Winning a Natty doesn’t always feel just sweet and sugary all the way. Yes, indeed, it is great to prove your worth among several other top-tier schools in and out of the conferences and clinch your flower, but it often comes with a certain obvious aftermath. Look at Ryan Day and Ohio State, and you will understand. Day had come far from being the most loathed head coach in the school’s history after the fourth straight Michigan loss to being the coach on the top of the podium holding a Natty in his hand on a breathtaking night at Mercedes Benz stadium, but at what cost?

Even before the championship emotions could settle down, Columbus witnessed a mass exodus, hinting at a traditional consequence of the teams even if they come fresh off a national championship victory. According to On3, the Buckeyes have let go of 15 players during the 2025 transfer cycle, with defensive lineman Hero Kanu being the latest to cut the tie. They have also lost offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after one banger year and DC Jim Knowles to Penn State. This development shook off a program that mounted a breakout season with a 14-2 record and multiple top-tier wins, and of course, the statement victory over Notre Dame.

Among the most key losses are backup quarterback Devin Brown, wide receiver Kojo Antwi, and offensive tackle George Fitzpatrick. Although Day did his best to balance out the departures with the new portal signees, it hurt the depth chart undoubtedly. ”Colin is showing you a laundry list of integral pieces to that championship team that is gone. Most championship-winning teams suffer; that’s just the natural churn and consequence of success, but I got to be honest with you, this is a whole new world for Ohio State,” Josh Pate dished a reality check.

The transfer portal exodus only highlighted the evolving landscape of college football in the growing NIL era, where even the most successful programs can’t be stress-free in their talents. For Ohio State, the focus will be on preparing and developing the newbies and fortifying their roster ahead of the 2025 season. However, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Reflecting on the brighter side, Pate said, ”It’s new air; it’s a good thing the consequences of success are a wonderful thing, but they are a thing, and the consequences of success are the things that only championship winners deal with. I am almost glad there’s so much turnover up there. Now they may not win the national championship this year, but I’m almost glad they lost so many players, and they lost so many coaches, and you’re elevating an offensive coordinator to maybe do things he’s done for the first time, and you’ve got a lot of newness.”

Pate explained a hypothetical scenario of Day pumping up the new face to live up to the championship standard, as they haven’t proved anything in a Natty-winning team so far. It can turn out a good dynamic for Ryan Day, but it will surely mount extra pressure on the new recruits in the house, like 5-star recruit Julian Sayin who is already up for a looming competition at Columbus.

Julian Sayin’s existing concern at Columbus seems to surge 

Will Howard has moved on from the school for the better. Right now, it appears that the starting competition will come down to Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair. (with a $1M NIL valuation). All of the young QBs have the skill and ability to make an impact whenever they are called for. Ryan Day came clean on the situation, hinting at no favoritism at the starting gig so far, saying that “it’ll be a fierce competition. Lincoln and Julian, and then Tavien.” It came off as a significant blow for Sayin, who was widely considered the frontrunner of the QB1 race.

On February 24, Eleven Warriors asked Julian Sayin about the controversial Ohio State QB mess. While he remained confident, the underneath breath of a sigh was clear. “I think you just take it one day at a time,” he said. “I learned a lot from Will [Howard], he’s a great leader, so I just take a lot from him, take a lot from the other guys in the QB room. We’re pretty close in that group, and so I think it’s good.” Sayin tried to sound ethically correct while saying that having other guys vying for the No. 1 spot is “good.”

In his first season at Ohio State, he suited up in four games as the third-string quarterback. He amassed five of 12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. But regardless, he should be amped up for a fierce competition loading next at Columbus.

It will be interesting to see how the new handful of players pans out in the Buckeyes post-championship season.