Much has been said about the amount of money Ohio State spent in putting together its 2024 roster. Some reports have indicated they spent as much as $20 million to put together what is likely to be a national championship team if they can beat Notre Dame on January 20th in Atlanta, which they are heavy favorites to do.
Most people assume that Ryan Day and the Buckeyes went heavy into the Transfer Portal to build this roster, which couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, Ohio State only signed seven players out of the portal. They struck gold on four of those with Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin from Alabama, Will Howard from Kansas State, and Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss. I'm sure they spent a pretty penny to land those guys.
But where Ohio State really spent its money was to retain its own roster from last season, spending enough to keep guys who could have gone pro in college for one more season.
In particular, Ohio State ponied up to keep the cream of the crop from their 2021 recruiting class. Guys they recruited and developed, who have taken on starring roles for the Buckeyes this season.
Guys like Jack Sawyer, who had the scoop-and-score touchdown to put Texas away. Stud DL J.T. Tuimoloau, WR Emeka Egbuka, and RB Treyveon Henderson, among others.
Ohio State also signed the No. 3 recruiting class last season, per the 247 composite. None in that class more important than WR Jeremiah Smith, who might already be the best WR in the country.
Plenty of teams have been splashier in the Transfer Portal. Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have made the portal their top priority. Hugh Freeze has been active in the portal at Auburn as he tries to overhaul the roster completely.
Some Alabama fans have been disappointed in what Alabama has done in the portal. The Tide has only taken seven transfers so far, the same exact number Ohio State took last season.
What Alabama has focused on instead is retaining the top talent on its own roster. Alabama spent money to bring back guys like WR Germie Bernard, C Parker Brailsford, DL LT Overton, NT Tim Keenan, DBs Domani Jackson and Keon Sabb, and LBs Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson, among others.
Alabama also signed the No. 2 recruiting class in 2025, including five stars in QB Keelon Russell, OL Michael Carroll, and CB Dijon Lee.
Does that sound familiar?
It's the exact model Ohio State has had so much success with and what is likely to lead the Buckeyes to the national championship. They strategically found the pieces they needed to fill some gaps in the Transfer Portal, which is exactly what Kalen DeBoer and Alabama have attempted to do.
Alabama needed another playmaker at WR next to Bernard and super freshman Ryan Williams. They landed Miami (FL) transfer Isaiah Horton to fill that void.
They needed more depth on the DL and landed Florida transfer Kelby Collins. Tyler Booker leaving left a void at LG and the Tide went and got Texas A&M's Kam Dewberry. Utah CB Cam Calhoun and Colorado LB Nikhai Hill-Green added some depth in positions the Tide needed.
Alabama will probably end up signing more than seven players in the portal. They'll likely look to add a few more pieces in the spring portal window to fill out the roster.
But Alabama isn't going to be portal-dependent like a lot of teams. DeBoer believes in internal player development with a heavy focus on high school recruiting. Who knows if that will work moving forward in this era, but it certainly worked for Ohio State.
DeBoer is banking on the same thing working for Alabama.