One of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the ACC this season appears to be on the move, with Duke junior signal-caller Riley Leonard apparently entering the NCAA’s transfer portal. Leonard, who was the MVP of the 2022 Military Bowl, threw for 4,450 yards and 24 touchdowns across three seasons in Durham, leading Duke to a 13-8 record as the team’s starter, including a 4-3 mark in 2023.
His exit from town comes on the heels of Duke losing second-year head coach Mike Elko to his former employer (Texas A&M), setting the stage for a new era for the Blue Devils in 2024. While Leonard battled his share of injuries, including a toe injury that kept him out for most of the team’s games this fall, there’s no denying that a bevy of CFB teams are bound to line up for his services next season.
With that in mind, BetCarolina.com used our North Carolina sports betting mindset and broke down some hypothetical odds on where Leonard could land next, with a quintet of QB-needy teams at the front of the crowd.
Riley Leonard Transfer Portal Odds
When NC betting apps are available, you may see odds like this. Here’s where we see Leonard taking his talents once the season kicks off in the fall of 2024:
MORE: Duke Football Odds
Where Will Leonard Play In 2024?
The odds-on leaders to land Leonard this offseason all are in desperate need of a solid quarterback, with Notre Dame losing Sam Hartman after a season in South Bend. Auburn enters Year 2 of the Hugh Freeze era looking to turn the page on a 6-6 campaign in 2023, while Elko looks to establish his system in College Station. That’s why the Fighting Irish are the clubhouse leaders to get Leonard out of the portal, with Notre Dame coming in at +150 to land the rising junior, while the Tigers (+400) and Aggies (+800) are close behind.
Other CFB programs to keep an eye on in the Leonard arms race are Florida State and Miami of the ACC, who need to replace outgoing QBs Jordan Travis (graduation) and Tyler Van Dyke (transfer portal) in 2024. That’s why the Sunshine State rivals are listed at +1200 apiece to get Leonard out of the portal, with Mike Norvell of FSU and Mario Cristobal of Miami looking to score a portal coup on the heels of disparate results on the gridirons of the ACC.
One way or another, expect a litany of CFB teams to knock down whatever impediments are in their way to land a quarterback of Leonard’s stature, with the now former Blue Devils signal caller having no shortage of suitors once the transfer portal officially opens on Monday.
MORE: How to Bet on College Football
