Sometimes when a player leaves a college football program, it’s with a handshake and a highlight reel. Other times, it’s more of a scorched-earth exit, with drama, controversy, and an entire fanbase left in disbelief.
Whether it was a sudden transfer, off-field issues, or just an epic falling-out, these players didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms. From headline-grabbing exits to behind-the-scenes tension, here are 21 college football players who left their programs in absolute flames.
21. J.T. Daniels
Daniels’ college career became a tour of Power Five programs, leaving chaos and questions behind at each stop. Georgia, USC, and West Virginia fans are still wondering what could’ve been.
20. Kelly Bryant
When Trevor Lawrence took over at Clemson, Bryant didn’t just transfer—he aired his frustrations publicly. His departure lit up the college football world and put a spotlight on Dabo’s QB decisions.
19. Dorial Green-Beckham
DGB was once Missouri’s prized weapon, until legal troubles and a dismissal sent shockwaves through the program. He transferred to Oklahoma, but never played a down there before heading to the NFL.
18. Casey Clausen
Clausen was a solid QB for Tennessee, but his attitude and post-game antics rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. His departure wasn’t exactly mourned in Knoxville.
17. Shea Patterson
He was supposed to be Ole Miss’s future before the NCAA came knocking. He bailed for Michigan, leaving Oxford in a tailspin after the sanctions hit.
16. Kain Colter
Northwestern had a model student-athlete in Colter—until he became the face of a unionization movement. His fight for player rights shook the NCAA and left his school in a media firestorm.
15. Jarrett Stidham
After a coaching change and injury drama at Baylor, Stidham bolted for Auburn. The way he exited felt like the final crack in Baylor’s already fragile foundation.
14. Cam Newton
He started at Florida but left under a cloud of controversy involving a stolen laptop. He resurfaced at Auburn and won a national title, but Gators fans were left with a whole lot of what-ifs.
13. Max Wittek
Wittek talked big when he transferred from USC but never lived up to the hype. His time at Hawaii was forgettable, and USC was left cleaning up the drama he stirred before leaving.
12. Jalen Hurd
The former Tennessee running back’s exit was messy, midseason, and full of drama. He claimed it was about position changes, but fans and coaches weren’t buying it.
11. Everett Golson
He led Notre Dame to a national title game, then was suspended for academic issues. When he came back, things were never the same, and his eventual transfer to Florida State felt like a quiet flameout.
10. Malik Zaire
Zaire battled through injuries and quarterback battles at Notre Dame, then transferred to Florida with big expectations. It didn’t work out, and both programs were left wondering what went wrong.
9. Anthony Brown
After leaving Boston College with some not-so-subtle jabs at the program, Brown landed at Oregon. His exit wasn’t smooth, and his criticisms lingered long after he was gone.
8. Justin Fields
Fields’ transfer from Georgia to Ohio State came with whispers of internal tension and frustration over playing time. He torched defenses at OSU, while Georgia had to answer for letting him go.
7. Chris Simms
Simms chose Texas over Tennessee, and that decision sparked major backlash from Volunteers fans. His rocky tenure at Texas ended with more controversy than celebration.
6. Quinn Ewers
He took NIL money, reclassified, and barely played at Ohio State before heading to Texas. His short-lived Buckeye stint was more headlines than highlights.
5. Kelly Washington
Nicknamed “The Future” at Tennessee, Washington clashed with coaches and teammates alike. He left behind locker room drama and unmet potential.
4. Zach Evans
Evans’ recruitment was already chaotic before he ever hit the field, with multiple commitments and school drama. His time at TCU was productive, but his entrance and exit both came with baggage.
3. Spencer Rattler
The QB1 documentary star didn’t exactly make friends at Oklahoma with his confidence and playstyle. When Caleb Williams took his spot, his exit was icy and very public.
2. Art Schlichter
The former Ohio State star left a legacy of scandal and legal trouble that haunted the program for years. His gambling issues became one of the darkest chapters in Buckeye history.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Dramatic Quarterback Exits of All Time
1. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Football brought Texas A&M to new heights, but the flames burned hot. His off-field chaos, NCAA investigations, and post-college antics left the Aggies with a mixed legacy and a lot of drama.
Read More: 20 NFL Players Who Burned Every Bridge on the Way Out
