Ohio State Buckeyes football reshapes roster with 45 exits, 45 arrivals after portal

Ohio State football just completed the most dramatic roster transformation in the NIL era, with 46 scholarship players departing and 16 newcomers arriving through the transfer portal earlier this month. More than half the Buckeyes’ roster will look completely different heading into the 2026 season. Head coach Ryan Day and his staff engineered a complete rebuild, adding veteran experience at critical positions to offset massive losses to the NFL Draft and the portal.

A Roster Reset Driven by Massive NFL Exodus and Portal Departures

The transfer portal window closed at midnight on January 19, 2026, ending one of the most chaotic offseasons in college football history. Ohio State did not escape unscathed. The Buckeyes lost nine players to the NFL Draft, including two unanimous All-Americans in safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Arvell Reese. Wide receiver Carnell Tate, after just one season as a starter, also departed for professional opportunities.

Beyond the NFL exodus, 31 scholarship players voluntarily entered the transfer portal, leaving Day scrambling to fill massive holes across both the offensive and defensive sides. 11 players exhausted their collegiate eligibility, meaning just over half of Ohio State’s scholarship roster was wiped clean in a matter of weeks. The departures at receiver proved particularly brutal, with five wideouts leaving, including former five-star prospects Graham and Porter, both now at Notre Dame.

Building Back Better, Older, and More Experienced

Rather than panic, Ryan Day’s staff executed an aggressive transfer strategy, signing 16 portal transfers and recruiting a 28-man freshman class. The emphasis was squarely on experience and immediate impact. Unlike traditional rebuilds that rely on youth development, Ohio State prioritized veteran talent who could step in and contribute immediately.

On defense, the Buckeyes landed James Smith, the number one defensive lineman in the 2026 transfer portal from Alabama, paired with edge rusher Qua Russaw from the same program. Both players bring proven pass-rushing ability and defensive depth to replace Kayden McDonald, a two-time All-American. Safety Earl Little Jr. from Florida State and Terry Moore from Duke give the secondary experience at positions that lost Caleb Downs to the NFL. Cam Calhoun from Alabama and Dominick Kelly from Georgia address corner depth. Linebacker Christian Alliegro from Wisconsin replaces lost starters.

Offensive Retooling with Portal Receivers and Tight Ends

The offense required equally aggressive moves. Hunter Welcing from Northwestern and Mason Williams from Ohio were brought in as proven tight end starters. Devin McCuin, a three-year starter at UTSA, and Kyle Parker from LSU give the wide receiver room immediate contributors after losing five players to the portal and the NFL. Backup quarterback Justyn Martin from Maryland and Ja’Kobi Jackson, a seventh-year senior running back from Florida, round out the offensive additions.

Perhaps most notably, Ohio State finally addressed its special teams crisis. Connor Hawkins, a freshman kicker from Baylor, struck a game-winning 53-yard field goal against Kansas State in 2025, a feat the Buckeyes had not accomplished since Blake Haubeil in 2019. Dalton Riggs was brought in as long snapper from UCF.

“More than half of Ohio State’s roster of scholarship players will be different in 2026 than it was in 2025. Including 31 transfer portal departures, five early NFL draft entries and 11 players who exhausted their collegiate eligibility, 47 of Ohio State’s 91 scholarship players from 2025 are no longer with the team.”

— Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

The Winners and Losers of Ohio State’s Portal Class

Most departures were backups or rotation players who saw limited opportunities. Tegra Tshabola, the only starting offensive lineman to leave, transferred to Kentucky but had struggled with consistency throughout his career. Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter, however, represented legitimate losses. Both five-star prospects had clear potential to contribute significantly in rotational roles for Ohio State’s aerial attack, particularly with Carnell Tate heading to the NFL.

Defensive losses included safety Faheem Delane to LSU and cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. to Oregon. Both had starting-caliber potential. Jarquez Carter, a defensive tackle, transferred to Miami and could have been part of the interior rotation. Still, Ohio State’s ability to quickly reload with portal talent means these losses are more tolerable than they might otherwise have been for a program navigating historic roster turnover.

Can Ohio State’s Portal Class Keep the Buckeyes Competitive in 2026?

The eye test suggests Ryan Day’s staff made a calculated gamble on veteran experience over youth development. Key returnees like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a Heisman Trophy finalist, and quarterback Julian Sayin provide stability at star positions. Four of five starting offensive linemen return intact, protecting the passing game. The defensive core, bolstered by Alabama transfers Smith and Russaw plus Earl Little Jr. at safety, should prevent further deterioration on that side of the ball.

Will the portal additions prove sufficient to maintain Ohio State’s status as a playoff contender, or has the turmoil created too much uncertainty? Only the 2026 season will tell, but the aggressive moves paint a program determined to win now rather than rebuild for the future.

Michael Brown

Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.