Ohio State and Notre Dame have built their football programs through a similar strategy, both aiming for excellence. As they prepare to face off in the College Football Playoff championship game in Atlanta on Monday night, both teams can pride themselves on consistently attracting top-tier high school athletes. This has been a pivotal element of their success.
In contrast to many programs that heavily rely on the transfer portal to acquire talent, Ohio State and Notre Dame have approached it with a sense of caution and success. Over the past couple of years, both teams have integrated transfers judiciously, maintaining a balance that complements their recruiting strengths.
These storied programs, recognized for their prestige, are able to provide not only lucrative NIL opportunities but also the advantages of high visibility and coaching excellence, which are essential for players aiming for both championships and professional careers.
Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, shared his thoughts on entering the transfer portal after three years at Duke, expressing that he had mixed feelings. However, he acknowledged that this decision has significantly impacted his current success. He stated, “You don’t really understand the magnitude of going to a big-time school until you kind of live it… you’ve just got to go through it to understand what it’s like to play quarterback at a blue blood school.”
Data shows that since Marcus Freeman took over as the head coach at Notre Dame, both the Buckeyes and the Irish have added 26 scholarship players via the portal since 2022. This averages to about 6.5 players per year, which is among the lower numbers in the Bowl Subdivision.
Both teams have therefore maintained a selective approach towards recruitment from the portal, resulting in a commendable success rate for the few players they’ve brought in. In the most recent semifinal victory against Texas, five of Ohio State’s 22 starters were transfers, who made significant contributions to the team’s performance. Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, showcased his talents by completing 73.8% of his passes in the playoff games, while Quinshon Judkins from Mississippi also proved pivotal by scoring two touchdowns in the semifinal clash.
Similarly, Notre Dame’s semifinal matchup against Penn State featured four starters who had transferred in. Leonard is noteworthy as one of only two quarterbacks among Power Four schools to accumulate 2,600 passing yards alongside 700 rushing yards this season. Beaux Collins from Clemson emerged as the leading receiver for the team, while Kris Mitchell from Florida International and RJ Oben from Duke contributed meaningfully as well.
The transfers play a helpful role in a well-balanced roster filled with high school talent. Ohio State’s freshmen have already combined for an impressive total of 513 starts, reflecting the effectiveness of Ryan Day’s recruiting efforts which have ranked in the top five according to 247Sports Composite Rankings for six consecutive years. In comparison, Freeman’s classes at Notre Dame have been ranked between seventh and twelfth.
The experience level of these teams reflects a thoughtful composition of talent as well. Ohio State’s roster features a veteran lineup with 13 starters in their fourth or fifth year, whereas only one first-year starter, standout wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, is noted. Conversely, Notre Dame has a mix of youthful energy, with nine starters being either first- or second-year players, and five who are in their fifth or sixth-year, although they will miss offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp due to injury.
In summary, both Ohio State and Notre Dame exemplify the dual strategy of elite recruiting combined with selective transfer portal use, positioning themselves as dominant forces in college football as they vie for the national championship.
