCS)

2022 record: 7-4
2023 record: 9-3
Win difference: +2

Bryant — 11 (2 FBS, 9 FCS)

2022 record: 4-7
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: +2

Chattanooga — 11 (7 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 7-4
2023 record: 8-5
Win difference: +1

ETSU — 11 (5 FBS, 6 FCS)

2022 record: 3-8
2023 record: 3-8
Win difference: 0

Grambling — 11 (7 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 3-8
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: +2

Houston Christian — 11 (5 FBS, 6 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: +4

Lamar — 11 (8 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 1-10
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: +5

Mississippi Valley State — 11 (8 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 1-10
Win difference: -1

Southern — 11 (4 FBS, 7 FCS)

2022 record: 7-5
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: -1

Southern Illinois — 11 (6 FBS, 5 FCS)

2022 record: 5-6
2023 record: 8-5
Win difference: +3

Stephen F. Austin — 11 (8 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 6-5
2023 record: 3-8
Win difference: -3

Towson — 11 (4 FBS, 7 FCS)

2022 record: 6-5
2023 record: 5-6
Win difference: -1

Alcorn State 10 — (2 FBS, 8 FCS)

2022 record: 5-6
2023 record: 7-4
Win difference: +2

Gardner-Webb — 10 (7 FBS, 3 FCS)

2022 record: 7-6
2023 record: 7-5
Win difference: 0

Maine — 10 (6 FBS, 4 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 2-9
Win difference: 0

Norfolk State — 10 (5 FBS, 5 FCS)

2022 record: 2-9
2023 record: 3-8
Win difference: +1

Prairie View A&M — 10 (4 FBS, 6 FCS)

2022 record: 6-5
2023 record: 6-6
Win difference: 0

Tennessee State — 10 (1 FBS, 9 FCS)

2022 record: 4-7
2023 record: 6-5
Win difference: +2

Western Carolina — 10 (5 FBS, 5 FCS)

2022 record: 6-5
2023 record: 7-4
Win difference: +1