Kyle McCord explains why he transferred from Ohio State

admin | January 4, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Kyle McCord has finally spoken out after leaving Ohio State after three years and spending 2023 as the team’s starting quarterback.

McCord was 11-1 last season — 12-1 overall as a starter — but the Buckeyes fell short against Michigan again this year, missing out on a chance to win the Big Ten or join the College Football Playoff. He completed 65.8% of his throws for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns in those games. They were solid figures, but not exactly what Columbus has come to anticipate, nor good enough for him to feel confident about staying in Columbus in 2024.

That fact is what placed the former five-star prospect in the transfer portal, where he eventually landed at Syracuse under new head coach Fran Brown. He hasn’t spoken publicly since the Wolverines’ 30-24 loss, leaving opportunity for speculation as to why he chose to depart. Until now, that is.

McCord discussed his reasons for leaving OSU on the The QB Room podcast, hosted by Jordan Palmer and Kyle Allen.

“The top level of college football is a business,” he remarked. “At the end of the day, Ohio State needed to make a business decision that they felt was best for them, and I needed to do the same.” Unfortunately, it was not meant to be for the following year. I felt like I put together some nice games and had some excellent tape at the end of the day. So I was optimistic that I would find a suitable home.”

McCord also used the forum to refute any other narratives about why he departed, such as an article published last month by The Columbus Dispatch that outlined the reasons he chose to leave. These reasons ranged from wanting more NIL money to knowing he’d be the starting quarterback in 2024. Ohio State was unwilling to commit to either.

“A news outlet from Columbus hit me up to do a story and I didn’t answer it,” McCord told the Columbus Dispatch. When I contacted my family about doing a story, they did not respond. Nobody in my circle responded when I asked them to do a narrative. The next day, you go online, and they’ve published an article about the five reasons I quit. You read them, and it’s all nonsense. They’re merely tugging on strings at that point. People read the narrative and believe it to be genuine, so they start believing it and publishing it, and it just snowballs from there. It is what it is when you do not speak up about it.”

The nearly 40-minute conversation also included a discussion of his reasons for picking Syracuse as well as an inside look at how NIL may be affecting collegiate football. McCord revealed chats he’d had with former colleagues about the matter.

“Schools know they have X amount of money and they have to distribute it accordingly,” he stated. “Each guy believes he has a certain value and sets himself at that value, and I believe a lot of it is weighing the pros and cons.”

“It’s insane. I talked to some of my guys from Ohio State, and they’re trying to compare the figures they’re getting from schools, thinking, ‘I know I can get on the field here, but the money’s not as good as it is here.’ I think NIL is insane, because the way things are now, it’s free agency.”

Buckeyes in the Pro Bowl

Two former Ohio State football players have been named to the Pro Bowl in 2024.

With his fourth Pro Bowl selection, Nick Bosa will represent the 49ers as a starter. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has 52 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and a league-leading 35 quarterback hits. He has helped San Francisco secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Denzel Ward has contributed to one of the league’s strongest defenses for the Browns while earning his third draft pick as a reserve. Ward has 34 total tackles, 11 passes defended, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one tackle for loss, while Cleveland leads the league in yards allowed per game (266.6). In coverage, he was targeted 66 times, resulting in 34 catches for 467 yards and three touchdowns.

The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Feb. 4.