Ohio State football picks up key win for its roster with transfer portal open – and they didn’t even have to add a player
The Ohio State Buckeyes are keeping their starting running back for the 2026 season.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have had quite a time since the transfer portal opened last Friday. The Buckeyes have lost over 20 players to the portal — and they’ve added four players as well.
Ohio State hasn’t lost a starter yet, though there was noise that starting RB Bo Jackson could potentially depart. Friday brings the Buckeyes good news on that front.
Ohio State starting RB Bo Jackson to return to Columbus as a sophomore.
Ohio State’s starting running back is sticking around, according to Chris Hummer Jackson was the leading rusher for Ohio State as a true freshman with 1,090 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2025. It had previously been reported that Jackson was looking for a large uptick in his NIL.
“From what I understand, the request from [Bo Jackson’s camp] is more than what TreVeyon [Henderson]’s salary was for the New England Patriots this year,” Jeremy Birmingham said on The Beat with Austin & Birm on Thursday. “More than both TreVeyon and Quinshon [Judkins] made in their final year at Ohio State, [and] maybe combined.”
Ohio State will return Jackson and fellow freshman Isaiah West for the 2026 season. The Buckeyes will lose CJ Donaldson to graduation, while James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon transferred out of the program. Ohio State could add a third running back from the portal for the 2026 season.
Keeping Jackson in an offense that returns both QB Julian Sayin and WR Jeremiah Smith is a nice win for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Good news to end the week in Columbus with a talented player.
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