College football’s landscape has been shifting fast-and not always in ways that help the teams still playing meaningful games deep into December and January. Just ask Ohio State.
In 2024, while the Buckeyes were making a run at a national championship, they were also watching players hit the Transfer Portal in real time. It’s the kind of roster chaos that makes it tough to focus on winning titles. And it’s exactly why Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork is calling for change.
Bjork isn’t mincing words. In an interview this week, he laid out a vision for a more organized, less disruptive college football calendar-one that doesn’t force teams to juggle postseason play and roster management at the same time.
“We should play the games in this period, and we should build the roster during this period,” Bjork said. “Right now, we co-mingle those on top of each other, and no other industry, no other sport, does that... it's way too disruptive. I don't care if you're in the Playoff or not.”
That frustration is shared across the college football world. Bjork is far from the only athletic director pushing for a clearer separation between the competitive season and the business of roster building.
The current setup-where the Transfer Portal opens while teams are still prepping for bowl games or even the College Football Playoff-has created a logistical nightmare. And for programs like Ohio State, which are consistently in the national title hunt, it’s a competitive disadvantage.
In recent years, college football has undergone seismic changes. The spring transfer window is gone.
Now there’s just one portal window, and it overlaps with the most critical part of the season. NIL has changed how players are compensated, creating new dynamics in recruiting and retention.
And with tampering concerns and eligibility disputes still unresolved, the sport’s ecosystem feels more volatile than ever.
Ohio State has done its best to adapt. The Buckeyes have navigated the chaos better than most, but even they’ve felt the strain.
Losing players mid-playoff run isn’t just frustrating-it’s a structural flaw in the system. And it’s one that could ultimately impact the quality of the product on the field when it matters most.
Bjork’s comments reflect a broader conversation happening in college athletics: how to modernize the sport without compromising its integrity. The calendar is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s a crucial one. If college football wants to protect its postseason and ensure teams are at full strength when championships are on the line, something has to give.
Still, despite the turbulence, the Buckeyes are positioned to contend again next season. They’ve built a deep, talented roster and have shown they can withstand the off-field noise. But as the sport continues to evolve, the hope-at least in Columbus-is that the powers that be will finally bring some order to the chaos.