James Peoples is staying in the Big Ten.
The former Ohio State running back announced Tuesday that he is transferring to Penn State.
I wanted to say Im grateful for my time at The Ohio State and the lifetime relationships built during these past 2 years thanks Buckeye Nation.
— James (@James_peoples17) January 7, 2026
But With That Being Said
WE ARE! #AGTG https://t.co/ny0WTYz9pL
Peoples heads to one of Ohio State’s conference foes after two years with the Buckeyes.
While Peoples entered last season expecting to be one of Ohio State’s top two running backs along with CJ Donaldson, he fell to fourth on the running back depth chart by the end of the season as he was surpassed by freshmen Bo Jackson and Isaiah West. He ran for 344 yards and three touchdowns on 61 carries in 2025, but had no carries in Ohio State’s final three games.
Now, he’ll look to earn a bigger role at Penn State as the Nittany Lions replace their top two running backs from last season, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton.
Peoples is the second Buckeye this year to transfer to a Big Ten opponent, joining Bryce West, who announced his commitment to Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Ohio State is not scheduled to play Penn State in 2026, marking the first time since 1992 – barring a postseason meeting – that the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions won’t play.
