How the toughest roster in CFB is not immune to the Transfer Portal

The Ohio State Buckeyes, one of the toughest rosters in CFB, are in the middle of their preparations for the Cotton Bowl against Texas on Jan. 10. But that doesn't take them away from the ongoing transfer portal battles.

Despite being one of the most talented and successful programs in the nation, it doesn't mean that other schools can't lure away players promising bigger roles or better NIL deals.

That's seemingly what just happened with former four-star recruit Jayden Bonsu, a 6-foot-2, 207-pound safety from Hillside, N.J. He joined the transfer portal in mid-December and committed to Pitt over the weekend. The safety was rated as a three-star transferee by 247 Sports and was considered the 39th-best player in his position in the portal.

The loss is by no means a crippling one for Ohio State, though, and shows how competitive the Ryan Day-led team is. In two seasons, the defensive player didn't see the field for the Buckeyes.

The talent-filled Buckeyes have seen a flurry of departures recently, with several players failing to see a future for themselves in the CFB program. Offensive tackles Zen Michalski and Miles Walker, wide receiver Jayden Ballard, linebacker Gabe Powers and quarterback Air Noland have left for other programs.

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Ryan Day on impact new CFP format has had on Ohio State Buckeyes in CFB

The Ohio State coach told ESPN on Friday, following his team's 41-21 victory over Oregon at the Rose Bowl, about the opportunities the new 12-team CFP format has given to his CFB program:

"I think we've learned a lot about our team, I think we've grown a lot as a team and we're banking on this to be our best football this season. ... You can see the passion, and I think the way that this format is and the way the playoffs are set now, it allows us an opportunity to grow as a team and to learn and to get better late in the season.

"I did feel like if we could get a good win in the first game. We could build momentum; now, it's our job to keep momentum. We have it right now, but that doesn't mean anything if we don't keep it."

"The Oregon game is over. ... The only thing that matters is this game right here, playing against Texas."

Day must be happy with the new playoff format in CFB. In previous years, it would have seemed difficult to see a two-loss Ohio State team, which didn't win the Big Ten, make the playoffs. Now they're the favorites to win the national title, according to ESPN.