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UCLA quarterback Karson Gordon is in the transfer portal. He’s exploited a seldom used loophole to enter after the college football deadline.
Gordon will transfer as a track and field athlete with the intention of playing football at his next school. His two-sport status ensures he remains eligible for 2026-27.
Despite entering the portal as a track and field athlete, Gordon can sign with any program as a two-sport athlete, meaning he can join any interested football program ahead of the upcoming Fall semester. The NCAA’s month-long track and field portal window opened Thursday and will close on June 26.
It’s not a luxury most high-level college football players have at their disposal. Gordon will use it to his benefit, as will the school that signs him next.
Who is Karson Gordon?
The Texas native was a three-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He received interest from the likes of Boston College, Northwestern, Texas Tech, and Washington State.
Ultimately, he chose UCLA for the opportunity to both play football and run track.
Gordon is the fastest quarterback in college football. He’s been timed at 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
My boy @KarsonGordon24 running a 4.28 in the 40 yard dash is impressive ! pic.twitter.com/M3vnLVQtMl
— Footwork_King (@footwork_king1) May 22, 2026
Gordon enrolled at UCLA in June of 2024. He has not seen any action with the football team in his first two seasons on campus. He did, however, compete in a pair of indoor track events in 2025.
On January 17th, he set a PR in the triple jump. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during the campaign which sidelined him all of last football season.
That injury already put him behind the eight-ball in terms of playing time ahead of the 2026 season. The addition of the Iamaleava brothers last year only made the path to the starting role more difficult.
The QB room is crowded. As a result, the Bruins moved Gordon to receiver this offseason. He has seemingly rejected that switch.
Where will Gordon transfer?
His next school is currently unclear, though Texas Tech could certainly be a player for the Lone Star State native. The Red Raiders may be without projected starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby as he navigates a gambling investigation.
Backup Will Hammond is returning from significant injury. Tech does not want to rush him back.
Adding Karson Gordon would alleviate some pressure. It would provide depth at the very least. The Red Raiders recruited him the first time around, suggesting they like his skillset and believe he can be effective as a signal caller. Those feelings don’t simply disappear.
The timing is interesting. Gordon watched the college football transfer window come and go without entering. It was not until the summer that he opted to leave UCLA.
That decision comes less than a week after Sorsby’s gambling case took a hit. The NCAA denied the passer’s request for reinstatement after the completion of his 35-day rehab stint. He will now go to court.
It was previously announced that a judge with Texas Tech ties would decide Sorsby’s future. That judge has since recused himself from the case.
Sorsby’s future with the program is up in the air. He needs answers quickly in order to make a decision on entering the NFL’s supplemental draft.
Should Sorsby leave, it would open up a spot in the QB room in Lubbock. Karson Gordon is there for the taking. If Texas Tech wants (or needs) to pursue, it has the resources to ink his signature.
The Red Raiders can provide a competitive NIL incentive. They will make it worth his while to join the roster. The school can also offer the ability to compete for a track and field program that’s won two national titles over the last decade (Indoor ’24, Outdoor ’19).
There seems to be smoke surrounding Gordon and Texas Tech. We’ll soon see if there’s fire.