Transfer Portal Reality Check: Why Ohio State Can’t Afford to Wait
As the college football transfer portal prepares to open on January 2, Ohio State could find itself juggling two high-stakes priorities: chasing a national championship and reshaping its roster for 2026. Welcome to the new normal in college football, where predictive roster management is no longer a luxury-it’s a necessity.
Under the NCAA’s updated transfer portal rules, the days of evaluating talent through spring practice before making portal decisions are over. Programs now have one window to make their moves, and it slams shut long before coaches get a full look at their developing players. For teams like Ohio State, that means projecting growth, anticipating attrition, and making tough calls-all without the benefit of spring ball.
This shift has fundamentally changed how programs approach depth and development. The new motto?
**When in doubt, get insurance. **
The Cornerback Conundrum
Take Ohio State’s cornerback room, for example. On paper, the Buckeyes are stacked with promising young talent.
Bryce West, Devin Sanchez, and Aaron Scott are names that carry weight in recruiting circles-and for good reason. But as any coach will tell you, potential doesn’t always translate to production right away.
And in this new era, waiting to find out is a risk few can afford.
That’s why adding a veteran corner through the portal isn’t just a fallback plan-it’s smart roster management. Even if the young guys are ready, having an experienced presence in the room adds stability. It’s not about doubting the talent; it’s about preparing for the unknown.
As one analyst put it, “I’m not 100% sure that we’re good with West, Sanchez, and Scott. And because I’m no longer afforded 15 practices to ease my anxiety... if you want to bring in a vet to make you feel a little better, I’m not going to say, ‘How dare you.’”
This isn’t paranoia-it’s prudence. And it’s a direct response to lessons learned the hard way.
In 2022, Ohio State trusted its depth at corner and chose not to bring in help. Then injuries hit, and suddenly that confidence turned into a scramble.
Linebacker Depth: A Case Study in Projection
The linebacker room tells a similar story. Riley Pettijohn and Payton Pierce are expected to lead the way next season, and the coaching staff believes in their upside.
But again, belief doesn’t replace reps. And without the spring to confirm their readiness, the Buckeyes are left with a choice: roll the dice or bring in a proven playmaker.
“You don’t get the chance to go through spring practice and see what your roster is anymore,” one insider explained. “So if you’re not 1,000% certain that someone can replace what Kade McDonald is going to leave behind, then you need to go get somebody in the portal who’s a starter.”
That’s the balancing act programs now face-betting on development versus securing experience. And with the portal closing before spring ball begins, the margin for error is razor-thin.
A New Era of Roster Building
What we’re seeing is a shift from reactionary to preemptive roster building. Coaches aren’t waiting for problems to arise-they’re trying to solve them before they even exist. It’s a more aggressive, forward-thinking approach, and it’s being driven by necessity.
For Ohio State, this means the January portal window could be just as important as any postseason game. Even if the Buckeyes are in the thick of a championship run, Ryan Day and his staff will need to keep one eye on the future. They’re being asked to make decisions about the 2026 roster without the benefit of seeing how their 2025 players develop in the spring.
It’s a tough ask, but it’s the new reality. And in a sport where depth wins championships, the programs that adapt fastest will have the edge.
So as Buckeye fans count down to kickoff, don’t forget to watch what’s happening off the field too. The transfer portal isn’t just a tool-it’s a lifeline. And how Ohio State navigates it could determine whether they’re reloading or rebuilding in the years to come.