Big-time programs don’t just lose players in the transfer portal — they watch them pop up on TV every Saturday, making plays in new colors. And this is where it gets really interesting for Ohio State fans.
The big picture
Every offseason, players move on for all kinds of reasons: coaching changes, a better shot at playing time, or simply wanting a fresh start in a new environment. Ohio State is no different, even though the Buckeyes are widely known for doing a strong job of keeping their roster intact and convincing key contributors to stay. Despite those departures, the scarlet and gray have held onto the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll ever since their season-opening victory over Texas, showing that the program’s overall strength hasn’t dipped.
As the regular season closes after Week 13 of the 2025 campaign, the story doesn’t stop in Columbus — it continues wherever former Buckeyes now line up for other schools. Fans naturally want to know: Who left, where did they land, and are they thriving, struggling, or quietly filling depth-chart roles at their new homes?
Who left Ohio State?
In total, 15 Ohio State players entered the transfer portal during the offseason and found spots with new programs across the country. That group spans multiple positions — from quarterbacks and running backs to receivers, tight ends, linemen, linebackers, specialists, and defensive backs — giving Week 13 box scores a noticeable Buckeye flavor even outside the Big Ten.
For this breakdown, the focus is on how those transfers performed specifically in Week 13, using snap counts as a key reference point to show who actually saw the field and how much they were involved. To give better context, a few players who transferred in earlier recruiting cycles but are now playing meaningful roles for their current teams are also included, so fans can track longer-term development, not just one-off seasons.
Hero Kanu – DT, Texas
School: Texas.
Texas didn’t exactly put on a defensive clinic in Week 13, but still managed to outscore Arkansas in a 52–37 shootout win. Defensive tackle Hero Kanu logged 31 snaps in the victory and was credited with one tackle, contributing to the rotation even if he didn’t post huge numbers.
Joe Royer – TE, Cincinnati
School: Cincinnati.
Tight end Joe Royer was involved in the passing game during Cincinnati’s 26–14 loss to BYU. He was targeted twice, caught both passes, and finished with 13 receiving yards, giving the Bearcats a reliable short-yardage option even in defeat.
Evan Pryor – RB, Cincinnati
School: Cincinnati.
Running back Evan Pryor made his return from injury in that same matchup against BYU and turned in a solid all-around performance. On the ground, he rushed seven times for 36 yards, while also catching three passes for 48 receiving yards, showing versatility as both a rusher and pass catcher despite the loss.
Patrick Gurd – TE, Cincinnati
School: Cincinnati.
Tight end Patrick Gurd did not see any targets come his way in the BYU game. However, he still appeared in 10 offensive snaps, contributing mostly as a blocker and depth piece in the Bearcats’ offensive scheme.
Dallan Hayden – RB, Colorado
School: Colorado.
Colorado’s difficult season continued with a 42–17 loss to Arizona State, dropping the Buffaloes to a 3–8 record. Yet Dallan Hayden was a genuine bright spot, leading the team in rushing with 65 yards on 10 carries and punching in a touchdown, a stat line that suggests he is becoming one of their more dependable offensive weapons.
Anthony Venneri – P, UCF
School: UCF.
Here’s a fun twist: the punter might have been UCF’s most valuable player in its 17–14 win over Oklahoma State. Anthony Venneri punted six times, averaging 40.8 yards per kick, including a long of 51 yards, and pinned three punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, repeatedly flipping field position in a low-scoring game.
Chip Trayanum – RB, Toledo
School: Toledo.
Running back Chip Trayanum delivered a standout performance in Toledo’s 38–9 blowout win over Ball State. He carried the ball 15 times for 128 rushing yards and a touchdown, and added two receptions for 14 yards, giving the Rockets a true workhorse outing and showing the kind of production many Buckeye fans once hoped to see more often in Columbus.
Jayden Ballard – WR, Wisconsin
School: Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s offense is still far from explosive through the air, but the Badgers managed to notch another win over a ranked Big Ten opponent by beating Illinois 27–10. Wide receiver Jayden Ballard saw the field for 12 snaps in the victory yet was not targeted in the passing game, underscoring the ongoing questions about Wisconsin’s passing identity.
Gabe Powers – LB, Kansas State
School: Kansas State.
The Kansas State–Utah game will be remembered by many for Utah’s dramatic 51–47 comeback and the emotional reaction afterward from Wildcats coach Chris Klieman. In the middle of that chaos, linebacker Gabe Powers played nine snaps on defense and recorded one tackle, making a modest but measurable contribution in a wild contest.
Noah Rogers – WR, NC State
School: North Carolina State.
On a strange Friday night, NC State defeated Florida State 21–11 in a game that ended with Florida State publicly backing head coach Mike Norvell. Wide receiver Noah Rogers was on the field for 53 snaps and was targeted once, but did not record a catch, which raises an interesting debate: is heavy snap usage without touches a sign of trust in his blocking and route-running, or a missed opportunity to feature his skills more?
Air Noland – QB, South Carolina
School: South Carolina.
Quarterback Air Noland finally saw game action in South Carolina’s blowout win over Coastal Carolina. He attempted three passes, completed two of them for 13 yards, and also had one rushing attempt for four yards, giving Gamecocks fans a small but encouraging glimpse of what he might bring to the offense in future seasons.
Virginia, Mitchell Melton, and a playoff push
A particularly fun storyline comes from Virginia and defensive end Mitchell Melton. The Cavaliers now sit just one win away from clinching a spot in the ACC Championship Game, an outcome almost nobody would have predicted before the year, and they are also only two wins away from reaching the College Football Playoff, which would be a massive national shock.
To lock up their conference title game appearance, Virginia simply needs to beat Virginia Tech on Saturday, a rivalry matchup that suddenly carries enormous stakes. If they pull it off, debates will heat up over whether a preseason underdog like Virginia truly belongs in the playoff conversation, especially compared with more traditional powers.
Transfers who did not play in Week 13
Several former Buckeyes either did not see the field in Week 13 or were unavailable for other reasons. Even though they didn’t log snaps, tracking their status still matters for understanding how their moves are working out long term.
Ohio State transfers who did not play in Week 13:
- Morrow Evans, long snapper, UCLA.
- George Fitzpatrick, offensive tackle, Kansas State.
- Kojo Antwi, wide receiver, Colorado State.
- Jayden Bonsu, linebacker, Pittsburgh (out for the season due to injury).
- Miles Walker, offensive lineman, Boise State.
- Ryan Turner, cornerback, Purdue (team had the week off).
- Devin Brown, quarterback, Cal.
- Calvin Simpson-Hunt, cornerback, Baylor.
- Mitchell Melton, defensive end, Virginia (team had the week off).
- Zen Michalski, offensive lineman, Indiana (team had the week off).
- Reid Carrico, linebacker, West Virginia (team had the week off).
The bigger debate
Here’s where it can get a little controversial: when a transfer like Chip Trayanum explodes at Toledo or Dallan Hayden shines at Colorado, does it reflect more on Ohio State’s depth and talent logjam or on missed evaluation and usage in Columbus? On the flip side, when players get limited touches or snaps at their new schools, does that suggest they overestimated their role elsewhere, or is it just another example of how competitive high-level college football has become everywhere?
So what do you think: Are these Buckeye departures proof that the transfer portal is empowering players to find the right fit, or are some of them better off staying to fight for roles at a powerhouse like Ohio State? And which performance from Week 13 — from Venneri’s punting masterclass at UCF to Trayanum’s breakout at Toledo — stood out most to you and why?
