Year six for Ryan Day at Ohio State—everyone expected fireworks and a national title run with that stacked roster. And let’s be real, those expectations were knocking on the door. Sure, they got clipped by Michigan, but 13-2? Still a contender. All thanks to that $20 million roster!

Meanwhile, Michigan, after that 8-5 season, seems to be copying Ohio State’s playbook—the transfer portal. They’re throwing their hat in the ring, trying to snag some big names. Now, depending on who you ask, Michigan fans are either hyped or majorly side-eyeing these portal moves.

Well, let’s just say their recruiting antics, like trying to poach LSU’s QB commit Bryce Underwood with a big bag of cash, were just the beginning. They just landed Justice Haynes, the five-star running back from Bama, who might be a real game-changer. But some of these other transfers? Not sure they address the real needs—cornerbacks, offensive line, wideouts, and even the quarterback situation is a bit murky. Still gotta give it to them, though. Michigan’s killing it in those On3 transfer portal rankings. They’re making some noise.

As of now, it appears that Sherrone Moore’s Michigan received compensation for their efforts. According to Blue By 90’s X article, “Michigan has the #1 ranked transfer portal class in the Big Ten, per@On3sports〽️.” They are ranked fifth overall, though. And they are attempting to mimic OSU’s master plan in light of the current situation.

Well, the Buckeyes raised $20 million as NIL to build their squad last year. This is reportedly the biggest sum ever seen in the sport. With so many talented players on their roster, they are now concentrating on winning the national championship after finishing third in the recruiting class.

Sherrone Moore has grown aggressive on the transfer site in response to this success story, which is fairly natural. Above all, OSU is not actively participating in the transfer portal because they already have a talented team. With the anticipation of winning a national title under Sherrone Moore, Michigan will therefore have no trouble acquiring the talent it needs to secure its 2025 dynasty.

Moore’s Michigan now has 12 pledges and 23 outbound transfers; many barely saw the field. Among the prominent departing names are WR Tyler Morris, OL Andrew Gentry, center Dom Giudice, and QB Alex Orji. None of those guys leaving via the transfer portal had much playing time at Michigan. So, you gotta wonder, is copying Ohio State’s transfer portal strategy really the way to go? Maybe, maybe not. But for Ohio State, it seems to be working out pretty well, don’t you think?

What is the true purpose of OSU’s $20M roster?

Winning is not an easy task in the competitive world of college football nowadays. It requires financial resources in addition to skill. Nobody is more aware of that than Ohio State. To retain their best athletes in college, they have been spending a lot of money. To ensure that their top recruits stay, they have raised ‘about $20 million’ from sponsors and contributors, according to AD Ross Bjork.

The “$20M narrative” has gained a lot of attention from college football analysts. Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN and Desmond Howard had a heated argument over it. Ohio-born Michigan icon Howard made fun of Ohio State, saying they were practically “buying” their team. Herbstreit refused to accept it. He refuted that assertion, stating that the funds are utilized to pay for players’ bills and guarantee their satisfaction at Ohio State. Let’s face it: these days, everyone is trying to gain an advantage.

Given that their elite roster includes athletes like Jack Swayer, Jeremiah Smith, and many more, the number is not shocking in the least. In addition, nine of Ohio State’s eleven starting defenders have been there for three or more seasons; the only significant arrivals are Bama’s center Seth McLaughlin, quarterback Will Howard, and Caleb Downs.

Let’s admit it, maintaining this roster wasn’t going to be inexpensive. In order to secure important transfers and persuade elite players to remain in Columbus, large NIL transactions were made. Hopefully, all this recruiting pays off with a national title. And for the Wolverines…let’s see next year!