It’s a college football fan’s favorite time of year once again.

Conference championships take place this weekend, with monumental stakes riding on several games. The College Football Playoff is far from set – the top eight teams in the country (Georgia, Michigan, Washington, Florida State, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama) have a legit case for why they deserve to make the semifinals. And a real chance with the help from teams looking to play spoiler.

After that, a total of 43 bowl games – including the College Football Playoff semifinals and National Championship – will be played across a three-week span starting on Dec. 16. From that Saturday until Jan. 1, there are only four days that won’t feature a bowl game, and none of those days come consecutively.

Yet with all of the chaos set to unfold, perhaps the most exciting part of this portion of the season occurs off the field.

Everyone’s best friend: the transfer portal.

Teams, like UMass, which didn’t qualify for a spot in a bowl game, have already experienced plenty of players heading for the exit. As of Thursday, the Minutemen have lost 11 players to the portal, including a few key offensive pieces. That number will continue to grow as the off-season progresses. Whether it be leaving due to lack of playing time, a better opportunity financially, or personal reasons, this has become the normalcy in today’s landscape of college football. Depending on who’s being asked, portal season can be a blast to follow.

With that said, let’s get up to speed with who has decided to pack up and head out of Amherst thus far. Spoiler alert: UMass head coach Don Brown has, for now, maintained the core of his defense.

Offense

Cameron Carson, K

Carson struggled to get in a rhythm kicking the football in 2023. The rising redshirt senior converted only 55 percent of his field goals this season, going 11-for-20, and made all but one of his extra  points (27-for-28).

Take away Carson’s 0-for-4 from 50-plus yards – a distance almost every college kicker in America struggles from – and he turned in a respectable 11-for-16. The only real flaw this year was the disappointing 58 percent (7-for-12) conversion rate on kicks from 30-49 yards, typically a comfortable wheelhouse for coaches to send out their kicker.

The two sides parting ways just made sense. Carson would benefit from a change of scenery, and Don Brown would benefit from a more reliable leg. There are definitely teams who will look Carson’s direction, maybe even teams down in his home state of Virginia as he looks for what is likely the final stop of his collegiate career.

Carlos Davis, QB 

Every UMass football fan can appreciate what Carlos Davis did for the Minutemen this season. When starting quarterback Taisun Phommachanh suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for three-plus games, Davis stepped in with no hesitation.

Davis showed right away he could play the position at a high level, as he threw for over 100 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Auburn. His three starts following that game, he kept UMass in it until the very end each time (losing his final two contests by a combined five points). That stretch proved to not just himself, but to other coaches around the country that Davis is capable of leading a Division 1 football program of his own.

Because Davis only played in four games, he’s eligible for a redshirt, which means he can repeat his senior season elsewhere. With Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa moving on after this season, it could make sense for the Baltimore native to try his hand in the Big 10.

George Johnson III, WR

This is probably the biggest portal loss for UMass so far. Junior George Johnson III just put together his best season as a Minuteman, finishing second on the team in receptions, receiving yards, and tied for second with Anthony Simpson in receiving touchdowns.

Johnson III, from Port Salerno, Fla., proved to be a prolific route runner in 2023 and showcased his speed on several occasions. He was a perfect No. 2 to Anthony Simpson – together they made for a deadly combination to go along with Mark Pope, Christian Wells, and the rest of the wide receivers.

Next year is Johnson III’s final one as a college football player. UMass has a gap to fill with his departure.

Christian Wells, WR 

Christian Wells came from Appalachian State ahead of the 2023 season, and after 11 catches, 169 yards, and one touchdown, he’ll be eyeing his third home in the same number of years.

Wherever Wells (a native of Broward County, Fla.) decides to land, his sixth and final season awaits him. With him and Johnson III both gone, the Minutemen really need someone to step up alongside Simpson.

Brady Olson, QB

The significant playing time that Olson saw in 2021 and 2022 dwindled down to just one game in 2023, a game against Miami (Ohio) where the Minutemen’s already-thin quarterback group lost Carlos Davis in the fourth quarter.

Olson only threw three passes this season. He completed zero of those attempts including an interception. During his UMass career, Olson completed 49 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,936 yards and 10 touchdowns. He tossed 16 interceptions over his three-year tenure as well.

With rising sophomore Ahmad Haston beating Olson out for the second-string quarterback position behind Phommachanh when Davis went down, the redshirt junior announced Thursday that he has decided to try his luck elsewhere for his final two seasons of college ball.

Eni Falayi, TE

Falayi is a local kid who played his high school ball at Williston Northampton. As he approaches his redshirt junior season, Falayi has decided to look elsewhere for his final two years.

The Peabody native caught three passes for 26 yards in his two seasons with the Minutemen.

Jonny Hassard, OT

Hassard is from Salisbury, N.C. and will be a senior next year.

Jackson Manning, TE

Manning is from Acworth, Ga. and will be a junior next year.

Ethan Dumont, LS

Dumont is from Lincoln, Penn. and has one year of eligibility remaining.

Defense

Michael Oppong, LB/CB

Oppong is from Worcester and will be a redshirt senior next year. He appeared in four games for UMass this season, recording nine tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble.

When the Minutemen’s defense struggled to stay healthy throughout the year, Oppong did a nice job stepping in to fill some gaps.

Jonathan Martin, DT

Martin is from Suwanee, Ga. and will be a junior next year.