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While the College Football Playoff (CFP) continues, there is plenty of other action off the field.
The two-week transfer portal window opened Friday, one day after the CFP quarterfinals, and teams are already attempting to retool their rosters.
That includes new LSU coach Lane Kiffin, whose Tigers reportedly are in the mix for top quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who already announced his plans to enter the portal, per ESPN.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel also listed Texas Tech, which lost in the quarterfinals Thursday, and Miami, who upset Ohio State in the quarterfinals Wednesday, as options for Sorsby, as detailed by Yahoo.
Sorsby, a junior, threw 27 touchdown passes to five interceptions this season while leading Cincinnati to a 7-5 record.
As most programs look to add, others will face mass defections.
Ohio State is already dealing with its fair share of roster uneasiness with backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz entered the transfer portal, according to On3 Sports.
The Buckeyes’ roster then. took another hit Friday when running back James Peoples announced his plans to head to the portal.
There will no doubt be plenty of big-name players on the look for new schools and Kienholz’s decision comes with Julian Sayin set to return to Columbus after a stellar season with the Buckeyes.
Even before Ohio State’s upset loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals, Kienholz acknowledged he might be open to leaving the program.
“I’ve definitely had conversations,’’ Kienholz said. “I’m not 100 percent sure. But my goal is to go to the NFL, and in order to do that, you’ve got to play. So I’ve had conversations with [head coach Ryan] Day and also with [quarterback coach Billy] Fessler a little bit about it.”
Kienholz spent three seasons at Ohio State and attempted just 36 passes, while also rushing 11 times for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns this past year.
Peoples was with the Buckeyes for two years and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
He gained 197 yards and rushed for two touchdowns as a freshman a year ago, but along with West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson, Peoples was dropped on the depth chart in favor of newcomer Bo Jackson.
Peoples gained 344 yards this past season, while Jackson — no relation to the former Auburn and NFL great — finished the year with a team-high 1090 yards.
His departure is no surprise, considering he was on the field for just one snap in the Big Ten title game and didn’t play at all in Ohio State’s CFP loss to Miami.
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