The Buckeyes have done it again. Ohio State claimed the national championship with a dominant victory over Notre Dame, solidifying their place atop college football in the first-ever 12-team playoff format. But while the on-field execution was undeniable, what truly set this Buckeye team apart was how they built their roster.

Ohio State didn’t just win with talent—they won with strategy. In an era where NIL and the transfer portal have reshaped the sport into something resembling a free-agency-driven arms race, the Buckeyes leveraged the system to perfection. They combined homegrown stars with elite transfers, creating a championship-caliber roster that blended tradition with innovation.

The Perfect Mix: Recruiting and “Free Agency”

At the heart of Ohio State’s success was a strong foundation of in-state talent, led by defensive end Jack Sawyer. A Pickerington, Ohio, native, Sawyer played like a man possessed throughout the playoffs, cementing his legacy with a legendary strip-scoop-and-score against Texas in the semifinal. His presence epitomized what Ohio State has long done best—developing elite players who grow up dreaming of wearing the scarlet and gray.

But this team wasn’t built on tradition alone. The Buckeyes weren’t just relying on four-year players anymore. They went out and got what they needed. Safety Caleb Downs, a former five-star recruit who transferred in from Alabama, provided a veteran presence in the secondary that was crucial to Ohio State’s defensive dominance. Downs wasn’t just a key piece—he was arguably the best safety in college football this season.

This combination of homegrown stars and transfer standouts proved to be the winning formula. The Buckeyes didn’t just sign players—they identified gaps in their roster and filled them with proven talent, creating a seamless blend of stability and immediate impact.

NIL: The Game-Changer

Ohio State’s ability to win in this new landscape came down to their mastery of the NIL framework. The Buckeyes have never been shy about embracing the reality of modern college football, and their well-structured NIL collective ensured they could keep their stars while also attracting top-tier transfers.

Some teams are just now figuring out how to leverage NIL properly, but Ohio State has been ahead of the curve from the beginning. That advantage showed throughout the season, as they fielded a roster that had both continuity and elite-level reinforcements.

But as dominant as Ohio State was this season, the challenge is only going to get tougher. More programs are ramping up their NIL efforts, turning the transfer portal into a bidding war where even mid-tier programs can suddenly land top talent. The days of a few elite teams hoarding all the best players are over—any school with the right budget can now build a contender almost overnight.

That said, Ohio State still holds a critical edge. While other programs are just now learning how to build a winning culture in this new era, the Buckeyes already have one of the strongest identities in the sport. Their ability to combine NIL-driven recruiting with an established culture of excellence will keep them in the hunt for championships year after year.

Ohio State didn’t just win a national title—they set the blueprint for how to win in the NIL era. Now, the rest of college football is playing catch-up.

H12TORY MADE 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dL7wTlpGxp

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 21, 2025