In a surprising move, former Ohio State star Aaron Scott Jr. is set to return to the iconic Ohio Stadium, but this time, he'll be suiting up against his former team. The talented cornerback has announced his transfer to the University of Oregon, leaving the Buckeyes for one of their biggest rivals in the Big Ten.
A bold decision, but why?
Scott, a highly-rated five-star recruit out of high school, had two years of experience as a backup cornerback and special teams player at Ohio State. With 11 tackles, two pass breakups, and a tackle for loss under his belt, he's now seeking a more prominent role. But here's where it gets intriguing: Oregon's secondary is already stacked with talent, including 2025 Freshman All-American Brandon Finney Jr. and the formidable Ify Obidegwu. Not to mention, former Ohio State commit Na'eem Offord is also in the mix.
Scott, a local talent from Springfield, Ohio, will be the third defensive back from his home state to join the Ducks. He follows in the footsteps of Trey McNutt and Dorian Brew, who spurned Ohio State's advances in 2025 to sign with Oregon. Despite being heavily recruited by the Buckeyes, both McNutt and Brew chose the Ducks, but they didn't see playing time on defense during their freshman year. Now, they'll all be vying for a spot in Oregon's 2026 secondary.
Scott's decision to transfer to Oregon comes after visiting other top programs like Tennessee and Wisconsin. This move has the potential to ignite a fiery rivalry when Oregon visits Ohio State in the 2026 regular season, with Scott facing his former teammates on their home turf.
And this is the part most fans will be talking about: Will Scott's decision pay off? Can he secure a starting role in a highly competitive secondary? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—this transfer adds an exciting twist to the upcoming season's narrative.
