When the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes take the field against No. 1 Texas in one of the most anticipated Week 1 matchups in recent memory, the spotlight will naturally fall on the quarterbacks, the star receivers, and the coaching chess match between Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian.
But peel back the layers of hype, and the real battle that will decide this game isn’t being waged by the headline names. It will be fought, and ultimately won or lost, in the trenches. More specifically, the fate of the Buckeyes
will rest on the shoulders of their offensive line, a unit that rarely gets the attention it deserves, yet quietly serves as the foundation for Ohio State’s championship aspirations.
The Forgotten Heroes
Ask any Ohio State fan what excites them about this year’s roster, and you’ll probably hear about Julian Sayin, the former five-star quarterback stepping into the starting role, or the embarrassment of riches at wide receiver. The offensive line? Not so much.
That’s the irony. For all the talk about skill players, no position group is more important for the Buckeyes in this opener than the line charged with protecting Sayin and paving the way for the run game. Texas comes into this clash with one of the most aggressive defensive fronts in the nation, and if Ohio State’s offensive line doesn’t hold its ground, the rest of the Buckeyes’ offensive firepower won’t matter.
Stability in the Middle, Shifts on the Outside
Ohio State’s offensive line picture looks different than last year, but there’s a quiet confidence building thanks to the way the interior has solidified. The trio of Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, and Tegra Tshabola forms the heartbeat of this unit, blending experience, versatility, and raw power in a way that gives the Buckeyes a real foundation heading into Texas.
Montgomery, now penciled in as the starting left guard, was one of the unsung heroes of Ohio State’s playoff push. After sliding into the starting lineup during the Cotton Bowl and national championship, he didn’t miss a snap. His ability to handle power rushers while still moving fluidly in space makes him one of the most valuable chess pieces on the roster.
At center, Hinzman enters 2025 with the weight of experience. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound junior has already logged over 1,000 career snaps and started 12 games in 2023. He’s taken his lumps against elite Big Ten fronts, but those lessons have molded him into a sharper communicator, the type of player who can recognize disguised blitzes and keep first-year starter Julian Sayin protected. Against a Texas defense that thrives on pressure and pre-snap confusion, Hinzman’s poise could prove decisive.
Then there’s Tshabola at right guard, a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds. Once viewed as a project, Tshabola has steadily developed into a mauler in the run game. His ability to clear space between the tackles gives Ohio State the kind of interior push that could be critical in wearing down a talented Texas front seven.
The Tackle Equation: Old Guard Meets New Blood
On the edges, Ohio State is betting on both development and reinforcement. Redshirt Sophomore Austin Siereveld, who stepped into starting action last year at guard, has now kicked out to left tackle, a move that speaks volumes about the staff’s confidence in his athleticism and maturity. At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Siereveld combines the quick feet of an interior lineman with the length required to hold off elite edge rushers. Protecting Sayin’s blindside will be a massive responsibility, but his playoff performance showed he can rise to the challenge.
The right tackle spot, meanwhile, remains the most intriguing battle of camp. Ohio State brought in two transfers to shore up depth and competition: Ethan Onianwa from Rice and Phillip Daniels from Minnesota. Onianwa, a 6-foot-6, 345-pound wall of a tackle, started 34 games at Rice before transferring to Ohio State. His size and experience make him the front-runner, though adjusting to the speed of Big Ten and now SEC-level defenses will be a test.
Daniels, while less heralded, brings something just as valuable: versatility. Having logged snaps at both tackle and guard during his time with the Gophers, he offers Ohio State the flexibility to shift pieces mid-game if Texas’s defensive looks demand it. If Onianwa stumbles early or the Buckeyes need a different style of protection, Daniels is more than capable of stepping in.
Together, this projected five-man group, Siereveld, Montgomery, Hinzman, Tshabola, and either Onianwa or Daniels, represents a blend of homegrown development and strategic additions. It may not be the most experienced line Ryan Day has fielded, but it has the potential to be one of the most balanced. And in a game where every inch of protection will matter, the Buckeyes’ offensive line is undeniably the most important unit on the field.
Protecting the First-Year Quarterback
Everything about this conversation comes back to one player, Julian Sayin.
The redshirt freshman is as talented as they come, a former five-star recruit who has already drawn comparisons to NFL-caliber quarterbacks for his poise and accuracy. But there’s a world of difference between lighting it up in spring practice and standing in against a ferocious Texas pass rush with 100,000 fans watching.
A young quarterback’s confidence depends on the line in front of him. If Sayin is afforded time, he has the arm talent and weapons to carve up even the Longhorns’ elite secondary. If not, the game could unravel quickly. The line’s ability to give him clean pockets and establish a rhythm will dictate how the offense looks from the opening series onward.
Controlling the Clock
It’s not just about pass protection. Against Texas, time of possession could prove just as critical. The Longhorns boast one of the most explosive offenses in the country, led by quarterback Arch Manning and an array of weapons. The best way to slow them down? Keep them on the sidelines.
That means the Buckeyes’ run game must thrive, and that only happens if the offensive line wins its matchups. Whether it’s C.J. Donaldson pounding the run inside or James Peoples stretching the field with outside zone concepts, sustained drives will be essential to controlling the tempo of the game.
A Trench War Against the Longhorns
Of course, Texas won’t make it easy. The Longhorns’ defensive front is among the nation’s best, even after losing some key starters to the NFL Draft. Sark has reloaded with blue-chip talent, and Texas has built a defense designed to disrupt timing and collapse pockets.
But here’s the twist: while the Longhorns’ defensive front looks dangerous, their own offensive line has question marks after losing four starters. That means this game could turn into a line-of-scrimmage battle where Ohio State, with its blend of returning starters and transfer reinforcements, actually has the edge.
It’s tempting to frame this game as Sayin vs. Manning, or Ryan Day vs. Sarkisian. But those matchups are window dressing if the line doesn’t do its job.
If the Buckeyes’ offensive line can protect Sayin, open running lanes, and dictate tempo, Ohio State has every tool it needs to win in front of its home crowd. If they don’t, even the most talented roster in the country could find itself on the wrong end of a season-opening loss.
The truth is simple: in a matchup loaded with five-star talent, the biggest stars of all may end up being the five men up front.
Final Thought
Games of this magnitude are remembered for their highlight plays. The 60-yard touchdown pass. The game-sealing interception. The trick play that flips momentum.
But what often goes overlooked are the anonymous battles at the line of scrimmage, the moments where guards and tackles win by six inches and create just enough space for a quarterback to throw or a running back to slip through.
When Ohio State and Texas clash under the lights, the plays that define the game will likely trace back to those hidden victories in the trenches. And that’s why, more than any other position group, the Buckeyes’ offensive line will decide whether Ohio State starts the 2025 season with a statement win, or a costly setback.
