Transfer Portal 11 Adds 30 Subtracts so far for Ohio State Amid the Chaotic new Face of College Football
The Transfer Portal in college football has been chaotic for all teams in 2025. That is the case for Ohio State, which will see massive roster turnover in 2026.
Ohio State is going to add eleven players in the transfer portal, and they will lose 30 players. When this transfer portal turnover is coupled with the 28 recruits Ohio State has coming in, the largest Buckeye class ever. Do you think this new normal is good for college football?
Transfer Portal Addition and Subtractions for Ohio State
Ohio State Football is going to add 11 players from the transfer portal for the 2026 season. The most notable of these is James Smith, a massive, former five-star defensive tackle from Alabama. His friend and fellow Alabama teammate, defensive end Qua Russaw. Also incoming to Ohio State are Mason Williams, Dalton Riggs, John Walker, Devin McCuin, Christian Alliegro, Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore, Hunter Welcing and Justyn Martin. Ohio State is not done.
30 players are leaving Ohio State in the transfer portal. Too numerous to list, Ohio State is losing former five-star wide receivers Mylan Graham and Quincey Porter to Notre Dame. Sometimes offensive line starter Tegra Thesbola is going to North Carolina. Backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is transferring to Louisville. However, most of the Buckeyes outgoing in the transfer portal are second and third stringers.
Roster Turnover
When one couples this turnover at Ohio State with the now six early declarees Ohio State has for the NFL draft, there will be significant turnover for the Ohio State football roster for the 2026 season. Ohio State is not unique among major college football programs; some have upwards of fifty outgoing transfers.
Big Story
The chaos associated with the transfer portal in college football has been a major story. Ohio State is by far not the only college football program that is experiencing roster turnover. Every program in the nation is experiencing this roster chaos. What is happening right now in college football is akin to 170 NFL teams, populated by players on one-year contracts. All are going through free agency during the playoffs.
Trending
This is such a big story that many individual transferees are trending on Google. One such player is none other than Ohio State wide receiver Mylan Graham, who is a former five-star going to Notre Dame. It is likely he saw the writing on the wall with Jeremiah Smith returning for the Buckeyes and five-star recruit Chris Henry Jr
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the college football transfer portal.
Every team in college football is being affected by massive transfers in and out. The scope of the new normal in college football will change the sport.
There are several good players in the transfer portal, including several in and out of Ohio State.
There were more than 4,000 players in the portal in college football this year.
Parting Shots
There will be massive changes in college football due to the movements caused by the portal. For instance, college football recruiting classes, Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class, which is a record 28 players, will be much smaller. With so many players available in the portal, with a record of performance, there is no longer a need to take risks on all but the best high school prospects.
