College Football Fans React To Ohio State RB Transferring Before Cotton Bowl

01/06/2025 05:42 PM

Ohio State's running back depth has taken a hit ahead of the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

The Buckeyes, the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff, are set to take on No. 5 seed Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday evening. Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian's teams will be playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff national title game. Ohio State is coming off a blowout win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl, while Texas took down Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.

Ohio State has had a couple of players transfer out following the Rose Bowl. The NCAA's transfer portal remains open and with spring semesters starting up this month, players don't have the ability to wait around. 

On Monday, an Ohio State running back announced that he would be hitting the NCAA's transfer portal.

Ohio State freshman running back Sam Williams-Dixon, a former three-star recruit, is hitting the NCAA's transfer portal. He rushed for 53 yards on seven carries as a true freshman.

"Ohio State Freshman RB Sam Williams-Dixon just informed me that he'll be entering the transfer portal. He let the staff know on Sunday and has all paperwork completed. He will not be staying with the Buckeyes through the end of the playoffs. SWD had 7 carries for 53 yards as a true freshman, including a 31-yard run against Western Michigan in September," Jeremy Birmingham reported.

College football fans are reacting to the news on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Like I understand. Go elsewhere and get a great opportunity. Good on you kid. But your team has a chance to possibly win a National Championship. Why not wait a few weeks? You've worked so hard this season. Why wouldn't you see if you can get a ring?" one fan wrote.

"big loss, but the room is stacked with young talent," one fan added.

"Sucks because he's a local kid, but this is rich people's problems. Even the freshmen coming in were going to bury him in the depth chart," one fan added.

"Kids have no patience now that it's an easy way out. Kid is a true freshman, give yourself time to breath and grow??? 🤷‍♂️ Is this a potential sign Judkins is in fact coming back for the 2025 season?? Because that would put Williams-Dixon at 3rd/4th on the depth chart…at best," one fan added.

Ohio State Freshman RB Sam Williams-Dixon just informed me that he'll be entering the transfer portal. He let the staff know on Sunday and has all paperwork completed. He will not be staying with the Buckeyes through the end of the playoffs. SWD had 7 carries for 53 yards as a…

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 6, 2025

The running back played in high school at nearby Pickerington North in Columbus.

Ohio State and Texas are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. E.T. on Friday night.

The game will air on ESPN.