Every year is pivotal in the wild west of the college basketball transfer portal, which turns over even more production by percentage than football does. But this year is especially critical for Jake Diebler's Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have to replace roughly half of their roster this offseason, a share that would be larger were it not for the pending arrival of five-star prospect Anthony Thompson, expected to replace Devin Royal at small forward after he entered the transfer portal. Ohio State has several needs, including a new starting guard, a starting-caliber center and myriad depth pieces.
| POS | PLAYER | YEAR | 2025-26 STATS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | TAISON CHATMAN | R-JR | 4.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.8 APG | |
| G | GABE CUPPS | R-JR | 1.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.1 APG | |
| F | DEVIN ROYAL | SR | 13.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 APG | |
| F | COLIN WHITE | JR | 0.9 PPG, 1 RPG, 0.4 APG |
Meanwhile, its rival to the north, Michigan, will play for a national championship on Monday night. The Big Ten sent six teams to the Sweet 16 as Illinois joined the Wolverines in the Final Four before losing to UConn, adding to the stakes of this portal class for Diebler as the conference builds up around him.
Given the importance of this offseason, we're tracking all of Ohio State's portal movement here in one place, with analysis linked within. Get the full rundown on everything that's happened so far:
April 6, 2026
Michigan's Excellence Adds Pressure on Jake Diebler, Ohio State to Compete for Championships
As Ohio State is still hunting for its first NCAA Tournament win under Jake Diebler, Michigan is playing for national championships under Dusty May, who was in the running for the Buckeyes' head coaching job before they hired Diebler. The success of Ohio State's rival to the north and the Big Ten at large adds further pressure to what is already a critical offseason.
April 5, 2026
Guard Taison Chatman to Enter Transfer Portal
Ohio State's No. 3 guard in 2025-26, Taison Chatman, is set to enter the transfer portal after three seasons with the Buckeyes.
April 5, 2026
Guard Gabe Cupps to Enter Transfer Portal
After one lackluster season with Ohio State, former Ohio Mr. Basketball Gabe Cupps will be searching for his third destination in his college career. He also spent two years at Indiana.
April 4, 2026
Small Forward Colin White to Enter Transfer Portal
Small forward Colin White will search for a new home after two seasons coming off the end of Ohio State's bench.
March 29, 2026
Forward Devin Royal to Enter Transfer Portal
Royal spent three seasons at Ohio State, two as a starter, but likely would have had to come off the bench behind sophomore Amare Bynum and Thompson in 2026-27. As such, he entered the transfer portal for his fourth and final year of college basketball.
March 23, 2026
Where Ohio State Must Improve in 2026-27
To begin the offseason, we dove into where Ohio State must grow in 2026-27 as a program – and the transfer portal was a major area discussed. Staff discussions and X's and O's are delved into, too.
