Miami freshman tight end Luka Gilbert, the Hurricanes’ only player from Ohio, was offered by the Buckeyes but committed to Miami without making an official visit to OSU. Nate Roberts committed to Ohio State just five days later, and the Buckeyes later added a second tight end in the 2025 class in in-state tight end Brody Lennon.

Doing more with less can result in a CFP berth, but time and time again, the playoff process separates the haves from the have-nots by the end of the national championship game. Programs over the last five years displayed their NIL capabilities on the recruiting trail and with their player retention efforts,