Columbus, Ohio - Not playing in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship game only means one thing for teams across the country: it's time to get a head start on next season!

Ohio State and UCLA have already respectively added some major players to their roster!

Just days after losing to Georgia in the CFP Peach Bowl, the Buckeyes snagged Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter via the transfer portal.

"The last few weeks have been very difficult," Carter reflected in his transfer announcement. "I am and will always be grateful to Syracuse University, to all the coaches, faculty members, fans, and especially my teammates for making me a better man."

Carter brings huge experience to Ohio State's defense and will have two years of eligibility left to play for the Buckeyes.

Likely to be an immediate starter in coach Jim Knowles’ defense, Carter posted interceptions in three straight games this season and can fill in the secondary void the Buckeyes now have after losing Ronnie Hickman to the NFL Draft.

Like the Buckeyes, UCLA has secured some major athletes, even picking up arguably the best running back in the transfer portal on Wednesday.

It looks like Carson Steele, a former Ball State tailback who rushed for 1,556 yards and 14 scores this year, is now heading to Hollywood!

The Cardinals' leading rusher was only second behind Doak Walker Award winner Bijan Robinson with forced missed tackles, and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Bruins.

USC Edge Tuli Tuipulotu has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft!

"Although the outcome of this season is not what we wanted or expected, I gave this university, the fans, the coaches and my teammates everything I have," Tuipulotu reflected via Twitter.

The defensive lineman led the nation in sacks this season (13.5) and will be the biggest loss for USC's defensive unit next year.

His extraordinary work on the field this year earned him the Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year award and landed him on the first-team All-Pac-12 in back-to-back seasons.

Adding insult to injury, USC's five-star quarterback pledge Malachi Nelson underwent shoulder surgery last week.

The passer suffered a torn labrum in his non-throwing arm. His full recovery is projected to take roughly six months.

"I’m going to be able to rest, and the plan is to go in to USC and learn as much as I can from Caleb and coach Riley and then in two years, I’ll be ready to go," Nelson told 247 Sports.

As for the SEC, the Alabama Crimson Tide will start next season with the return of their veteran kicker Will Reichard, who vowed to decommit from entering the NFL Draft.

"After much prayer and guidance, I realized that I wasn’t ready to step away from Alabama football and the college experience," Reichard said in a statement on Twitter.

A 2022 Lou Groza Award finalist, Reichard completed 84.6% of his field goal attempts and scored a perfect completion in extra-point field goals.