College football operates so much differently from what we saw 10 years ago. Not only is there NIL legislation, but players can also transfer once without penalty. We saw just how impactful the transfer portal can be last year, when Michigan State rode former Wake Forest running back Kenneth Walker III to an 11-2 record and a spot in the Peach Bowl.
Ohio State has been able to use the transfer portal to their benefit over the last five years. The Buckeyes were able to bring in Justin Fields to replace J.T. Barrett at quarterback, and they also were the preferred destination of former Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon, who rushed for a school record 331 yards in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game, and followed that performance up with a big game in the blowout of Clemson in a College Football Playoff semifinal.