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Transfer Cycle 2025-2026 - Eloi! Eloi, lama sabachthani!

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Just now, brojangles2 said:

I am so ready for baseball season after all of this shit.

Sorry dude, baseball season decided to stick with its current program

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Was not expecting Sark to use Arch’s last year as a bridge to the Dia Bell era - but this is 4D chess.

On 12/27/2025 at 4:29 PM, Sbbruin said:

JMU star RB Wayne Knight into the portal. One of a number of JMU transfers I’m hoping Chesney brings with him.

IMG_1045.jpeg

Wayne Knight does end up transferring to UCLA

3 hours ago, Ricky Butler said:

I don't think it's "trust the coaches" so much as, you can't pay top dollar for what he will be in 2 years when you can get guys that are already IT.

Might want to start working on that "getting" part. They're not quite doing that one correctly.

3 minutes ago, immamac said:

I would have preferred sark portaling to the NFL to whatever the fuck this shit is. If Texas doesn't come out big late this is all on him.

Sark is gone. If not within the next few weeks to the NFL it will be as soon as the season ends next fall. College football is a disaster. "NCAA Libertarianism" has been a disaster. Allowing the players to factor into the profits was needed, but all out madness with zero governmental body regulation leads to this pile of shit. Very few if any coaches want to deal with this, so the ones with legit NFL interest like Sark will bolt soon.

You would think this has to severely harm player development at this level too. These players arent staying in one place long enough to properly develop.

The offensive side of the ball needs all new coaches. This is crazy.

Aggy just got the OT from Bama'. Formby? That's four OL they've already landed.

2 minutes ago, C-Man said:

I think that's Zion Williams.

2 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Aggy just got the OT from Bama'. Formby? That's four OL they've already landed.

How'd they pry him away from his incumbent school? Amazing.

36 minutes ago, SameSame said:

We need an actual General Manager and an immediate professional staff around him that has experience in dealing with payroll and high-level negotiations.

This could not be more obvious. We have an unqualified clown in that position, and he is getting run over like a bug on the highway.

Sark been busy babysitting PK, trying to find him a landing spot

2 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Aggy just got the OT from Bama'. Formby? That's four OL they've already landed.

We’ve pursued 4 OL, so we got that going for us. Which is nice.

7 minutes ago, Hermanator said:

You would think this has to severely harm player development at this level too. These players arent staying in one place long enough to properly develop.

This is my biggest concern that isn't specific to Texas football.

Sark keeping Flood is feeling a lot like Mack keeping Manny Diaz.

At this point, I think we just need to go ahead agree to drop a big bag for Lance Heard. Mercenary, but at least he's good and on his NFL audition. If we go big for the Wisconsin LG, we will probably be OK. A starting center would be great, but we need depth now too. Those small school OL would be great additions to set a floor. Flood needs to get over his size fetish. It's college not the NFL. Non-ideal size is workable for the right player\skill set.

The UConn RB, who I think is quite good, chose Michigan St. He would have been a good pairing with Brown, assuming we can land Brown.

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Hi Surly. Quick question. What the fuck?

7 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Aggy just got the OT from Bama'. Formby? That's four OL they've already landed.

FWIW, Bama fans seem fine with letting him walk. He's an OG who thinks he's an OT. Played well at guard and was a shitty tackle. Going to A&M bc they've promised to let him stay at OT

52 minutes ago, Sgt Hulk said:

Rumint is. Texas is going to 6 man football this summer

Arch would kill it in 6 man

Just now, RabidM said:

Sark keeping Flood is feeling a lot like Mack keeping GDGD Manny _iaz.

FIFY

Ohio State On3 mod just put out this article. Some familiar talking points.

COLUMBUS—There are no simple fixes in college football anymore and Ohio State is well aware of that.

Every year, the Buckeyes—and the rest of the country—are faced with the need to make fundamental, philosophical changes or risk falling behind a game that is rudderless and leaderless at a national level.

Just a month ago, Ohio State signed 28 prep prospects in its 2026 recruiting class. That was more players than the Buckeyes have ever signed in the modern recruiting era. It seemed necessary at the time. The NCAA removed a second portal window from its spring calendar and it’s necessary to, somehow, get ahead of backfilling the roster.

We realize that makes no sense, yet here we are.

A month later, another reason for that backfill is rearing its head: it’s nearly impossible to build long-term, sustainable depth in college football anymore. The Ohio State roster has lost a number of key players over the past few portal cycles but departures from players like Bryce West and Aaron Scott feel … different.

Those are two Ohio born, Buckeye-for-life type of prospects who were highly-sought after recruits when they came out of the 2024 recruiting class. They each spent two seasons working toward a potential starting role in Columbus. That opportunity was right in front of them heading into 2026.

Yet, they’re each gone now. Multiple years of development, NIL payments and—at worst quality depth—are now gone.

And there will be others to depart that fit a similar bill. High-profile recruits who demanded big money as freshmen but didn’t really make an impact? They’re coming to ask for more money, too.

So Ryan Day and his program will be forced to make further difficult decisions. Culture takes years to build and days to destroy. The Buckeyes have avoided being too aggressive when it comes to paying high school talent big money for that reason. The idea of paying an unproven high school athlete more money than a guy that’s spent years developing at Ohio State didn’t make sense. It still doesn’t.

But does it matter anymore? Should it matter?

That’s something that the Buckeyes have to consider moving forward. The notion that Ohio State—or any program like it—can build a three or four-deep roster that lasts for years is a pipedream.

And so the way the roster is constructed will have to change. That puts the onus even more squarely on Day, Mark Pantoni and the roster-construction crew to get evaluations right. To build a culture that isn’t easily bent to the whim of individual player or two. It means everything that has led to the recent success in Columbus has to be considered, and reconsidered, as the game keeps changing.

Here are a few things we think Ohio State may have to consider moving forward as it builds its future rosters.

Ohio State may need to sign fewer high school prospects

As frustrating as it will be for those who are a fan of enormous high school signing classes, it’s becoming less and less prudent to sign classes like the 2026 class.

Ohio State signed a handful of top prospects in this last cycle. It also signed what is, conservatively, 17 or or so players that have to be viewed as “developmental.” That’s not a malignant term and it’s not an insult. It just means that the top of the class comes into the 2026 season with higher expectations. Those expectations are relatively straight-forward, too.

Compete to have a role in the two-deep. Any player without that expectation is basically a crapshoot at this point. It makes less and less sense to sign high school seniors to any significant monetary agreement if they’re not going to play as a freshman. Why? Because the kids that do play as a freshman will be the kids that a program can usually count on to build the program for two, three years.

Ohio State is learning, right now, that even that isn’t always the case. There are first-year players who had marginal roles in 2025 that are expecting major pay raises despite making no real impact on the team. That approach is only going to become more and more prevalent. Programs with the cachet that the Buckeyes have aren’t going to acquiesce to those demands, generally.

The bottom line? Unless a player is viewed as a first-year impact guy—and that doesn’t mean someone that turns heads in practice, etc.—it’s hard to fully believe they’re going to stick around long enough to become an impact guy later.

Ohio State could, and we believe should, focus on signing 15-18 of the best high school players it can every year. Beyond that? It may make more sense to bring in productive, veteran players from less competitive programs. Real, tangible experience matters as much as untapped potential. Especially if the player with untapped potential isn’t willing to actually commit years to developing in the program.

The Buckeyes must be willing to walk away from young standouts

Holistic changes are rarely easily accepted.

And here’s one that folks may not like. It’s sort of tied into the previous point but it may need its own subheading here.

When a freshman who was a “big dollar” high school prospect doesn’t make an immediate impact and still comes back demanding more money? Ohio State needs to be willing to walk away and let that player move on.

It’s counterintuitive to move away from five-star talents after one year but in this new world an old adage feels more true than ever.

“If a dog is going to bite, he’ll bite as a pup.”

And Ohio State has plenty of resources to give a lot of pups a chance to bite early. If they don’t? In today’s advanced college football era? It’s a pretty good sign that player isn’t going to. When the motivation of a big pay day is removed, schools find out pretty quickly the difference between kids who want to play football and those who simply want the perks of being a football player.

There’s no one who begrudges these young players for getting a payday. However, reasonable asks are becoming less and less common. Going back and asking for more money without making any impact is becoming more and more common. That’s a bad combination.

No one wants talented players to leave unnecessarily but in a world where the schools have no leverage, proper expectations are vital. It’s entirely unreasonable to expect Ohio State to double up financial agreements before making any impact on the program. Will that lead to good players ending up elsewhere? Yep, it will.

But the money, despite public belief, isn’t unlimited. Delusion seems to be.

The roster may need to look more like an NFL roster

The inclusion of money in college football roster building means the game will begin to look more and more similar between college and the NFL.

And that means big money positions are going to be paid big money. Quarterback. The offensive and defensive lines. Edge rushers. That’s where the game has always been won and that’s where it will be won in college over the next era of the sport.

So while the Buckeyes have done a remarkable job recruiting some of the skill positions in the last few years, don’t be surprised if there’s a reallocation that occurs. Veteran quarterbacks matter. Winning in the trenches matter.

Receivers and cornerbacks and safety and running back? Sure, if it’s a generational player. Beyond that? They’re a dime a dozen.

Ohio State knows it can’t pay 60-plus players enough to keep them in Columbus anymore. Maybe it makes more sense for the Buckeyes to pay 40-45 players real money instead. Build a two-deep, pay specialists and let it ride. That makes more sense moving forward than allowing all the work done on the recruiting trail to be wiped away for the bottom third of the roster. Those players are going to be interchangeable across the country. As long as there is essentially endless free agency and contracts that have to be re-upped every year, what’s the value in truly trying to build depth that deep.

There’s no way cdc thought flood was doing a great job and deserved to keep his job. Does sark get to decide who stays and goes and no one can tell him flood blows dick and needs to fucking go?

5 minutes ago, RabidM said:

Sark keeping Flood is feeling a lot like Mack keeping Manny Diaz.

At this point, I think we just need to go ahead agree to drop a big bag for Lance Heard. Mercenary, but at least he's good and on his NFL audition. If we go big for the Wisconsin LG, we will probably be OK. A starting center would be great, but we need depth now too. Those small school OL would be great additions to set a floor. Flood needs to get over his size fetish. It's college not the NFL. Non-ideal size is workable for the right player\skill set.

The UConn RB, who I think is quite good, chose Michigan St. He would have been a good pairing with Brown, assuming we can land Brown.

Lance Heard is a Left Tackle, where is he playing on his team?

lol at total thread meltdown over a 4th string TE, when we are bringing in another more experienced and (at least apparently) more physical TE and have 3 that were ahead of him remaining....

I once went down an internet rabbit hole where I found a site with pictures of plane crash and murder victims. Truly awful shit, but I was fascinated and kept clicking.

That's kinda how I feel now following Texas portal recruiting and roster management. Why the fuck do I keep clicking on this shit?

1 hour ago, RGBIII said:

But Sprague turning down 1.6M to go back to a place that was embroiled in scandal for 900k is disconcerting to say the least

That is fucking ominous

8 minutes ago, OnAComputer said:

Hi Surly. Quick question. What the fuck?

What the fuck is right.

Too bad you don't have any answers or inside info to share with us to at least make some of these guys step back from the cliff

For the first time in my life, I fear F5

2 minutes ago, MirrOlure said:

lol at total thread meltdown over a 4th string TE, when we are bringing in another more experienced and (at least apparently) more physical TE and have 3 that were ahead of him remaining....

That is not the thing most people are worrying about and you know it.

3 minutes ago, MirrOlure said:

lol at total thread meltdown over a 4th string TE, when we are bringing in another more experienced and (at least apparently) more physical TE and have 3 that were ahead of him remaining....

FUCKED OL = Losing season

Change my mind.

ive been a bit of a bitch today. i was so pumped for the portal to open. all the 995ers pumping sunshine and we have struck out entirely. if we got cam coleman the portal season would still be a loss. weve done nothing to help out the o-line... and it looks like arch's last year will be at best the same as last year

6 minutes ago, Hiphopopotamos said:

Lance Heard is a Left Tackle, where is he playing on his team?

For 2 million dollars, he can play RT. If he doesn't want the money, he doesn't want the money.

59 minutes ago, SOHHvet08 said:

Doesn't UT have a dedicated Staffer in charge of retention? WTF is that dude doing??!!

39 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

Read the fucking thread, asshole. The guy's name has been mentioned about 20x per page for the last 60 or so fucking pages. If you want someone to do all the legwork for you and then jerk you off, PM Helobious. But be warned, his handjobs don't see to be what they once were. Must be tennis elbow.

If you mean Brandon Harris, that's not who I'm talking about. UT has a dude on the support staff with "Retention" in his job title.

EDIT:

His name is Jordan Mitchell: https://texaslonghorns.com/sports/football/roster/staff/jordan-mitchell/294

1 minute ago, RabidM said:

For 2 million dollars, he can play RT. If he doesn't want the money, he doesn't want the money.

He’s going to get two million from another team to play LT - the position he wants to play and the position that will get him drafted the highest. We’re looking for RT and IOL.

11 minutes ago, Rockethorn1978 said:

There’s no way cdc thought flood was doing a great job and deserved to keep his job. Does sark get to decide who stays and goes and no one can tell him flood blows dick and needs to fucking go?

He definitely doesn't come off as a dumb ass? But Sark is his hire so he'll give him quite a bit of rope

If someone was willing to meet his money demands, he'd be off the market.

3 hours ago, tokamak said:

Sure seems like the Coleman offer is affecting our capital elsewhere, which is what I feared a week ago when we were rumored to enter that race.

Rosters, I think are going to change in the future to more closely resemble those in the NFL. Why do you want a payroll of 85 or 105? Those need to go down to 65 to 70 guys who can truly play at the level needed. Use that money saved for a star QB or lockdown corner or game changing WR.

6 minutes ago, deech said:

For the first time in my life, I fear F5

Nice way to humblebrag that you’ve never lived in Oklahoma.

Just now, RabidM said:

If someone was willing to meet his money demands, he'd be off the market.

Like Cam Coleman?

Just now, Hiphopopotamos said:

Like Cam Coleman?

He's not Cam Coleman. Nobody wants to pay his asking price for an offensive lineman. We're just desperate enough to maybe do it.

18 hours ago, closetojumping said:

Marshall is a guy that Texas is pining for and I don’t get it.

The staff is just bouncing from option to option at this point. The $9.95ers are dizzy from it, as we all are.

When have I said anything is going to be okay?

Marshall just resigned with Michigan

1 hour ago, RGBIII said:

I think an interesting data point on the struggles so far has been that Texas hasn't lost a single recruitment yet to someone other than the incumbent school. I think it truly shows that the fault lies solely with the staff. Level zero, I know that money is NOT the issue. And I get the argument that some folks won't change jobs and move across the country for a small raise. But Sprague turning down 1.6M to go back to a place that was embroiled in scandal for 900k is disconcerting to say the least

Frustrated World Cup GIF

2 minutes ago, Tex-19 said:

Marshall just resigned with Michigan

Michigan is #AllIn to fix their national image of scumbaggery.

16 minutes ago, BachelorTrek said:

Do Gene Chilton or Russell Gaskamp have any eligibility left? Lulz.

Bet Flood would like the look of the Coke machine.

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