College football rosters average 32.2% homegrown talent heading into the 2026 season, according to a preseason data study across all 138 Football Bowl Subdivision programs conducted by Rotowire. While the transfer portal and annual roster reconstruction dominate modern college football, programs planted in talent-rich regions continue to rely on local prospects who understand regional rivalries and program expectations.
Power Four Programs Rely on Local Roots
Texas Tech maintains a local-loaded roster at 64.8% homegrown talent despite heavy portal additions over the last two recruiting cycles, according to Rotowire data. Five other Texas programs—including UTSA, TCU, Baylor, Houston, and North Texas—also rank inside the top 15 nationally for local signings. TCU leads all Power Four rosters with 72.6% homegrown players, reflecting deep roots in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Head coach Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs signed 21 freshmen and 12 transfers in the 2026 cycle, with every first-year player hailing from Texas alongside multiple transfer additions.
Did you know? While Southern states like Alabama and Louisiana lead in per-capita concentration of FBS-level players, massive states like Texas and California supply the sheer volume of athletes needed to fill rosters nationwide.
Georgia’s High School Recruiting Model
Georgia stands as the SEC’s top homegrown program, leveraging fertile recruiting zones within the Peach State under head coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs added only eight transfers during the cycle, favoring traditional high school recruiting over heavy portal reliance. Georgia’s 2026 roster consists of 129 players, with 110 coming directly from high school—representing 85.3% of the team—many originating from in-state powerhouse programs. “We think that our investment in our player is better than your investment in your player that I would get from you in the portal,” Smart stated last month, according to Rotowire data. Other SEC programs just outside the national top 15 for homegrown rosters include Texas at 56.4%, Florida at 54.1%, and Texas A&M at 51.2%.
National Contenders Buck the Local Trend
Oregon and Notre Dame operate differently, ranking among notable title contenders that rarely pull in-state talent due to local player availability. Head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks rank 119th nationally in homegrown players at 13.6%, while the Fighting Irish fill just 10.6% of their roster from Indiana. Conference brand does not dictate a local roster, though geography drives regional numbers. The newly formed Pac-12—featuring Boise State and Fresno State—leads the nation with 36.3% of its rosters consisting of homegrown talent, according to the Rotowire study.
Conference Breakdown and Geographical Challenges
The Mountain West sits at the bottom of the homegrown rankings at 24.6%, dragged down by outliers like Hawaii at under 1%, Air Force at 8.5%, and Wyoming at 9.8%. Army, another service academy, ranks second-lowest at 1%. Meanwhile, the Big Ten averages 30.3% homegrown roster talent, placing it lowest among major conferences. The Big Ten’s coast-to-coast footprint includes states that do not produce enough Power Four prospects to populate elite rosters. Programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State recruit nationally and use the transfer portal because their reach permits it.
Pro Tip: When evaluating roster stability in modern college football, look beyond transfer portal acquisition counts to examine a program’s high school pipeline in state-level talent hotbeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “homegrown” mean in college football roster data?
Homegrown refers to players whose identified hometowns are located in the same state as their university, which includes both high school signees and transfer acquisitions, according to Rotowire data.
Which conference has the highest percentage of homegrown players?
The newly formed Pac-12 leads the nation with 36.3% of its rosters consisting of homegrown talent, according to the Rotowire study.
Why does the Big Ten have a lower percentage of homegrown players?
The Big Ten’s footprint stretches coast-to-coast and includes several states that do not produce enough Power Four prospects to completely fill elite rosters, forcing programs to recruit nationally and utilize the transfer portal.
How many transfers did Georgia take in the recent cycle?
Georgia added only eight transfers for the 2026 cycle, prioritizing high school recruiting and player development from within the state.
Explore More: Share your thoughts on roster construction in the comments below, or check out our other college football analyses on recruiting trends and transfer portal movement.