Evaluating Disappointing End to Buckeyes' 2025 Campaign, Transfer Portal Chaos, Indiana Wins First Natty
- Ben Latham
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
The past month and a half have not been kind to the Buckeye faithful.
Things quickly took a turn for the worse after Ohio State's victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor, as they went on to drop their final two games of the year --- Indiana in the Big Ten Championship and Miami in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl.
The issue for fans isn't simply the losses themselves, but the manner in which the Buckeyes lost.
The offensive line got dominated by the Hoosiers and Hurricanes' pass rush, leaving Sayin with little time to go through his progressions and make accurate throws.
You could tell Sayin wasn't comfortable in the pocket due to consistent pressure from both defensive lines. When you make a quarterback uncomfortable, they can start to make mistakes --- and that's exactly what happened in both games.
The mistake that will be remembered came when Sayin threw a pick-six to Miami's Keionte Scott as the Buckeyes were driving with a chance to tie the game. The interception instead pushed the Hurricanes' lead to 14-0, a momentum-shifting play.
Now let's talk about the tempo on offense. The Buckeyes remained very lethargic on that side of the ball in their final two games, a continuation of what was on display during the regular season.
They were never able to turn it on and go up-tempo, which limited their possessions in the games. When you limit your possessions like that, you essentially have to score every time you have the ball --- a big reason why they only scored a combined 24 points against the Hoosiers and Hurricanes.
The slow tempo was a concern all year, yet when asked about it in early November, Ryan Day said they would "turn up the gas" when needed. It never materialized.
When you factor that in with the offensive line's poor performance and lack of rushing attack, you end up with two straight underwhelming performances in games Ohio State could've easily won.
Transfer Portal Exodus
The Buckeyes saw an unprecedented 34 players enter the transfer portal following their New Year's Eve loss to Miami. Yes, you read that right.
The most surprising names that entered were cornerbacks Aaron Scott Jr. and Bryce West, both of whom were potentially slated to get considerable playing time next year.
Thankfully, Ohio State has been able to land some promising players out of the portal in recent weeks like safety Earl Little Jr. (Florida State), Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin), defensive back Dominick Kelly (Georgia), running back Ja'Kobi Jackson (Florida), and kicker Connor Hawkins (Baylor).
While additions like these lessen the blow of players leaving, it just goes to show how much the college football landscape has changed in recent years.
I cannot express this enough --- there has to be regulations put in place when it comes to the transfer portal as well as the number of times a player can transfer. Right now, it feels like the Wild West.
Hoosiers Capture First Title in Program History
It was a storybook season for Curt Cignetti, Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers as they became the first team in college football history to go a perfect 16-0 since Yale in 1894.
It cannot be understated just how remarkable Indiana's turnaround on the gridiron has been.
Just two seasons ago, the Hoosiers had a 3-9 record and were at the bottom of the Big Ten. They are also the losingest program in college football history (719 losses), making their accomplishments this season all the more impressive.
We have never seen a turnaround like this before in college football.
To go from the conference's punching bag to winning a national championship is the ultimate underdog story, and their climb to the top will be written and talked about forever.
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