One of the biggest names in the college football transfer portal became available on Friday afternoon, as Alabama Crimson Tide running back Justice Haynes announced his decision to leave Tuscaloosa.

Haynes, a former 5-star recruit, was ranked as the No. 24 overall player and No. 2 running back in the nation for the 2023 recruiting class. Over two seasons with the Crimson Tide, he played in 25 games, rushing 104 times for 616 yards and 9 touchdowns.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, two Big Ten teams are emerging as early frontrunners to land Haynes from the transfer portal.

Interestingly, those two teams are fierce rivals.

Nakos reports that the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines are the top contenders for Haynes’ recruitment. Ohio State is currently in the College Football Playoff, with a first-round game against the Tennessee Volunteers. However, after this season, both Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson are expected to leave for the NFL, leaving a noticeable gap in the Buckeyes’ backfield.

Meanwhile, Michigan is facing a similar situation this offseason, as Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards are anticipated to depart, creating a need for running backs.

The coaching situation at RB is also worth noting, as Michigan’s Tony Alford left Ohio State earlier this year to join the Wolverines, while Ohio State hired Carlos Locklyn from Oregon.

The Wolverines have beaten Ohio State four years in a row, sparking calls for head coach Ryan Day’s job, so it will be interesting to see if Michigan can continue its success, this time on the recruiting trail. Only time will tell.