With one day left before the five-day transfer window comes and goes, Ohio State is working hard to maintain the core pieces of its roster for next season.
But other programs are reportedly making the Buckeyes work for it. Per On3's Pete Nakos, other collegiate teams are trying to entice some of OSU's star players, such as Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, into the transfer portal with lucrative NIL offers.
Per Nakos' report, Smith is being offered between $4.5 million and $5 million, while Tate is fielding offers of more than $1 million. From the report, Ohio State is ready to do whatever it takes to keep Smith in the fold for next season. The Buckeyes are also making a staunch effort to retain Tate.
Smith responded to the rumors on his Twitter account, and seemed to imply he had no desire to go anywhere, much to the delight of OSU fans.
— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) January 24, 2025
A few hours late, Tate quote tweeted the same tweet Smith did, also seemingly indicating he’ll be staying in Columbus.
— Carnell Tate (@carnelltate_) January 24, 2025
Another player OSU is working to ensure remains in Columbus is cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr., who could be a sought-after player on the transfer market. Linebacker Sonny Styles and Ohio State are also having discussions as the talented Pickerington product weighs an NFL draft decision that he'll have to decide on by the end of the day on Friday.
Per the report, these discussions are on top of negotiations the Buckeyes are having with crucial depth pieces to stay in Columbus for next season.
In an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday, Ryan Day said Ohio State is working to show its players that they are valued by the program but also said he thinks there needs to be stronger rules in place to prevent tampering.
“I think the first thing you have to bring in great people and great families, but you also have to value them and try to do everything you can to get what they deserve and what's fair,” Day said. “But there's also something to be said for being around a program like ours. And you think if it's all equal, we'll have a chance to to get our share of guys. But it is different. There's no question. I think as coaches, we're all looking for a little bit more guidelines on this. I mean, everything is so gray right now.”
“I think one of the big issues that we have across the board in college football right now is enforcement. You know some of the stories of some of the things that have gone on just within the last couple of years or even in the past, but enforcement is really strained right now. And so until we start enforcing some of these rules, people can just call someone's agents or someone's parents and offer them a certain amount of money, and then it goes from there. And that's just part of it. I mean, there's so many other things that come in place. So that's one of the things to me that I think we have got to get addressed in college sports and college football is enforcement, because right now there's virtually none. And it's gotten worse as time has gone on.”
Amid reports of a $4.5M offer to Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Day shares his approach to player retention
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 24, 2025
"You have to value them, do everything you can to get what they deserve and what's fair.. As coaches we're all looking for more guidelines on this, everything is so gray right now." pic.twitter.com/0rIpyIER40
The new reality of college football is forcing Ohio State to put in work to retain its roster despite winning the national championship, but more clarity on what the Buckeyes’ 2025 roster will look like should come this weekend when the transfer portal window for the national championship teams closes.
