Ohio State starting right tackle Phillip Daniels is expected to be available for the first time in more than a month, but the No. 5 Buckeyes still might be without a fully healthy offensive line against No. 4 Indiana on Oct. 17.
"We'll work through what that looks like throughout the week," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "But this is not something you don't plan for. We have a plan in place. That's why we recruit depth, that's why we develop depth, and that's why we have to play depth."
Hours before kicking off against Maryland on Oct. 10, Ohio State determined starting right guard Austin Siereveld would be unavailable due to an illness, a source
confirmed to The Dispatch. Directly following the 45-16 win over the Terrapins, Day said Siereveld is day-to-day and has yet to provide an update on his status since.
Ohio State's first availability report ahead of the Indiana game will be released at 8 p.m. Oct. 14.
Daniels had been sidelined after suffering a lower-body injury in the final quarter of Ohio State's 24-23 loss to Texas on Sept. 12.
For the first three games without Daniels, Gabe VanSickle slotted into a starting role at right guard while Siereveld took over Daniels' spot at right tackle. But once Siereveld was also ruled out against Maryland, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound VanSickle slid over to right tackle for the first time.
"You've got to give him credit for doing that," Day said. "That's a tough ask. And to me, it was his mindset. It was just very positive, very confident that he could do the job. So, when I heard that, we decided to make the move, and I thought, for short notice, being able to step in like that, and it wasn't all perfect, but it was a lot of good out there."
Next to VanSickle at right guard was Jake Cook, who logged his first start for Ohio State. Ohio State's regular starting center Carson Hinzman, left guard Luke Montgomery, and left tackle Ian Moore rounded out the offensive line.
Against Maryland, the offensive line helped the Buckeyes rush for 207 yards, though it also allowed quarterback Julian Sayin to be sacked twice, the first resulting in a fumble. This came after Sayin was sacked a season-high four times during a 31-14 win at Iowa.
Day anticipates the offensive line will meet its toughest challenge against Indiana, which ranks third in the nation with 20 sacks.
"They do an excellent job up front on defense," Day said. "What we're going to have to do in this game, be prepared for whatever comes with it. But the good news is that some of these guys have played against Indiana before, so they know how good these guys are and what comes with it."
Ohio State has a nearly identical regular starting offensive line this season compared to the formation from the 13-10 Big Ten championship loss to Indiana last year in which the Buckeyes gave up five sacks.
Tegra Tshabola at right guard and Siereveld, instead of Moore, at left tackle were the only differences, but Tshabola played only one half before leaving the game with injury, allowing VanSickle to take his first playoff snaps at right guard.
Having more experience at right guard, especially against the Hoosiers, VanSickle is the most likely option to go back and fill Siereveld's role if the senior is unable to return before the Indiana game.
"We'll move him back down to guard [during practice]," Day said. "We'll put Phil at right tackle and see how the week goes. I think, one thing for sure, is we do need to move him out there a little bit more during practice, so if we do get caught short, he's able to respond even quicker."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What will Ohio State's starting offensive line look like vs Indiana?
