The NCAA transfer portal officially opens Dec. 9, the Monday after the conference championships are played and the Playoff field is set.

But college football’s silly season has already begun.

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos became the highest-profile player to announce his intention to enter the portal last week.

Castellanos’ decision to leave was based primarily on his benching in favor of backup Grayson James and the fact that his dual-threat skill set wasn’t a good fit for new coach Bill O’Brien’s pro-style offense.

Others seeking new opportunities this offseason will do so for other, more financially driven motivations.

There’s plenty of NIL money floating around. And those programs atop the food chain, along with some desperate to get there, aren’t shy about spending it to attract top talent.

That makes every promising player, especially those with multiple seasons of remaining eligibility, a potential target to be poached by teams with greater financial resources in and outside their conference.

Here’s a look at some of the ACC’s most likely candidates to command high-dollar NIL offers this offseason (assuming they haven’t already begun receiving them):

CJ Bailey, QB, NC State

Young quarterbacks with elite arm talent are always in demand. And Bailey has shown enormous potential since taking over as the Wolfpack’s starter in Week 4. He’s completing 64.6% of his passes, 1,794 yards, and 12 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions. He has also shown great poise in leading his team to a comeback win on the road at Cal.

With the experience he’s gaining and the additional bulk he’s projected to gain on his lean 6-foot-6 frame, Bailey is poised to blossom in 2025. The only question is where? A Miami native with his upside will be especially attractive to State’s ACC rivals Miami and Florida State, both of whom will be looking for new starters after this season. Though the Wolfpack still considers Bailey their quarterback of the future, it’s going to take a big check from their collective to keep him in Raleigh.

KC Concepcion, WR, NC State

Concepcion was a breakout star last season on his way to becoming the ACC’s Rookie of the Year. But despite high expectations for an even better sophomore season, his lack of production has been a disappointment. He started strong with 9 catches for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns in the opener against Western Carolina. In the 9 games since, he’s only amassed another 274 yards and 2 receiving scores.

Some of the drop-off can be attributed to defenses paying more attention to him. But offensive coordinator Robert Anae hasn’t done a good job of getting him the ball in ways that allow him to take advantage of his electric playmaking skills. He has averaged less than 8 yards per catch 5 times this season. Concepcion’s frustration has shown, especially during a recent loss to Duke in which he went without a catch for the first time in his 23-game college career. His departure was already a foregone conclusion even before his younger brother Arrion decommitted from State on Sunday.

Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

No matter how hard Dave Clawson and Wake’s Roll The Quad Collective try, the Deacons will always have a hard time hanging onto their best players because of their small stature, low national profile and limited resources. For whatever the reason, running backs have been among the most attractive candidates for poachers. They’ve lost Kenneth Walker to Michigan State, Christian Beall-Smith to South Carolina, Christian Turner and Justice Ellison to Indiana and Quinton Cooley to Liberty. Claiborne could be the latest in that line. The 5-10, 200-pound junior has been a workhorse in rushing for 919 yards and 11 touchdowns on 189 carries. He’s also had success as a kick returner. His most marketable quality, however, might be the toughness he displayed against Louisiana on Sept 28. After being carted off with a dislocated kneecap, he returned after halftime to break off a 60-yard touchdown run.

Anthony Colandrea, QB, Virginia

Colandrea was one of the few bright spots on a bad Virginia team as a true freshman thrown into action too early in 2023. And he’s been good again in leading the Cavaliers to 5 wins already this season, including a road upset of then-No, 18 Pittsburgh. While he doesn’t have the raw arm talent of Bailey, he does have skill, savvy and the ability to make plays with his legs. He still needs to become more consistent and cut down on his interceptions. He’s already thrown 11 this season, compared to 12 touchdowns. But his potential as a former 3-star prospect could make him an attractive free agent target. Especially for one particular school with a history of raiding ACC programs for transfer quarterbacks.

Taye Seymour, S, Georgia Tech

The 5-11, 205-pound sophomore was good enough to play in 9 games, mostly on special teams, as a true freshman last season. But he has flourished in a starting role this year as part of a vastly improved Yellow Jackets’ secondary. Seymour ranks 4th on the team with 46 tackles, including 3 TFLs while recording a pair of pass breakups. Ten of those tackles came in a game against Syracuse earlier this season. Although his 2-star status out of high school led to him being overlooked by a lot of top programs – he committed to East Carolina before flipping late to Tech – his performance on the field since arriving at college has certainly opened some eyes.

Reed Harris, WR, Boston College

Harris was the top-rated recruit from Montana out in the Class of 2023 and the first player on record from that state to play in the ACC. He was a 2-way prospect listed as an “athlete” because of his high-end speed and size. The 6-5, 229-point redshirt freshman has proven to be a big-play threat for the Eagles this season, with touchdown catches of 72 (against Duquesne) and 67 yards (against Missouri). But while he’s second on the team with 300 receiving yards, he’s done it on only 9 catches. Even after grabbing a career-high 4 passes for 78 yards Saturday against SMU, his lack of use might prompt him to look elsewhere for an opportunity offering more of a workload.

Amare Campbell, LB, North Carolina

Campbell has been a catalyst for the Tar Heels’ defensive resurgence during the 3-game winning streak that has completely turned around UNC’s season. The 6-0, 230-pound sophomore hasn’t just been a force with his play at the “Mike” position. He’s also been a leader on the field as the player designated to wear the communications helmet relaying signals from the sideline and in the locker room. He’s 3rd on the team with 55 tackles and 2nd with 5 sacks to go along with a 2 PBUs and a forced fumble. While the Tar Heels have several players likely to draw outside interest this offseason, Campbell will undoubtedly cost the most to retain.

Aidan Banfield, OG, North Carolina

Not many true freshmen start their first college game. Even fewer true freshman offensive linemen do so. But Banfield was in the lineup at left guard from the opening snap against Minnesota on Sept. 1. The 6-3, 300-pound Atlanta area native has been a solid member of an offensive line that has led the way for Omarion Hampton to rush for more than 1,400 yards and rank 2nd among FBS running backs only to Boise State’s Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. Banfield has been so good that he was named by 247 Sports to its midseason Freshman All-American team.

Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke

Rivers is a proven ball-hawk who has been a mainstay in a defense that has been among the best in the ACC for the past 3 seasons. He’s playing the best football of his career, with a team-leading 8 PBUs and 3 interceptions, including a pick-6 against Florida State that helped him earn ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors. The junior could have left after Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M last December, but chose to stay because of new coach Manny Diaz’s defensive background. His loyalty to the program will likely be tested again this offseason by the potential for NIL earnings the Blue Devils might not be able to match.

Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles, LB, Pitt

The Panthers’ linebacking corps has been nicknamed “The Sharks” because of their swarming, aggressive style. But once this season ends, high-profile teams in need of defensive playmakers could potentially start a feeding frenzy trying to pry one of both of these sophomores away from Pat Narduzzi.

Louis (6-6, 225) ranks 2nd on his team with 83 tackles and 2nd in the ACC in both tackles for loss with 14.5 and interceptions with 4. He also ranks 5th in the league with 7 sacks. Biles, who has played in 1 fewer game, has recorded 66 stops, 5 sacks and 5 PBUs, all of which are among the top 16 in the conference standings.

They are the heart of a Pitt defense that is tops in the ACC in sacks and has allowed the 2nd-fewest rushing yards in the conference this season.