Ohio State just watched a national title slip to Indiana, a team that leaned hard into the transfer portal to build its championship roster. The Buckeyes? They’re not ignoring the portal-but they’re not about to let it define them either.
Ryan Day made that clear on The Ryan Day Show last Friday. Yes, Ohio State brought in a program-record 17 scholarship transfers this offseason.
Yes, the Buckeyes lost 31 players to the portal. But Day’s message wasn’t about chasing trends-it was about sticking to what’s built Ohio State into a perennial powerhouse: high school recruiting and long-term player development.
“We’re not interested in starting from scratch every January,” Day said. That’s not just a throwaway line. It’s a philosophy.
Ohio State just signed 28 scholarship players in its 2026 high school class-the largest freshman haul the program’s had in 25 years. That’s not a coincidence. Day is doubling down on continuity, culture, and the belief that the heart of Buckeye football lives in the players who grow within the system, not just those who transfer in.
“It can’t be a year-to-year roster at Ohio State, in my opinion,” Day said. And he’s not wrong.
Programs built to last don’t just reload-they evolve. They foster leadership, build trust, and develop talent over time.
That kind of culture doesn’t come from a one-year rental. It comes from consistency.
That’s not to say the transfer portal doesn’t have its place. Day praised this year’s additions-safety Terry Moore, cornerback Earl Little Jr., and linebacker Christian Alliegro-as key pieces.
And Ohio State has seen recent transfer hits like Caleb Downs, Will Howard, and Quinshon Judkins make real noise. The Buckeyes know how to shop the portal.
But they’re not letting it become the foundation.
“It can’t just be transactional,” Day said on 97.1 The Fan. That’s a line worth underlining.
Bringing in a talented player is one thing. Integrating him into a locker room that’s built on shared values and expectations?
That takes time. That takes culture.
Ohio State’s approach is about more than just talent acquisition. It’s about fit. Day emphasized that portal additions have to be evaluated not just on skill, but on background, injury history, and how they’ll mesh with the Buckeye way of doing things.
That’s especially important given how volatile the roster landscape has become. Day acknowledged that only 10 of the 23 players from the 2021 recruiting class finished their careers at Ohio State.
Eight players from the 2025 class transferred after just one season. It’s a reality of the modern game-but it’s not one Day is willing to accept as the new norm.
Instead, he’s betting on the long game. Director of sports performance Mickey Marotti had high praise for the 2026 freshman class, pointing to their punctuality, communication, and academic focus. That’s the kind of foundation Day wants-players who buy into the program from day one and grow into leaders by year three or four.
So while some programs are leaning all the way into the portal, Ohio State is choosing balance. They’ll use the portal to plug holes and add playmakers.
But the soul of the team? That’s going to come from the high school ranks, from players who wear the Scarlet and Gray not just for a season, but for a journey.
And if Day has his way, that journey will keep Ohio State at the top-not just for one season, but for many to come.