ATLANTA — Ohio State’s defense has been hard to score on all season and that remained true even in a College Football Playoff National Championship game where it surrendered 23 points to Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish are one of just four teams in the last two years to score more than 17 points with the others being eventual nation champions Georgia (2022) and Michigan (2023) plus Oregon this past year as the only team to do so twice.
Despite that, OSU still held up a trophy at the end of the night thanks in part to some key plays at the right time.
Ohio State Gets Bad News in Transfer Portal One Day After National Championship
The Ohio State Buckeyes are losing several players in the college football transfer portal less than 24 hours after winning the national championship. Ohio State is also in danger of losing more players with reports indicating several additional athletes are planning to enter the transfer portal.
While the transfer portal window is technically closed, Ohio State players have five days to enter since the team’s season just ended. Reserve quarterback Devin Brown has signed with the Cal Golden Bears, per On3.com’s Pete Nakos.
Former Ohio State linebacker Mitchell Melton is joining the Virginia Cavaliers. There is always a chance players can return to their current team despite entering the transfer portal, but this former Buckeyes defender is moving on. According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Ohio State is in danger of losing another defender with cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt expected to enter the portal.
“Ohio State cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports,” Zenitz detailed in a Tuesday message on X. “The 6-foot, 205-pound Texas native was a Class of 2023 top-65 overall recruit. Played in nine games for Ohio State this season.”
Freshman running back Sam Williams-Dixon is also planning to enter the portal, per 247Sports’ Chris Hummer.
The Buckeyes made headlines during the 2024 offseason by paying a premium in NIL deals to prevent several key players from bolting via the transfer portal. It remains to be seen if Ohio State will have the same success this offseason.
