According to a recent report, Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is set to depart the program. This comes after the Rams made the decision to fire head coach Jay Norvell earlier this week.
Before he was fired, Norvell made a quarterback change, benching Fowler-Nicolosi in favor of Jackson Brousseau. That move followed a disappointing performance from the former starter, who went 13-for-25 for 132 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Landing Spots for Colorado State QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi as He Hits Transfer Portal
Following his decision to enter the Transfer Portal, Fowler-Nicolosi is likely to be one of the most experienced quarterbacks available in the upcoming window when it opens in January. This comes after an NCAA rule change impacted transfer eligibility.
With the recent rule changes, things have become more difficult for players trying to leave Colorado after Norvell’s firing. Previously, players had a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal after a coaching change. However, that rule has been altered.
“Previous NCAA rules stated that a 30-day transfer portal window immediately opened after a coaching change. Now players have to wait until a new coach is hired, and in some situations, until January,” ON3’s Pete Nakos revealed.
This means that while the quarterback could have entered the transfer portal within the next 30 days under the old rule, he will now have to wait until January.
These are five potential landing spots for Fowler-Nicolosi following his decision.
North Carolina Tar Heels
After UNC dipped into the transfer portal earlier in the year, its starting quarterback, Gio Lopez, currently sits 157th in the overall rankings. Lopez has thrown for fewer than 1,000 yards this season, with three passing touchdowns after suffering an injury in Week 4.
A redshirt sophomore, Lopez transferred to UNC in April with three years of eligibility remaining. While he still has time to fulfill his potential, UNC currently needs a steady, experienced hand to guide the offense.
Over his four seasons at Colorado State, Fowler-Nicolosi totaled 6,938 career passing yards with 45 touchdowns and 34 turnovers. Earning conference honors, he has shown consistency over multiple seasons.
According to PFSN’s QB impact rankings, he is the 151st best in the nation this season. Despite a rough stint at Colorado State this year, he has proven he has what it takes to stabilize the situation in North Carolina..
Kansas State Wildcats
It was reported back in 2024 that Fowler-Nicolosi turned down a $600,000 offer from Kansas State to enter the transfer portal, choosing instead to remain at CSU.
“He said a guy from Kansas State called him, offered him $600k because they lost their quarterback, if he got in the portal. And I’m not accusing Kansas State of anything. I’m just telling you what the kid told me,” Norvell said.
While Kansas State may have had interest once, Fowler-Nicolosi would likely serve as a backup. Starting quarterback Avery Johnson has been one of the best in college football this season, with a QBi impact rating of 82.4
Florida State Seminoles
Heading into 2026, Florida State will most likely be rolling with a freshman quarterback. After the January decommitment of four-star recruit Brady Smigiel, the best Mike Norvell currently has is four-star Oklahoma flip Jaden O’Neal.
O’Neal threw for 2,475 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore at Newport Harbor High School in California. After initially committing to Oklahoma for several months, he flipped his commitment to Florida State after that relationship deteriorated.
With one freshman quarterback potentially starting next year, the head coach could use an experienced backup. After spending four years at Colorado State, Fowler-Nicolosi could fill that role — switching one Norvell for another in January.
Oklahoma Sooners
After O’Neal’s decommitment, the Sooners could be in need of an emergency quarterback in 2026 to serve as a backup to starter John Mateer. Mateer was injured following the Sooners’ victory over Auburn earlier this year.
Following that aggressive return from surgery on a broken bone, there could still be lingering issues for Mateer. After losing their top quarterback recruit, the Sooners could opt for a safer play with an experienced backup like Fowler-Nicolosi.
Tulane Green Wave
After picking up quarterback Jake Retzlaff from BYU at the start of the season, Tulane viewed it as a temporary solution. Retzlaff has one season of college eligibility remaining as a fifth-year senior after withdrawing from BYU for violating the school’s honor code.
While Retzlaff has performed significantly better than Fowler-Nicolosi, he is currently the only quarterback on Tulane’s roster.
After starting the last 28 games for Colorado State before being benched, the former Rams quarterback could be thrown straight into action as a starter in 2026, a stopgap solution for the Green Wave as they focus on their 2027 recruiting class.
