Ohio State wide receiver Bryson Rodgers announced Thursday his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal, marking the first major departure from the Buckeyes’ roster as they prepare for a College Football Playoff run.
Rodgers, a redshirt sophomore from Zephyrhills, Florida, revealed his decision via social media. The former four-star recruit appeared in 20 games over three seasons in Columbus, recording 11 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown. His lone score came this season in a November victory over UCLA.
Godspeed.🖤 https://t.co/nJmYlokS7o
— Bryson Rodgers (@IBryson13) December 18, 2025
This is the second time Rodgers has explored a departure. He briefly entered the portal following his true freshman season in 2023 before electing to return. Despite logging a career-high 129 snaps this season, Rodgers faced an increasingly crowded depth chart featuring superstars Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, along with five-star freshmen Quincy Porter and Chris Henry Jr. set to join the rotation.
Industry analysts suggest a potential landing spot could be South Florida, where former Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was recently named head coach.
Buckeyes on “Portal Watch” for 2025-26
With the transfer portal officially opening for the general window on Jan. 2, several other Buckeyes are rumored to be considering new opportunities due to depth chart constraints or coaching changes.
| Player | Position | Class | Reasoning |
| Lincoln Kienholz | Quarterback | Junior | Stuck behind Julian Sayin and incoming freshman Tavien St. Clair. |
| C.J. Hicks | Linebacker | Senior | A former five-star recruit who has struggled to find a consistent starting role in Matt Patricia’s defense. |
| James Peoples | Running Back | Sophomore | Facing competition from breakout freshman Bo Jackson |
| Mylan Graham | Wide Receiver | Sophomore | Elite talent is buried behind the nation’s deepest receiving corps. |
| Sam Williams-Dixon | Running Back | Sophomore | Depth chart casualty following the emergence of younger backs. |
While Rodgers is the first to publicly announce, head coach Ryan Day is expected to manage a significant “roster churn” as the Buckeyes transition from their 2025 campaign into a 2026 season with high expectations.
