Ohio State Skipped Their Offensive Line and Nobody in College Football Is Ready For It

Alright, look, I know we're bleeding green and blue every second of every day, whether it's T-Mobile Park, Lumen Field, or Climate Pledge. Our Mariners are hitting the regular season grind, the Seahawks are cooking up plans, and the Kraken are battling it out. But sometimes you gotta peek outside the Emerald City to see some wild stuff happening elsewhere, and man, college football is already cooking up drama! Forget about flawless preseason rankings, because some of these top teams are walking a tightrope right from the start. Like, seriously, word on the street is Ohio State, who's usually stacked, just *skipped* adding offensive linemen in the transfer portal. Yeah, you read that right. And folks are already worried!

The Trench Warfare Buckeyes Are NOT Ready For

So, get this: Ohio State's got this absolutely ferocious wideout group, led by Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry Jr., and they've even got a reigning Heisman finalist throwing them the football. You’d think they’d be unstoppable, right? But here’s the kicker: they apparently skipped over offensive line additions, despite bringing in a top-five portal class overall. What?! Positive spring reviews for that unit? Limited. That's a huge red flag.

The big question hanging over them is whether they can actually dominate in the trenches against a brutal Big Ten slate, which includes a Week 2 showdown against SEC frontrunner Texas. This is critical because they were already bullied at the point of attack by Indiana and Miami in last season's conference title game and playoff losses. They HAVE to get better there! The projected starting five on the offensive line, Ian Moore, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Phillip Daniels, was apparently "ravaged by injuries" this spring. While the coaching staff felt good about their first-team defensive front seven after a bunch of NFL Draft departures, that optimism apparently came from the fact that their starting five offensive linemen were rarely available. You can't win like that, folks!

Meanwhile, Texas is Loaded, and Oregon's D-Line is Scary Good

Now, let's talk about Texas. They've got firepower everywhere you look: quarterback, wideout, edge. We're talking about the nation's most talented roster in 2026. With the addition of five-star transfer Cam Coleman at wide receiver, that already explosive group just got stronger. Plus, their pass rusher Colin Simmons is on the shortlist of guys who could lead the nation in sacks and tackles for loss. They should feel great about snagging a top-four seed in the CFP if they handle business in the SEC and hit double-digit wins. The catch? A treacherous schedule that would wreck most elite teams, with eight opponents ranked in CBS Sports' post-spring top 25, including three in the top 10: Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.

And then there's Oregon, always a team to watch up here in the Pacific Northwest. While everyone's focused on returning quarterback Dante Moore, their speedy wide receivers, and a talented secondary, the real reason they're a national championship threat is their massive defensive front. Seriously, A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander are future draft picks at defensive tackle. Seniors Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti could co-lead the Big Ten in sacks and disruptive plays. This defensive front looks like it belongs in the SEC, it's that good! However, similar to Ohio State, several offensive line positions are still up for grabs, including right tackle. See, even the best have their weak spots!

It just goes to show you, no matter how much talent you stack up, those trenches matter! And a brutal schedule can humble anyone. While we're all focused on what's happening right here in the Pacific Northwest, these storylines elsewhere are definitely worth watching. You gotta respect the grind, even if it ain't our colors on the field. Bring on the rest of the season, folks, for all the sports!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.