In the wake of a high-profile coaching change and a bitter Rose Bowl defeat, tensions between Oregon and Ohio State have escalated into a legal battle. Oregon is suing Carlos Locklyn, Ohio State’s newly hired running backs coach, alleging a breach of contract. The dispute centers around Locklyn’s departure from Oregon to join the Buckeyes amid their 2024 spring practices, after former coach Tony Alford left for a rival program.
Locklyn, a respected coach known for developing top-tier talent like TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, was seen as a strong hire for Ohio State. Under his coaching, the team went on to win a national championship, defeating Oregon in the Rose Bowl as part of their title run—a loss that Oregon still appears to be bitter about.
Now, Oregon claims Locklyn owes them a $400,000 buyout. Locklyn’s legal team argues that Ohio State covered $200,000 of that, and he attempted to personally pay the remaining half, but Oregon rejected the payment. No official comment has been made by Ohio State regarding the lawsuit, and no court ruling has yet validated either side’s claims.
Speculation has arisen that Oregon may be using the lawsuit to bolster funding for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program, though these claims remain unverified. Regardless of the legal drama, Locklyn remains focused on the upcoming season and building on Ohio State’s success. His efforts with the 2025 recruiting class have already shown promise, with freshmen performing well early on.
With six months remaining before the 2025 season opener against Texas, there is still time to resolve the legal dispute. If Oregon and Ohio State were to meet again—perhaps in the Big Ten Championship—this off-field controversy could add even more fire to their growing rivalry. For now, Locklyn remains committed to helping the Buckeyes defend their title, keeping his attention on coaching rather than courtrooms.
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