Summertime is here, and with it, college football rosters are finally settled. For the time being.

Now that the transfer portal is simply accepted as a regular part of roster management, every Big Ten program has made significant additions for next season.

A couple years ago, Michigan State was by far the most aggressive Big Ten team in the transfer portal. Now everybody is getting involved. Even Northwestern, which had some unique academic hoops to jump through when adding transfers.

Indiana was the most aggressive team this offseason, adding 23 newcomers. Granted, much of that was a necessity because the Hoosiers also lost a significant number of talented players.

Michigan added “only” 9 transfers, but all will have a chance to play key roles as the Wolverines seek a third straight B1G championship. It’s clear that Jim Harbaugh is growing fond of the opportunity to add veteran players to his roster.

These are the biggest transfer portal additions for each Big Ten team this offseason. (And for the biggest losses for each team, you can read here.)

Illinois: QB Luke Altmyer (Ole Miss)

When Tommy DeVito’s appeal to the NCAA for an extra year was denied, the Illini needed to find a quarterback. They found him in Altmyer, a former Ole Miss backup who attempted 54 passes in 2 seasons as a Rebel.

Altmyer has 3 years of eligibility remaining, which means he could become an Illinois mainstay if things click.

Indiana: QB Tayven Jackson (Tennessee)

Trayce Jackson-Davis’ baby brother came home to Indiana after redshirting his freshman year at Tennessee. Jackson will have a chance to start this year, but the excitement about adding the former 4-star recruit is more about long-term potential.

Iowa: TE Erick All (Michigan)

Iowa is the Big Ten’s Tight End U, so this should be a happy marriage. The Hawkeyes, who continue to hemorrhage receivers in the portal, desperately needed a pass catcher to give new quarterback Cade McNamara a chance at success. And who better than his former Michigan teammate?

Maryland: WR Kaden Prather (West Virginia)

With Rakim Jarrett, Jacob Copeland and Dontay Demus in NFL camps, Maryland had a serious need for wide receivers this offseason. Prather, who would have been West Virginia’s top returning wideout, is a solid addition for Taulia Tagovailoa to target alongside returners Jeshaun Jones and Corey Dyches.

Michigan: TE AJ Barner (Indiana)

Barner’s arrival softens the blow of All’s departure and allows Michigan to continue using multiple high-level tight ends. Barner will put up better numbers in Michigan’s offense than he did at Indiana.

While Barner fills a bigger need, the top incoming player at Michigan may actually be left guard LaDarius Henderson. He allowed a total of 2 sacks in his final 2 years at Arizona State.

Michigan State: RB Nathan Carter (UConn)

The Spartans are going back to a basketball school on the East Coast in hopes of recapturing Kenneth Walker magic, because their running game stunk in 2022. Michigan State went from averaging 4.8 yards per carry with Walker to 3.8 yards per carry last season.

Carter averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2 years at UConn, where he was a part-time starter.

Minnesota: WR Elijah Spencer (Charlotte)

Spencer was the 2021 Conference USA Freshman of the Year and an honorable mention all-conference player as a sophomore. He’s a needed new target for young quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis with Michael Brown-Stephens and Dylan Wright departing through the portal.

Nebraska: TE Arik Gilbert (Georgia)

Is this where it finally comes together for Gilbert?

The highly touted former 5-star prospect was considered the next big thing at tight end when he started his career at LSU. But that did not materialize in Baton Rouge, an aborted attempt to transfer to Florida, or at Georgia.

If Gilbert gets a grip on things off the field, this is a heck of a pickup for Matt Rhule. But Nebraska fans should also treat that as a bonus rather than an expectation given the history.

Northwestern: QB Ben Bryant (Cincinnati)

The Cats were a mess at quarterback last year, starting 3 players. Bryant, who starred at west suburban Lyons Township High School, comes back home after replacing Desmond Ridder as Cincinnati’s starter. He should give Northwestern a massive boost.

Ohio State: S Ja’Had Carter (Syracuse)

For the second straight year, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles brings in a transfer safety — although this time that player isn’t coming with him from another program.

Carter was a Freshman All-American in 2020 and an all-ACC honorable mention last season. He has a couple years of eligibility remaining as a Buckeye, though surely he’s hoping 1 year at Ohio State is all it will take to turn NFL heads.

Penn State: WR Dante Cephas (Kent State)

Cephas led the Mid-American Conference with 82.7 receiving yards per game in 2022, and figures to plug and play just as well as Mitchell Tinsley did when he transferred from Western Kentucky last season.

With Tinsley, Parker Washington and Brenton Strange all gone, Penn State needs a trustworthy veteran presence to work with young quarterback Drew Allar. Cephas gives the Nittany Lions that player.

Purdue: QB Hudson Card (Texas)

The Boilermakers are beginning anew at coach and quarterback — and in this case, the quarterback is the more experienced party.

Though his listed job was backup quarterback, Card started 5 games in his 2 seasons at Texas. But with much ballyhooed recruit Arch Manning coming to Texas to back up Quinn Ewers in 2023, there was no point in Card sticking around the Forty Acres.

Rookie head coach Ryan Walters surely wanted a quarterback with a little experience under his belt, and Card gives him that card.

Rutgers: WR Naseim Brantley (Western Illinois)

Brantley has certainly worked his tail off for the opportunity to play at the Power 5 level.

The New Jersey native began his career at FCS Sacred Heart before transferring to Western Illinois. The Leathernecks weren’t very good, but they did play in the best conference at the FCS level, the Missouri Valley. In his lone season as a Leatherneck, Brantley was the conference newcomer of the year and a second team all-American.

Now he’s back home with a chance to jolt the Scarlet Knights moribund passing offense.

Wisconsin: QB Tanner Mordecai (SMU)

Quite simply Wisconsin’s most important quarterback addition since Russell Wilson.

Mordecai, who warmed the bench at Oklahoma before starting 2 seasons at SMU, has passed for nearly 8,000 yards in his career. He’ll get the keys to the car in Wisconsin’s bold new offensive experiment under Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo.