Ohio State Gets Significant Transfer Portal Update on.
After their College Football Playoff National Championship season, the Ohio State Buckeyes seemed poised to retain most of their roster. However, competition for playing time remains fierce. On January 21, running back Sam Williams-Dixon entered the transfer portal just before the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. A 2024 four-star recruit according to 247Sports, Williams-Dixon had limited opportunities in his true freshman season, recording only seven carries for 53 yards in three games. Despite entering the portal, he ultimately decided to withdraw and return to Ohio State.
With top Buckeye running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson set for the 2025 NFL Draft, Williams-Dixon will face strong competition for touches next season. In December, Ohio State added West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson, a 6-foot-2, 238-pound back who rushed for 734 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Alongside Donaldson, fellow freshman James Peoples will also be in the mix. Additionally, the Buckeyes brought in three running backs from their 2025 recruiting class—Anthony Rogers, Bo Jackson, and Isaiah West. Rogers is ranked No. 97 in the 247Sports 2025 composite rankings.
The Games, Players, and Newcomers We’re Most Excited to Watch in 2025
It’s been less than a month since Ohio State claimed the national title by defeating Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship, but we’re already looking ahead to the 2025 season.
Arch Manning will finally step in as Texas’ starting quarterback and face a big test right out of the gate against Ohio State in Week 1. John Mateer, who put up impressive numbers at Washington State, will now compete in the SEC for Oklahoma, where the challenges will be even tougher. Meanwhile, Carson Beck is back for another college football season, this time leading the Miami Hurricanes.
Our reporters break down the must-watch games, teams expected to dominate, and the players and newcomers they’ll be keeping a close eye on.
Arch Manning’s first game as Texas’ QB1 will be on the road against the defending national champions. No doubt there will be plenty of reactions after this one. Texas has a real chance to secure a signature win early, especially since Ohio State will also debut a new quarterback and coordinators on both sides of the ball. These two teams, who met in the College Football Playoff semifinal, will look quite different this time. Ohio State coach Ryan Day has only lost one nonconference regular-season game—against Oregon in 2021—but a Texas win in Columbus could position them as the team to beat in the SEC.
David Hale: Clemson vs. LSU, Week 1
Week 1 brings an exciting showdown between Clemson and LSU, two teams likely to be ranked in the preseason top 10 with playoff—and potentially national title—ambitions. Both will be looking for an early-season statement win. Clemson has lost the season opener in three of the past four years, including a blowout against Georgia in 2024. However, this Tigers squad promises to be different, with a more polished offense and a more aggressive defense under new coordinator Tom Allen.
LSU’s situation is even more urgent. The Bayou Bengals haven’t won an opener since 2019, and if they don’t this time, head coach Brian Kelly could find himself on the hot seat. However, with strong transfer portal additions, this could be Kelly’s best team yet at LSU. The winner of this game could very well be a serious contender for the national title.
