Last season, the Ohio State football program hardly lost any transfers. Most of the players wanted to stay with the team during the winter Transfer Portal because they wanted to win a national championship. The portal window is open during the College Football Playoff, so players had to make a tough decision.
This season, it looked like the Buckeyes were going to have to make that same kind of choice. Ohio State expected to be playing until late January. Unfortunately, they were manhandled by Miami, and now the season is over. With that being the case, players have decided to enter the Transfer Portal.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have lost a few players to the portal already, including a cornerback who had a shot to start next season. Now, they have lost a running back, as Sam Dixon has decided to enter the portal. He played two seasons with the Buckeyes.
Sam Dixon enters the portal for the second time as an Ohio State football player
This is not the first time that Dixon has decided to enter the portal. Dixon actually entered the portal last year before deciding to return to Ohio State. It's unlikely that he decided to do that again this year, but perhaps he just loves Columbus that much.
With Bo Jackson and Isaiah West's emergence, Dixon has been left behind on the depth chart. The Buckeyes won't play him often, so there is no reason for him to stay. He has a better opportunity to earn meaningful playing time elsewhere, so that's what he will pursue.
The Buckeyes have already lost more players to the portal than last year. Expect a few more players to put their names in before the portal closes in a couple of weeks. Ohio State will certainly be searching in the portal for some upgrades heading into the 2026 season, as well.