Ohio State’s quarterback Eli Brickhandler announced his retirement on Monday on social media. He ended his journey with the Buckeyes, which started back in July 2025 when he joined the program through the transfer portal. In a heartfelt farewell message, Brickhandler expressed deep gratitude to HC Ryan Day, his teammates, and the Ohio State community for shaping both the player and the person he became.

“From the very first snap to the very last, thank you, football,” Eli Brickhandler wrote in an IG post. “This game has given me more than I could ever put into words. The lessons, the discipline, the relationships, the memories. Every early morning, every late night, every sacrifice was worth it. I’m forever grateful for every coach who believed in me, pushed me, and helped shape me into the player and person I am today.”

Brickhandler also spoke about the camaraderie between him and his teammates, reminiscing about the memories he built with them.

“And to my teammates, thank you for making every season special. The locker room laughs, the battles, the wins, the losses, the brotherhood. I wouldn’t trade any of it. From my freshman year of high school to the final chapter of my career, every season brought growth, challenges, and moments that shaped who I am today,” Brickhandler added.

It wasn’t an easy journey for the veteran QB in football. He started his career battling his way from Pittsburg High School in California to a prep year at AHOP Christian Leadership Academy. Brickhandler showed promise as a passer and a runner. The Stockton native made a shift to North Carolina as the highest-rated QB signee in North Carolina A&T history. In the two seasons there, the 3-star prospect had 434 passing yards with three touchdowns, and 176 rushing yards.

Brickhandler then moved to Houston Christian in his third season, where he completed 38 of 77 passes for 557 yards resulting in four touchdowns while rushing for 264 yards. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry with one rushing touchdown. But his remarkable journey was going to take him overseas.

Brickhandler went off the beaten path and went pro in Hungary. The Gyór Sharks handed him QB duties, punting duties, and apparently the offensive coordinator job. He returned to the USA with a degree from Houston Christian and two years of eligibility. Beyond football, he is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management, and balancing life as a husband and father.

It’s safe to say Ohio State’s QB room had gotten a little more interesting with the HBCU standout, adding another layer of competition to an already crowded depth chart. But the veteran backup, who was behind players like Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair, has now decided to move on. But his exit along with many other Buckeyes was handled deftly by HC Ryan Day.

Ryan Day’s patience pays off

Ohio State wasn’t expected to look like this going into 2026 for a program that is basically a conveyor belt to the NFL. Fourteen Buckeyes heard their names called in the 2025 draft, and another wave was expected to follow. But the chaos of the portal changed everything. Thirty-three players have left. That’s a lot of talent and depth gone from the roster. Suddenly, Ryan Day was recalibrating.

That’s when the shift happened. Seven draft-eligible players chose to stay back, which was a massive win for Day. Brandon Inniss, Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery, and Carson Hinzman were among the players who returned and steadied the foundation, while Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Jermaine Mathews Jr. coming back in the secondary eased some real concerns.

That shows belief, but it doesn’t make up for the pain of losing dynamic players like Quincy Porter, Mylan Graham, and James Peoples in the offense. The defense also suffered its own hits with Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, all declaring for the draft.

And when it came time to replace what was lost, Ryan Day went hunting in the portal. He chose to do it with patience instead of impulse. Fans were outraged by the early portal silence, but there was a huge payout. Six transfers in 24 hours, headlined by game-changers like Alabama’s James Smith and Qua Russaw, veteran tight end Hunter Welcing, and proven safeties Earl Little Jr. and Terry Moore.

“We all know what needs to be done here. When you look at the guys that we have returning and the guys who we are bringing in from the portal, we feel strongly about it,” Day said on January 15. “We still have some work to do here down the stretch, but we’ve got a good combination of older players who are back, portal guys, and young, really talented players.”

Ohio State managed to survived the chaos of the single portal window. Now, a season that felt uncertain feels hopeful again, the kind of hope that keeps a national title pursuit within reach.