Penn State could win the CFP with this hypothetical midseason transfer-portal trade for a star wide receiver

James Franklin has had a responsible strategy for deploying his program’s somewhat limited NIL dollars. Penn State’s primary NIL fundraising pitch has been “Retain the Roar” as the 11th-year head coach of the Nittany Lions just hopes to keep his most talented players in Happy Valley. 

However, Franklin did dip into the transfer portal this offseason to address a few positions. He added two SEC cornerbacks, AJ Harris and Jalen Kimber who have both become starters, and former five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci who is now starting at right tackle, but he failed to properly address this team's most pressing need. 

After losing Dante Cephas and KeAndre Lambert-Smtih to Kansas State and Auburn respectively, Franklin brought former Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming back to his home state. The former No. 1 recruit in PA underwhelmed in Columbus and so far has struggled in Happy Valley. Fleming has made just 11 catches for 152 yards and only made one grab against his former team in Penn State’s 20-13 loss in Week 10. 

Quarterback Drew Allar has taken a significant step forward, and performed much better against Ohio State in his second time around. However, Penn State didn’t manage a single offensive touchdown because Allar didn’t have enough weapons on the outside to scare Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles out of blitzing with man coverage behind it. 

In the offseason, adding a wide receiver in the portal will be priority No. 1 for Franklin and his staff. They’ve already landed commits from four 2025 wide receivers, there just isn’t a way to upgrade the roster this season while the Nittany Lions contend for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff and ultimately the national championship. But what if there was? 

What if instead of simply the transfer portal, like the NFL, college football could do a little transfer portal trade? With the NFL trade deadline shaking up professional football on Tuesday, it’s a good chance to evaluate what Penn State’s best transfer portal in-season trade would be to help the 2024 team, win it all. 

Tetairoa McMillan is one of the best wide receivers in the country, and with his tremendous size at 6-foot-5, could easily be the most talented. After Jedd Fisch left Arizona for Washington, McMillan stayed in Tucson with Noah Fifita, his high school quarterback, but things fell apart for first-year head coach Brent Brennan. 

Arizona is 3-6 and 1-5 in Big 12 play with an abysmal defense and problems along the offensive line. With McMillan certainly heading to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, in this hypothetical, Brennan would love to offload his superstar pass-catcher for a few young players who could be the foundation of his rebuild. 

While it would hurt, Penn State could potentially be willing to part ways with three of the most important members of its 2024 recruiting class to take a shot at a national title this season with McMillan. Allar desperately needs a weapon who can win on the outside against the types of defenses he will likely face in a CFP matchup, and McMillan not only commands gravitational defensive attention that creates opportunities for others to thrive offensively, but with his massive catch radius a 50/50 ball in his direction can be a get-out-of-jail free card in big moments and his protection breaks down. 

McMillan has 63 catches for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns. All of Penn State’s wide receivers combined have 62 catches for 1,057 yards. Three high-quality freshmen, including Allar’s possible successor, is a lot to give up for less than half a season of McMillan, but if he could get Franklin to the CFP semifinal or beyond, it would be well worth it.