Explaining why Kyle McCord, Julian Fleming entered the transfer portal

It might have seemed like a shock to some Ohio State fans when quarterback Kyle McCord announced he would enter the transfer portal. The Buckeyes starter this past season, McCord led the team to an 11-1 record and threw for 3,170 yards with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions.

However, after losing to Michigan for the third straight season, Ohio State coach Ryan Day apparently wasn’t ready to commit to McCord as the starter in 2024. On3‘s Pete Nakos joined the Andy Staples On3 podcast Monday to reveal that’s ultimately what led to the quarterback’s decision.

“I think the McCord family was looking for a commitment from Ohio State that Kyle was going to be the starting quarterback next year,” Nakos explained. “Ryan Day and the Ohio State program wasn’t ready to make that commitment and that’s understandable. The decision was more about the betterment of Ohio State more than anything else.

“Ryan Day’s in a very peculiar situation right now with everything that’s going on coming off three straight losses to Michigan. Right now it’s about doing what’s right at Ohio State and not what’s best for Kyle McCord. That’s the blunt reality we’re in.”

McCord finished 18-of-30 passing for 271 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, including one with under a minute remaining, in the 30-24 loss to the Wolverines. Although he had a solid season, his performance throughout the year was up-and-down. It seems Day wasn’t ready to guarantee the job to him when he still has another talented player in Devin Brown, who competed for the job this offseason.

McCord wasn’t the only Buckeyes player to bolt on the first day the transfer portal opened. Receiver Julian Fleming also entered his name in the portal after finishing with 26 catches for 270 yards this season.

Nakos explained that decision had to do with playing time, as Fleming was uncertain of the amount of reps he would get in a crowded receivers room.

“You have so much talent coming in,” he said. “If Jeremiah Smith does stick with his commitment, you’ve got Brandon Inniss, you have Carnell Tate, you have Jeremiah and plenty of other talent in that room. What is Julian Fleming’s role?”

Although it’s certainly disappointing to see both Kyle McCord and Fleming transfer, Nakos believes they did the right thing by making their decisions early. Now not only can McCord make the most of his next opportunity, but the Buckeyes can also formulate their plan for how they want to attack the quarterback position.

It’s simply something we’ll have to get used to in this transfer portal era, and McCord certainly won’t be the last to leave unexpectedly.

“The last thing I wanted to mention about Kyle McCord is I think you also have to give credit to Kyle,” Nakos said. “He made his decision quickly and maybe Ohio State didn’t like how it shuffled out. But we’re in this world now with NIL dollars. He can’t wait until Dec. 15 and enter the portal and have every option. You’ve gotta go now because spaces are taken up.”