Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has been navigating the wild, ever-shifting world of college football, especially with NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and revenue-sharing now at the forefront. After watching a Netflix documentary on dinosaurs, Day drew a comparison—college football feels like survival of the fittest these days.
As things keep changing, only programs that adapt will stick around. Ohio State’s hefty NIL investment has helped them stay in the mix as a title contender.
This article takes a look at how the Buckeyes have reshaped their roster through transfers and by keeping key players, making sure they stay in the thick of things.
The Evolution of College Football
Ryan Day recently watched The Dinosaurs documentary on Netflix and it hit home for him. The way those creatures had to adapt or disappear? That’s college football now.
Day says adaptability is everything in this NIL and revenue-sharing era. The old ways of building a roster aren’t coming back, and honestly, that’s just how it is.
Ohio State’s NIL Investment
Ohio State’s roster is backed by a jaw-dropping $20 million in NIL heading into the 2024 national championship season. That kind of cash has let the Buckeyes hang onto their stars and pull in big-name transfers.
Sure, the 2024 squad welcomed transfers like Caleb Downs from Alabama and Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss, but the Buckeyes only added eight guys from the portal before that title run. Most of their money went toward keeping their own talent in Columbus.
Strategic Transfers and Retention
After a one-and-done College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance in 2025, which ended with a loss to Miami, Ohio State shook things up. The Buckeyes brought in 17 transfers in the 2026 cycle, the most Day’s had in his eight years, after losing 37 players in the offseason.
That transfer class landed them at No. 5 for the cycle, according to 247Sports. Not too shabby, right?
Bolstering the Defense
Ohio State beefed up their secondary by adding defensive backs Earl Little Jr. from Florida State and Terry Moore from Duke. They also had to patch up their defensive line after losing 10 players to the portal and NFL draft.
New faces like James Smith from Alabama, John Walker from Central Florida, and Qua Russaw from Alabama are stepping in. The defense looks different, but the offense? Pretty much the same core group, with nine of 11 starters back.
Offensive Stability
Star receiver Jeremiah Smith is sticking around, even though other programs tried to poach him after the 2025 season. Smith, a top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, stayed at Ohio State thanks to a seriously good deal.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Smith said. “I knew, especially at the end of that game, that a certain program was going to come at me very hard. Not gonna say names — I think everybody knows who it was. But I wasn’t going anywhere.”
The New Model of Roster Building
Building a college football roster now is all about balancing recruiting, keeping your guys, and grabbing talent from the portal. That mix shifts every year, and honestly, it’s a challenge to keep up.
But if you don’t adapt, you’ll get left behind—just like those dinosaurs Day keeps mentioning.
Adapting to the Changing Landscape
Ryan Day’s approach is part of a bigger shift across college football. Programs that figure out NIL and revenue-sharing will stay at the top, and the ones that don’t? Well, they’ll have a rough time.
Ohio State’s smart use of NIL money to keep stars and reel in transfers has turned them into a blueprint for others.
Looking Ahead
Heading into the 2024 national championship season, Ohio State’s focus is still adaptability and smart investment. The Buckeyes know they’ll need to keep evolving to stay on top.
With a strong lineup, key transfers, and big NIL backing, they’re set up to chase another title. And honestly, who’s betting against them?
Conclusion
Ryan Day took a bold approach to Ohio State’s offseason transfer overhaul. He didn’t just follow trends—he tried to stay ahead of them.
The Buckeyes leaned into NIL and used the transfer portal to reshape their roster. It’s a strategy that feels risky but exciting, and maybe even necessary these days.
College football keeps changing, sometimes faster than anyone can predict. Programs that embrace change and keep innovating? They’ll probably stick around at the top.
If you’re curious about all the moves Ohio State made, check out the full article on CBS Sports.
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