Maalik Murphy may still be available in the transfer portal. Despite a previous commitment to Oregon State, the quarterback was reportedly being pursued by other schools, including Iowa, from the college football transfer portal, as Pete Nakos of On3 reported.

Murphy had not yet signed with the team. His technically open status thus allowed schools to express interest in hosting him for a potential visit if he chose to rescind his commitment.

However, shortly after, it was reported that Murphy did, in fact, sign with Oregon State nd make it official, per Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of 247Sports.

‘Former Duke and Texas QB Maalik Murphy has now signed with Oregon State, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @CBSSports/@247Sports. Murphy was Duke’s starting QB this season and threw for 2,933 yards and 26 touchdowns.'

Regardless, a potential return to Duke was likely out of the question. Shortly after he entered his name into the transfer portal, former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah announced his commitment to the Blue Devils. The program reportedly gave Mensah an $8 million NIL deal to transfer to Durham, confirming that they have fully moved on from Murphy.

Iowa's 2025 quarterback room is still searching for an answer 

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Murphy's unlikely hypothetical commitment to the Hawkeyes would've created an interesting situation in Iowa City. Junior Brendan Sullivan is currently on track to lead the quarterback room in 2025 after taking over for Cade McNamara, who entered the transfer portal to seek a seventh year of eligibility.

McNamara still started seven of Iowa's 12 regular season games before being shut down with a concussion. He was just 4-3 as the starter before Kirk Ferentz turned to Sullivan.

As a substantially more mobile passer than McNamara, Sullivan brought a different element to the offense and had marginally more success. He went 4-1 to close out the season to clinch a bowl game appearance. Sullivan is set to start his first bowl game on Dec. 30 when Iowa takes on No. 19 in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

Besides McNamara and Sullivan, the only quarterback who saw the field for the Hawkeyes in 2024 was sophomore Jackson Stratton. A transfer from Colorado State, Stratton threw for 219 total yards and one touchdown in relief of Sullivan late in the year.

Nonetheless, although the Iowa football program was interested in Murphy, they are now left searching for answers after he joined the Beavers on Tuesday.