Alonza Barnett III, the quarterback who led James Madison to the 2025 College Football Playoff, will transfer to UCF for the 2026 season.
The news was first reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN.
Barnett is a graduate
transfer, so he has one year of eligibility remaining.
It’s a huge get for UCF, who saw three quarterbacks enter the transfer portal, including starter Tayven Jackson. UCF still retains Davi Belfort and signed Rocco Marriott and Dante Carr in the early high school signing period.
The Barnett File
Barnett came to JMU in 2022 and has started since 2024, posting a 20-6 record in the last two seasons.
Last season, Barnett was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, leading the Dukes to the Sun Belt championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2025. in 14 games, he threw for 2,306 yards on 58.4%, 23 TDs and 8 interceptions, while rushing for an additional 589 yards and 15 TDs.
What made those numbers all the more remarkable was that they happened after he tore an ACL in his knee in the final game of 2024 against Marshall. He threw for 2,598 yards and 26 TDs with 442 rush yards and 7 TDs in 2024.
Barnett was the key in JMU’s remarkable run to a CFP bid. The Dukes fell to Oregon in Eugene 51-34 in the first round, but Barnett went 23/48 for 273 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, and also ran for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis
The 6-0, 217-pound Barnett comes to UCF for one season and will ostensibly hand the keys over to Belfort, Marriott, or Carr for 2027.
His recruitment is a huge get for head coach Scott Frost of UCF, who has an elite and experienced QB to work with in 2026. Barnett’s transfer could also lure elite skill position players to UCF in the portal as well, given the skill he showed all season at JMU, culminating in his performance against Oregon.
The transfer portal closes January 16.
