CAMPUS
ON PAGE 4 What’s in and out in 2024? Hear from The Lantern staff
Finding your place as a spring transfer student By Nicole Nowicki Asst. Campus Editor The autumn semester is typically envisioned as a time for a fresh start, but
spring beginnings are still possible — especially for students stepping onto Ohio State’s campus for the first time. Ohio State welcomes transfer students every year, and according to Harry Warner, associate director of outreach with Counseling and Consultation Services, many students transfer from branch campuses to Ohio State in the spring, often posing a stark contrast in campus size. Coupled with a new environment, Warner said transfer students can be worried about establishing a social network and a routine for themselves, especially with such a large student body. To make the campus smaller and to meet new people quicker, Warner said to establish a routine early. “If you are a person that does physical activity, find your gym,” Warner said. “Find your routine, and kind of plan out what your day-to-day is gonna look like so you have that routine and place as the semester kicks off.” This can help students create familiarity quickly on campus, Warner said. This repetition can help new students build rapport with others who frequent these spots, whether it be the gym, workout classes or dining halls. “I think for me — when I was a student at Ohio State — it started to feel smaller the more that I would stick to my routine and show up at the same place week after week,” Warner said. “So for example, it can be as simple as, you find a yoga class that you want to go to every week, probably you’ll see the same people in those classes again and again.” This can help transfer students fortify relationships that can make their adjustment feel less overwhelming. To Warner, social networks are vital to navigating major life changes as they can provide a support system. “I strongly believe that our social support, friends and our networks are our number one resource to navigating transitions so you don’t feel overwhelmed,” Warner said. “So build rapport and connect with roommates, and I would say, the
piece there is, sometimes it can still be a little awkward meeting new people. So I would say, feel awkward but do it anyway. It’s really important to be very intentional about building those connections.” Warner said building these connections can be as small as saying hello to people in class or as big as getting involved in student organizations. Like the fall, the beginning of the spring semester offers the Spring Student Involvement Fair and welcome events. As opposed to the estimated 800 clubs that attend in the fall, about 420 clubs are registered to attend the spring fair, which will take place in the Archie Griffin Grand Ballroom and the Performance Hall Jan. 1819. Erin McAlhaney, coordinator of student organizations and involvement with the Office of Student Life, said this can be an advantage for students considering attending. “I think it provides a really good space for people who do feel overwhelmed by the fall involvement fair because it is a very overwhelming place to be,” McAlhaney said. “It’s very busy, it’s very crowded, it’s really hot, all of those things. So the fact that this is indoors and is a little smaller with a little more space, it gives you an opportunity to talk with orgs, maybe a little more oneon-one. It gives that kind of intimate feel.” Though it is smaller than the fall involvement fair, McAlhaney said there is still a vast variety of clubs featured at the spring fair, including new clubs that formed during the fall semester. Students can also check out the Student Organization Directory if they can’t find a club that fits them at the fair.
When looking for student organizations to join, Warner advises to step away from clubs that are connected to a student’s academics, and instead focus on hobbies or other passions. This can help students create a balance between their personal life and their academics. “Do something different. Maybe you join an intramural sporting type of group or Bread Club, something that has nothing to do with your major so you’re attending to other parts of your identity,” Warner said. “I think that’s really important when you want to make a big place small. Don’t forget about all the parts of you that aren’t academic-focused. Students are whole, whole people who deserve to have all the parts of their identity on the table.” With over 1,400 student organizations, it can be hard for students to find an organization that is the best fit for them. Conveniently, Student Activities offers Get Involved Consultations — a one-on-one, 30-minute meeting with a student organization coach focused on finding clubs that fit with a student’s specific interests. Students can also try organizations without full commitment. McAlhaney suggested casting a wide net and trying out different student organizations to find the right fit. “It is okay to try something, decide it’s not for you, and decide to try something else,” McAlhaney said. “So don’t over-involve yourself right off the bat. Pick a couple of things to try, and if they’re maybe not the best fit, see what else is out there.”
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 | The Lantern | 3
Staying physically active in college and beyond By Kamryn Karr Lantern Reporter In the U.S., most people’s athletic careers end at high school graduation.
Just 7% of athletes go on to play at the collegiate level, leaving many students with the challenge of staying fit in college without the structure and competitiveness of athletics. Rick Petosa, a professor in health and exercise science, said this differs from some other countries where people continue playing sports into adulthood since athletics are less connected with schools. The strong connection between school and athletics in the U.S. and the lack of adult sport participants is due to the way the U.S. views and manages physical activity. “Our whole system seems to be designed to get people to not be active rather than active,” Petosa said. “That’s the key.” Katie Stupak, a fourth-year in communication, played soccer, golf and ran track in high school, but ever since coming to college, she has struggled to motivate herself to work out because it lacks the competitive component of high school sports. Stupak said she rarely has downtime with school and work, but when she does, she prefers to spend it hanging out with friends, reading or just relaxing. “I don’t find working out to be relaxing,” Stupak said. For others, though, not being a part of athletics has offered new alternatives for fitness. Christina Tran, a fourth-year in exercise science and a lifelong gymnast, began powerlifting during her junior year of college. She started college as an ac-
tive participant in the Gymnastics Club but after suffering a knee injury sophomore year, found a new love for the gym. Tran is now an avid gymgoer and the social chair for Ohio State’s Powerlifting Club. She also still participates in gymnastics as the meet coordinator of the Gymnastics Club. For Tran, working out is a top priority in her daily routine. “If someone wants to go hang out … I will typically schedule that around the gym, depending on the priority of it,” Tran said. She said on top of going to the gym, studying exercise science has allowed her to understand the benefits of working out, such as increased confidence, improved mental and physical well-being, the prevention of chronic conditions and the ability to socialize with like-minded people. “There’s not really cons of working out,” Tran said. Petosa said to better encourage physical activity, society needs to shift its way of thinking about it. “Physical activity needs to become not exercise, but physical activity: a part of your life and a continuous flow from childhood to old age,” Petosa said.
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COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS
Staying fit in college can be a struggle for students who played sports in high school as they learn to adapt to the lack of structure without the sport.
THE LANTERN’S
Ins & Outs • Slammie’s on High • Voting in primaries • Bringing water to class • Joining a new club • Meal-prepping • A daily sweet treat • Getting eight hours of sleep • Going to the RPAC even if you don’t know what you’re doing • Daily Diet Coke break • Local coffee shops • Taking the COTA somewhere new • Berry Cafe matcha • Ted Carter Jr. • Oxley’s breakfast sandwiches • Plaza’s tortilla queso bowl • Seeing a show at the Ohio Theatre
• Cold weather (but not because of global warming) • Snoozing your alarm • Leaving any M’s uncrossed • Not reading The Lantern • Procrastinating • Walking slow • Leaving your Lime scooter in a walkway • Leaving dishes in the sink • The Buckeye Reading Room • Being embarrassed to use an umbrella • Not locking your door • Wearing shorts in winter • Peter Mohler • Not communicating with roommates • Not using headphones at the gym
ARTS&LIFE
ON PAGE 6 Take the Arts & Life desk’s advice for what to read, eat, play and much more
What’s Up: Quirky student organizations to help Buckeyes get involved this semester By Emma Wozniak and Audrey Kunce Asst. Arts & Life Editor and Lantern Reporter At a university with over 1,400 student organizations, selecting which clubs to get involved with can feel like a daunting task. Even more likely, this potentially overwhelming quantity of campus clubs can result in many one-of-a-kind student groups going unnoticed. For students looking to use the new semester as an opportunity to increase their on-campus involvement, below is a compilation of some of Ohio State’s niche clubs. Bucket List Club When Havi Patel, a fourth-year in marketing and operations management, was crossing items off his personal bucket list, he stumbled across an uncompleted entry that intrigued him: start a club. As he pondered potential themes for an on-campus organization, Patel realized the answer was right in front of him. It was then that Ohio State’s Bucket List Club — dedicated to fulfilling its members’ life goals as one adventurous group — was born. From paintballing to camping to skydiving, Sydney Armstrong, a fourth-year in marketing and operations management and the club’s vice president, said the club’s excursions are open to nonmembers, though all students have to pay the same fees as club members to participate. “We want to make a space where people feel safe in expressing their interests and what they want to do with their life,” Armstrong said. “Not a lot of people have a community for those kinds of things. You don’t really know a lot of people that want to go skydiving unless you are surrounded by like-minded people.”
More information about the Bucket List Club, which Armstrong said also partners with and fundraises for the Make-A-Wish foundation, can be found through the club’s GroupMe. Cook Book Club As college students leave their homes and transition into adulthood, they tend to possess a sometimes troublesome inexperience with cooking that can result in an overreliance on fast food or microwaveable meals. The Cook Book Club, however, aims to change that. Established in spring 2023, the Cook Book Club is a low-commitment organization that offers students a chance to practice cooking and receive advice on improving their kitchen skills, club president Julia Steiner, a thirdyear in environmental science, said. Emma Tasse, club vice president and a third-year in physics, said the Cook Book Club meets twice a month. She said the first monthly meeting involves a potluck, where all members try to cook a dish based on a preselected theme, like spookythemed foods for October. Though Steiner said the second monthly meeting typically involves watching a cooking show and deciding the next month’s potluck theme, Tasse said the club hopes to host cooking classes during these meetings. “I think in college, there is a culture where everyone is like, ‘I don’t know how to eat. I eat like garbage,’” Tasse said. “It was kind of empowering to meet other people and know that we are all trying new things, specifically cooking, at least once a month.” In addition to establishing a series of cooking classes, Tasse said the club is also developing partnerships with student organizations that celebrate different cultures in an attempt to teach the Cook Book Club’s members how to make
tradditional meals from around the world. The club meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in Nosker House’s kitchen or its Mansfield Room. More information about the Cook Book Club — which is open to all students, regardless of cooking experience — can be found on the club’s Instagram page. Board to Death Contrary to what its name suggests, members of Board to Death rarely experience feelings of boredom at the club’s weekly meetings. The group congregates Thursdays from 6-10 p.m. in the Ohio Union to play a variety of different games in a relaxed, fun-focused environment, Jacob Roose, a fourth-year in neuroscience and a Board to Death event coordinator, said. But the club doesn’t limit its members to the average board game, Katie Jennings, a fourth-year in public policy analysis and the club’s vice president, said. Jennings said the club hosts “megagames” semiregularly on Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m., where members roleplay as characters from a particular board game, in effect bringing the game to life. Board to Death welcomes all students and alumni, and emphasizes a laid-back atmosphere where club members can come and go as they please, Roose said. This inclusive community is central to the organization itself, Jennings said. “I have played board games since I was little with my dad,” Jennings said. “I thought, ‘Why not bring a piece of home with me to campus?’ and it was there I found a community of what would become my college friends.” More information about Board to Death can be found on the club’s Instagram page. Criminal Minds Society Christina Adams, a fourth-year in
animal science, and Divleen Singh, a fourth-year in microbiology, were studying for their final exams in an all-tooempty classroom when they decided they needed background noise to focus. Thinking they wouldn’t succumb to distraction, the pair used the classroom projector to display on the walls their favorite “comfort” television show: “Criminal Minds.” As they realized their love for the show indeed interfered with their productivity, Adams and Singh wondered if they could invent an excuse to watch “Criminal Minds” more often. Upon learning there was no existing organization dedicated to the show, the two immediately tossed their studying to the side and got to work on creating the Criminal Minds Society. After its inception in April 2023, the Criminal Minds Society became an official student organization this fall and meets biweekly in Room 2003 of Evans Laboratory Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Singh said. The group’s meetings alternate between watching an episode of the show — which is chosen each week by a clubwide vote — and a fun activity, Singh said. “We have done trivia and things along those lines,” Singh said. “My personal favorite activity has been to play the beginning of the episode and pause it after the first character is on screen. As a group, we guess if the character is going to be a victim, a suspect, a witness or something else.” In the future, Adams said she hopes the Criminal Minds Society will have a bigger impact, while still maintaining a relaxed and stress-relieving environment. One particular goal of the club is to host a murder mystery night where attendees can donate to a to-be-determined charity benefiting the victims of crimes, Adams said. More information about the Criminal Minds Society can be found on the club’s Instagram page.
6 | The Lantern | Thursday, January 11, 2024
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The Arts & Life desk’s back-to-school “REPORT”
What to read, eat, play, obsess over, recommend and treat yourself to this week By Lucy Lawler and Emma Wozniak Arts & Life Editors Before this semester’s writing assignments come flooding in, The Lantern’s Arts & Life desk is bringing Ohio State students a different kind of REPORT. As seen on Instagram, TikTok and various other social media platforms, this format tells readers what to read, eat, play, obsess over, recommend and treat yourself to this week. Read
Lovers of surreal horror will feel comfortably uncomfortable cracking open a Mona Awad book. The Canadian author who famed poet and novelist Margaret Atwood once identified as her “literary heir apparent” is not known for pulling punches. Awad’s most recent novel, titled “Rouge,” was published in September 2023. The plot follows a woman named Belle, who feverishly practices skincare to escape aging’s ever-tightening embrace.
When her mother dies, Belle becomes burdened with emotional and financial debts. In the dizzying aftermath, she is drawn to a cultish spa her mom favored when she was alive. Merging classic fairy tales with modern-day skin care culture, “Rouge” offers a distinctly dreamlike reading experience. Or maybe it’s just a nightmare all dressed up. Eat North Market Downtown — located at 59 Spruce St. — is home to over 30 food and drink merchants. Some notable vendors include Satori Ramen Bar, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, Black Radish Creamery, Hot Chicken Takeover and Nida’s Sushi. On Sunday, the vibrant marketplace will host a trivia event centered around the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans of superhero movies and high-quality cuisine are equally welcome. Play Released in theaters Nov. 17, 2023, “Saltburn” started streaming on Amazon Prime Video Dec. 22, making waves all the while. Conversations surrounding the comedic thriller — starring Barry Keoghan (“The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” “Eternals”), Jacob Elordi (“Priscilla,” “Euphoria”) and Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl,” “Pride and Prejudice”) — have proven to be discor-
dant. Some spectators consider “Saltburn” a campy delight, while others think it’s excessively provocative and devoid of deeper meaning.
One of the film’s shining aspects is its soundtrack, which oscillates between playful and dramatic at a startling frequency. Every track, from “Time to Pretend” by MGMT to “Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, transports listeners into a moody soundscape perfect for walking across campus. Composer Anthony Willis also delivers with wistful instrumentals, particularly “Felix Amica.” Obsess Last year was an excellent one for book-to-screen adaptations, with Suzanne Collins’ “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Bonnie Garmus’ “Lessons in Chemistry,” Edith Wharton’s “The Buccaneers,” Alasdair Gray’s “Poor Things” and Rick Riordan’s “The Lightning Thief” all receiving film or TV treatment. For those in search of a brain-stimulating activity, comparing and contrasting new adaptations with their source material is always an option. “The Color Purple,” which was theatrically released Dec. 18, 2023, is technically
an adaptation of an adaptation. Consume all three iterations — Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, the 2005 Broadway musical and the 2023 musical period drama — to achieve a satisfying story analysis. Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie adaptation is likewise worth checking out. Recommend In today’s collegiate landscape, stress seems to be the inevitable burden of university students. In fact, according to the American Institute of Stress, 8 in 10 college students encounter “frequent bouts of stress” and 61% pursue counseling for “anxiety, depression, academic performance, family issues, and relationship problems.” Perhaps an even more emotionally taxing experience is watching one’s friends, roommates and peers grapple with declining mental health, and feeling helpless in their struggle. Though it does not claim to magically absolve users of their stress, Calm Strips is a business dedicated to helping students — and teachers, for that matter — manage their anxiety via reusable sensory strips and stickers, according to its website. The strips come in a variety of colorful designs and textures, with some even featuring catchy mantras reminding its users to simply breathe. From laptops to notebooks to keychains, Calm Strips can be placed on practically any surface to comfort students anywhere they go. Treat Nothing brightens up a dreary day quite like a warm, flaky pastry. Boasting more than 1,650 locations across the world, TOUS les JOURS aims to share French and South Korean flavors with the world, its website states. Stop by the Columbus storefront, located at 2851 Olentangy River Road, for a guava danish or honey lavender matcha latte.
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 | The Lantern | 7
Three sports sports to to watch watch this this semester semester Three By Lauryn Luderman Sports Editor Many associate Ohio State athletics with the football team or the 12-3 men’s basketball team’s recent success. Even so, there is just as much glitz and glory that happens outside the walls of the Ohio Stadium or the Schottenstein Center. Some might not know that the Ohio State men’s volleyball team was just two sets short of making it to the NCAA semifinals in 2023. Or that wrestling’s Jesse Mendez is the No. 3 wrestler in the NCAA’s 141-pound weight class. Or, perhaps, that the women’s ice hockey team is No. 1 in the nation. These are just three of nearly 20 sports that are currently in or about to begin their 2024 season. Men’s volleyball The Ohio State men’s volleyball team finished with a 23-10 overall record last season and a loss just before the NCAA semifinals in May 2023. Additionally, they tied for third in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, each with a conference record of 11-3. This year, the Buckeyes are off to a hot 3-0 start with wins over North Greenville University, Daemen University and St. Francis University, all at home at the Covelli Center. Their season-opening home stretch will continue Saturday at 7 p.m., against University of California San Diego, and admission is free for students with a BuckID. Behind senior outside hitter Jacob Pasteur’s 53 kills, 70 assists and five blocks, Ohio State has a good chance of cruising
through the season and earning a spot back in the 2024 NCAA tournament. They have 10 more home matches this season, including a dual with Penn State, who knocked the Buckeyes out of last season’s tournament, Jan. 25. Wrestling Ranked No. 7 in the country, Ohio State wrestling also began its season with great success. The 8-1 Buckeyes are on a four-meet win streak following a 21-20 victory over then-No. 8 Cornell Friday, credit to redshirt-freshman heavyweight Nick Feldman’s 6-4 match win. The team is led by the sophomore Mendez, who is No. 3 in the country in the 141-pound weight class. He is currently 15-1 on the season. At Covelli Center Friday, the Buckeyes will open their conference meetings with the Illinois Fighting Illini, beginning at 7 p.m. They have five remaining home meets, including a rivalry showdown against Michigan Jan. 26. Women’s ice hockey Over the last three seasons, the Buckeyes have lost in the NCAA semifinals, been national champions and runner-ups. This season, as the No. 1 team in the nation, hopes are high. The Buckeyes, who are 16-2 overall and 13-1 in the Women’s Collegiate Hockey Association, haven’t lost since Dec. 1, 2023, when then-No. 10 St. Cloud State University came to the Ohio State Ice Rink. The team also defeated last season’s national champions and conference foes, then-No. 1 Wisconsin Nov. 17 and 18,
2023, as well as then-No. 4 Minnesota Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. It has outscored its opponents 87-27 on the season and has a .112 shot percentage. Admission is free for students with a BuckID, but space is limited due to
increased demand. If there ever is a time when students want to watch an elite team for free, the Covelli Center or Ohio State Ice Rink guarantee a good contest.
By Lauryn Luderman
first year at Ohio State. Playing in 24 games through the 2021 and 2022 years, Burke made 71
Football: Burke announces return for his senior season Sports Editor After three seasons as a standout Buckeye, junior cornerback Denzel Burke has decided to return for his senior season, according to an Instagram post. “I’m back,” Burke said in his post. “This was a hard decision but I’ve decided to return for my last year. There’s no rush for me to go to the league. I want to graduate and keep developing into an elite corner.” Originally a four-star prospect in the class of 2021 out of Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Burke quickly became the heart of Ohio State’s defensive secondary. Most recently, he was chosen as one of three Buckeyes listed as First-Team All-Big Ten, along with junior defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and graduate linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. He finished the 2023 season with 18 solo tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and eight pass breakups, good for tying at fourth in the Big Ten. Burke, who started in 11 of 13 games for the Buckeyes this season due to injury, was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to college football’s best defensive back each season. Burke immediately hit the field in his
all-purpose tackles and defended 18 passes. On defensive media day Dec. 26, 2023, at AT&T Stadium ahead of the Cotton Bowl, Burke said he had already decided on his future but wanted to make sure he was playing one final game as a Buckeye if this season was his last — the Cotton Bowl. As he planned, he announced his decision to return on Wednesday. “I wanna spend this last year with my brothers and win a Championship,” Burke said.
CALEB BLAKE | PHOTO EDITOR
SPORTS
ON PAGE 7 Missing football? Here are three sports you should follow this semester.
Football: What’s changed since the 2023-24 season ended? By Jayla Vanhorn Asst. Sports Editor The 2023-24 NCAA football season has come to a close, marking the end of the four-team College Football Playoff era and the running for a newly crowned national champion. Ohio State has already started to ratchet things up, adding new coaches to the roster while letting others go, welcoming members of one of its best recruiting classes in 2024 and watching others move on in hopes of making their NFL dreams come true. One last run Although some Buckeyes have decided to finish their careers elsewhere, several will continue their collegiate athletic careers at Ohio State in the name of “unfinished business.” Seven Buckeyes have announced their return via social media, including junior defensive end Jack Sawyer, junior defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, senior defensive tackle Ty Hamilton, senior safety Lathan Ransom, junior offensive lineman
Donovan Jackson and junior cornerback Jordan Hancock. In an Instagram post Friday, Ransom said his decision came after much contemplation and prayer. “It’s not easy to leave a team. It’s much harder to leave a brotherhood,” Ransom said. “This football program and the university mean too much to me, and we have unfinished business.” Ransom, a vital piece in Ohio State’s secondary, sustained a left leg injury against Wisconsin on Oct. 28, 2023, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Though he could not play, Ransom was spotted several times on the sidelines, particularly during home games. NFL bound The 2024 NFL draft is less than three months away, and so far, five Buckeyes have declared for the draft. These include graduate linebacker Steele Chambers, junior defensive tackle Michael Hall, graduate wide receiver Xavier Johnson, graduate offensive lineman Matthew Jones and senior running back Miyan Williams.
Nevertheless, some are still contemplating their futures, with the biggest name being Marvin Harrison Jr., who is the No. 2 prospect in the draft, according to Mel Kiper, an ESPN analyst. The junior wide receiver broke several records this year, becoming the first Buckeye to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, finishing as the all-time leader in 100-yard receiving games, leading him to win the 2023 Biletnikoff award and becoming a Heisman finalist. While Harrison opted out of the Cotton Bowl, several others who’ve not announced their commitment did play, including junior running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Starting cornerback Denzel Burke announced Wednesday via Instagram that he will return next season. The junior said it was a tough decision, but he wants to spend his final season helping the Buckeyes win a national championship. “There’s no rush for me to go to the league,” Burke said. “I want to graduate and keep developing into an elite corner. I’m chasing greatness and my own legacy as a corner. I wanna spend this last year with my brothers and win a championship.” With the deadline slowly approaching, players have until Monday to make their final decision on whether to stay a student-athlete or possibly become professional athletes. Coaching staff
BRETT PRICE | LANTERN FILE PHOTO
Defensive ends Jack Sawyer (33) and Caden Curry (92) celebrate following a defensive stop in Ohio State’s 37-3 win against Minnesota.
With a new year comes new players as well as coaching staff, and the Buckeyes are on the move. On Wednesday, the Ohio State Athletic Department announced special teams coordinator Parking Fleming will not be retained on staff next season. Fleming spent three seasons as the special teams coordinator for Ohio State. The release comes just three days after safeties coach Perry Eliano, who was in
the final year of his initial two-year contract with the program, was let go. While the Buckeyes are still looking for a successor to replace Fleming, they have found someone to take the place of Eliano. Matt Guerrieri will become the program’s new safety coach, Ohio State announced Wednesday. Guerrieri was a senior adviser and analyst on defense during the 2022 season and worked with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in 2012 at Duke University. Transfer portal So far, 19 Buckeyes have entered the transfer portal, with the most notable being junior quarterback Kyle McCord. McCord, who started in all 13 games this past season, entered the portal Dec. 4, 2023, after one year of starting at the helm of the offense. Despite leading the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, a loss to Michigan ultimately bumped the Buckeyes out of playoff contention and McCord into an Orange uniform, as he committed to Syracuse just a few weeks later. With one quarterback gone, the Buckeyes turned to the portal, snagging former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard. According to 247 Sports, Howard is the fifth-best quarterback in the portal, just six slots ahead of McCord. A four-year veteran, Howard played in 34 games, totaling 5,786 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and a 59% completion percentage as a Wildcat. Ohio State also added former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, who was rated as the No. 1 back in the portal and is one of only two SEC running backs in history to have both 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in their first two seasons. Henderson remains undecided, Williams declared for the draft and Chip Trayanum transferred to Cincinnati. Notable Buckeyes who have entered the portal include junior punter Jesse Mirco, senior wide receiver Julian Fleming and junior running back Evan Pryor.