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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Ohio State finished the 2025 campaign 12–2, ran an undefeated regular season, and returned to the College Football Playoff as the defending national champion before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
The Buckeyes’ defense remained elite throughout the year, leading the nation in scoring defense (9.3 points allowed per game) and total yards allowed (219.1 per game).
Yet in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, No. 10 Miami upset No. 2 Ohio State, 24–14, ending the Buckeyes’ bid to repeat as national champions and triggering an immediate offseason roster evaluation for head coach Ryan Day.
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Less than two weeks later, on Monday, multiple outlets reported that former Duke safety Terry Moore committed to Ohio State via the transfer portal.
Moore brings one year of eligibility and joins a Buckeye transfer class that has prioritized experienced secondary help during the January portal window.
Moore emerged as a breakout defensive back in 2024, starting every game and recording 71 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
His performance earned him Second-Team All-ACC honors and Second-Team All-America recognition from Action Network.
However, Moore missed the entire 2025 campaign after suffering a torn ACL in Duke’s postseason game and subsequently used a medical redshirt before entering the transfer portal.
Originally a three-star high school prospect out of Washington, North Carolina, Moore signed with Duke after drawing Division I offers from programs such as East Carolina, Buffalo, Charlotte, and Old Dominion.
Read More: Dan Lanning Issues Blunt Warning to Indiana Ahead of CFP Semifinal
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Read More: Georgia Lands Former 5-Star Prospect After College Football Playoff Exit
On Jan. 7, Ohio State starting safety Caleb Downs announced he will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving Columbus as a two-time consensus All-American, the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award winner, and one of college football’s most accomplished defensive backs.
The centerpiece of a national-top defense and a player widely projected as a potential top-10 NFL Draft pick, Downs’ exit creates a clear and immediate opening in the Buckeyes’ secondary.
While Terry Moore missed the 2025 season while rehabbing a torn ACL, his 2024 film showcases rangy coverage ability, consistent interception production, and physical box support.
If medically cleared and fully recovered, Moore offers Ohio State an experienced, proven in-game playmaker capable of absorbing significant snaps and helping offset both the leadership and production void left by Downs’ departure.
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