QBs Kyle McCord, Dillon Gabriel enter transfer portal

Kyle McCord, who led Ohio State to an 11-1 record in the 2023 season, and Dillon Gabriel, who led Oklahoma to a 10-2 record, have entered the transfer portal.

McCord completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season. He will enter his senior year in 2024.

Ohio State's season went as well as the Buckeyes faithful could have asked for until their Week 12 rivalry contest against Michigan. 

McCord completed 18/30 passes for 271 yards and two TDs, but he threw two interceptions including one late in the game which help Michigan win 30-24 to knock the Buckeyes out of playoff contention.

Ohio State's notable wins with McCord under center were against Notre Dame and Penn State. McCord won the battle for the starting spot against Devin Brown, who will be a junior next season, and he spent the season throwing to two expected first-round picks in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and incoming freshman four-star recruit Air Noland will likely compete for the starting job in Columbus in 2024, unless coach Ryan Day recruits one of the proven QBs in the transfer portal.

Gabriel, in his second season at Oklahoma after transferring from UCF before the 2022 season, completed 69.3 percent of his passes (10th in the nation) for 3,660 yards (sixth in the nation), 30 touchdowns (eighth in the nation), and six interceptions, plus 12 rushing TDs.

The Sooners' marquee win under Gabriel this season was a 34-30 victory over Texas, who were just announced as a College Football Playoff team. Oklahoma went 10-2 on the season, losing to Oklahoma State and Kansas.

The other QBs on Oklahoma's roster are Jackson Arnold, Jacob Switzer, and General Booty. Head coach Brent Venables and his staff are bringing in a trio of three-star QB recruits - Andy Bass, Brendan Zurbrugg, and Michael Hawkins - but it's unlikely they would be ready to play next season.

Other notable QBs who have announced their intent to transfer ahead of the 2024 season include DJ Uiagalelei of Oregon State and formerly of Clemson, Cam Ward of Washington State and formerly of Incarnate Word, Riley Leonard of Duke, Will Howard of Kansas State, Dante Moore of UCLA, and Tyler Van Dyke of Miami.