Alabama Lands Oklahoma State Transfer TE Josh Ford, Edging Out Sooners Ahead of CFP Clash
Just days before Alabama and Oklahoma square off in the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide scored an early win off the field-landing Oklahoma State transfer tight end Josh Ford, a move that adds another layer of intrigue to Friday’s matchup.
Ford, a Stillwater native and one of the top tight ends in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to Alabama over a final group that included Oklahoma, Auburn, Arkansas, and Illinois. The timing couldn’t be more poetic: Ford’s decision to join the Tide comes just as his new team prepares to face the Sooners in a high-stakes postseason rematch.
Though the transfer portal doesn’t officially open until January 2, Ford was eligible to sign early after entering the portal midseason. His entry came in the wake of Mike Gundy’s firing at Oklahoma State, a move that triggered a wave of departures from the Cowboys’ program.
Ford’s recruitment had been closely watched. He visited Oklahoma on October 25, a game the Sooners dropped to Ole Miss, then made a trip to Tuscaloosa two weeks later-just in time to see Alabama take down LSU in a marquee SEC showdown.
For a player raised in the shadow of Boone Pickens Stadium, the expectation was that Ford might stay close to home. But in the end, Alabama’s pitch-and perhaps the chance to play on a national stage-proved too compelling to pass up.
Recruiting outlets were split on where Ford would land. On3 projected either Oklahoma or Auburn as the likely destination, while 247Sports went a step further, ranking him as the No. 2 tight end currently in the portal. On3 slotted him fourth in their positional rankings.
Ford’s on-field résumé backs up the hype. As a true freshman in 2024, he was one of just two first-year players to crack Oklahoma State’s starting lineup.
He played in every game, started six, and totaled 10 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. This past season, he appeared in four games-hauling in three catches for 45 yards and a score against Baylor on September 27-before choosing to redshirt and preserve a year of eligibility.
Now, with three years remaining, Ford heads to a program that knows how to develop tight ends and put them in position to succeed. And while he never got to suit up for Bedlam, his move to Alabama may actually increase the odds of facing Oklahoma down the road-especially with both programs now part of the SEC landscape.
For Alabama, this is more than just a roster addition. It’s a strategic pickup of a young, dynamic tight end with big-game experience and untapped potential. For Oklahoma, it’s a near-miss on a homegrown talent who could’ve filled a key role in Jeff Lebby’s offense.
And for Ford, it’s a fresh start-with a chance to make an impact in one of college football’s most storied programs.