The Ohio State football program has lost several players to the Transfer Portal since it opened on Friday. The number continues to grow by the day, and it likely will continue to do so as the week goes on. One of the players to enter the portal was running back James Peoples.
Peoples left the Buckeyes after two seasons in Columbus. He was not able to win the starting job in either of those two seasons. This past year, he fell to the fourth-string back after Isaiah West ended up rising up the depth chart. Now, he wants a shot to leave and get a starting position.
After a few days in the portal, Peoples has already found his new home. He's headed to play for another Big Ten program. In fact, it's a program that stole an assistant coach from the Buckeyes last offseason. Peoples has decided to transfer to Penn State.
Former Ohio State running back transfers to Penn State
With James Franklin no longer leading the program, Peoples will be playing for Matt Campbell in State College. With both Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton heading to the NFL, the Nittany Lions are in need of a solid back. Peoples believes he will have a shot at the starting job.
Although he will be playing for a Big Ten foe, Peoples is not scheduled to play the Ohio State Buckeyes in either of the seasons he has left in college. There is a shot that he could end up playing them in the Big Ten Championship. Otherwise, he won't see his former team.
Ohio State will be fine at the running back position. They are more concerned with getting a transfer from Penn State right now. Adding him would certainly help the defensive line heading into next season, which is a need for the team going into 2026.