Ohio State’s offensive line performance against Texas is a difficult one to grade.
The unit’s mark isn’t a failing one. That’s impossible when the Buckeyes knocked off the then-No. 1 Longhorns to claim the top spot in the college football polls for themselves. Texas, which boasted one of the most feared pass rushes in college football in 2024 and returned some of its best weapons in that area, didn’t sack new starting quarterback Julian Sayin a single time.
But the top shortcoming of Ohio State’s team against the Longhorns – there’s always something to improve on – was its running game. And Texas’ interior defensive line is a relative unknown after it brought in a collection of transfers to fill out its defensive tackle room.
Regardless of how heavy the Buckeyes’ ground game shortcomings weigh on one as an evaluator, though, there are undeniable positives for the front five to build on, especially with Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels making their first starts as Ohio State offensive tackles.
“I looked across the field before the game, and that is a good-looking (Texas) front,” Day said. “I thought for Austin starting at left tackle, Phil, right tackle. I thought Carson (Hinzman), Luke (Montgomery), the guys, I thought they played well. Was there some inconsistencies? Yeah. Was there some looks that they gave us that we weren't prepared for? Yes, for sure. I thought they had a good game plan coming in and did a nice job. But I thought if you just watched our play, you watched how hard we played, there's something we can build off of.”
Forget zero sacks, Ohio State allowed just four total pressures against Texas, according to Pro Football Focus. The Longhorns returned star defensive end Colin Simmons and star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. from last year’s team, who combined for 17 sacks in 2024. Texas finished 15th in college football with 2.9 sacks per game last season, largely through their efforts.
But the veterans up front promised they’d keep Sayin clean. And his uniform ended up with less dirt than a surgery room.
“I told him before the game, like, just go out there and play,” Montgomery said. “We got you up front. We're the veteran group. We got you. We’re gonna protect our balls off, and just do what we got to do to get the ball down the field for you. We did that. So I think he did a heck of a job for a first game against, obviously, a great team.”
Daniels didn’t allow a single pressure in his first start after transferring in from Minnesota and winning a long battle for Ohio State’s starting right tackle job. In the spring, he was competing with Siereveld and redshirt freshman Ian Moore. Then Siereveld locked up the left tackle job from Ethan Onianwa, and RT evolved into a fight between Onianwa and Daniels, which Daniels promptly won.
“It was consistency,” Day said of what separated Daniels in the competition. “I think Phil plays with an edge. And he's been very, very consistent at that position. Ethan is still going to be an important part of our front. And right now, he's kind of swinging between right guard and right tackle. And so he'll continue to play, and we'll keep working through those things. But in this game, we thought that gave us the best chance to win.”
Onianwa played one series against Texas, logging 15 snaps on Ohio State’s first touchdown drive in relief of Tegra Tshabola at right guard. Otherwise, the Buckeyes stuck to their starting left-to-right lineup of Siereveld, Montgomery, Hinzman, Tshabola and Daniels.
Montgomery felt he and his fellow slobs played well overall, but like many onlookers, he was displeased with Ohio State’s rushing numbers. The Buckeyes gained just 77 yards in 34 carries, a meager 2.3 yards per attempt. It was the 12th-worst mark across college football in Week 1. Now, that comes with the major caveat that Texas finished No. 13 in run defense in 2024, but there were still plays where Montgomery felt the front wasn’t sustaining blocks long enough.
“I think it could have gone better,” Montgomery said. “I think the yardage at the end of the game, I'm not sure what we had, but it could have been a lot better. We definitely were moving the guys off the ball, but we've got to strain a little more.”
As inseparable as it is in the minds of many from offensive line play, running the football is a collaborative effort, too, of course. Ohio State’s conservative game plan against Texas kept things somewhat vanilla, presenting no quarterback run threat with Sayin or any resulting option looks.
Sophomore running back James Peoples missed a few holes as he tackles growing pains, finishing with 10 carries for 20 yards. Senior CJ Donaldson started and fared better with 19 carries for 67 yards (3.5 per carry) and a touchdown, but 2.3 yards per carry isn’t a number that feels sustainable – with a reminder that this is picking nits through a fantastic Ohio State victory Saturday.
“I think we were moving them off the ball, I think we just got to go back and watch the film,” Montgomery said. “Honestly, I think it's just pretty easy fixes, to be honest with you, whether it's just a missed read or maybe a missed block every once in a while and stuff like that. But I think overall we did a pretty good job just moving the front and getting them off the line of scrimmage.”
There are encouraging signs with the offensive line beyond the results of the 4 to 6-second bursts known as “plays” on a football field. Hinzman, Montgomery, Tshabola and Siereveld have all been forged in the fires of College Football Playoff competition, experience that will only bear out further as the year goes on. Montgomery feels the position room’s chemistry, ever important on the offensive line, is as good as it's ever been.
“I think we're a really close unit,” Montgomery said. “I think those transfer guys came in and we brought them in with open arms, and they've done a tremendous job. So guys get to play. We want that. ... We're going to be fresh. If that's how it's going to be, then that's how it's going to be. We have a lot of confidence in every guy that goes out there.”
“We definitely were moving the guys off the ball, but we've got to strain a little more.”– Luke Montgomery on Ohio State's Run Blocking
Day enjoyed the overall mentality of the group, expressed at the end of and after those aforementioned plays against Texas.
“Watching their reaction after we scored the touchdown on 4th-and-1, watching the way they were finishing plays downfield, there's a grittiness to that group that, again, is a great foundation,” Day said.
There’s growing to do for Ohio State’s offensive line to become the dominant force it wants to be, as Day says there are lots of improvements to make for the Buckeyes’ entire roster. But if the run game clicks, it’s scary what this front five could become.
“I think it's only going to build from here,” Montgomery said. “The number one team in the country just came in, and obviously I think we're the best team in the country by far. But we still have a long way to go, and this is going to just build confidence every week.”
