Ohio State’s Offensive Line Embraces the Challenge Ahead of Cotton Bowl Clash with Miami
The numbers don’t lie. Ohio State’s offensive line was rock solid for most of the regular season, giving up just six sacks over 12 games.
But then came the Big Ten Championship Game, and Indiana flipped the script-bringing down Buckeye quarterbacks five times in one night. That’s nearly matching the entire season’s total in a single game.
Now, as No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) prepares for a high-stakes College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup against No.
10 Miami (11-2) at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night, the focus shifts squarely to the trenches. Miami’s defensive front is coming in hot after notching seven sacks in their first-round win over Texas A&M.
That’s not just production-it’s disruption, and the Buckeyes know it.
While outside voices are pointing to Miami’s D-line as a clear advantage, Ohio State’s offensive linemen aren’t backing down. In fact, they’re embracing the opportunity to respond.
Carson Hinzman: “We know what we’re capable of”
Center Carson Hinzman, a fourth-year junior, didn’t sugarcoat the performance against Indiana. But he also didn’t flinch when asked how the unit is approaching Miami’s aggressive front.
“Obviously, Miami has a really talented defensive line, and obviously we didn't perform in the way we wanted to this last game,” Hinzman said during Monday’s Cotton Bowl media day. “So, this opportunity to go out and kind of correct some of the things that we faulted on this last game is going to be important for us.”
Hinzman pointed to preparation and unity as the keys to flipping the script.
“Our mindset going into this game is to be one of the most dominant offensive lines that we can be. And I know we can be that if we're all firing on all cylinders,” he said.
“All that prep these past couple weeks has been for that. So, we're excited to go out and perform.”
Austin Siereveld: “It’s a good challenge-and we’re ready”
Left tackle Austin Siereveld, a third-year sophomore and one of the team’s captains, knows exactly what’s coming. Miami’s defensive linemen aren’t just stars in college-they’re future pros, and Siereveld acknowledged that with respect and resolve.
“All them are gonna be NFL guys one day and they'll definitely be playing in the league for a long time,” he said. “So, it's gonna be a very good challenge for us up front.”
Like Hinzman, Siereveld pointed to the Indiana loss as a wake-up call-and one the O-line has taken personally.
“We didn't play up to the standard that we have in the O-line room and it showed,” he said. “We've just got to get back to our fundamentals and technique, and just build our confidence up. Just go out there and completely leave the Indiana game behind.”
Luke Montgomery: “We’ve got to start fast and play physical”
Junior left guard Luke Montgomery echoed that sense of urgency. For him, it’s not just about correcting mistakes-it’s about setting the tone from the first snap.
“I think we've just got to play tough and start fast and just play physical, like we've done before this season,” Montgomery said. “Obviously, our last game, there's a sour taste in our mouth. We did not play good.”
But with the College Football Playoff now in full swing, Montgomery knows the stakes-and the opportunity-are massive.
“We have this opportunity to play another game. And it's not only just another game.
It's one more game with this team,” he said. “That's kind of what we've alluded to.
It's like, ‘This is it. We only have one more real shot right now until the next one.’
So, we've got to go and give it our all and get a win.”
Phillip Daniels: “We play as one unit”
Right tackle Phillip Daniels, another third-year sophomore, kept it simple when asked how the Buckeyes plan to handle Miami’s pressure: stay aggressive, stay unified, and protect the quarterback like their season depends on it-because it does.
“How we attack is making sure we’re playing as one unit,” Daniels said. “When the ball snaps, we play aggressive. In pass protection, we protect for how long it takes.”
He’s not underestimating Miami’s talent. “They’re really good.
They’re very physical,” he said. “We’re just preparing every day for them and making sure that we’ve got our T’s crossed and our I’s dotted.”
The Bottom Line
Ohio State’s offensive line knows what they’re walking into-a Miami front that’s fast, physical, and relentless. But they’re not rattled.
They’re focused. After a humbling performance in the Big Ten title game, this group is treating the Cotton Bowl like a shot at redemption-and a chance to remind everyone why they were one of the most efficient units in the country all season long.
If they can answer the bell against Miami’s pass rush, it could be the key to unlocking another deep playoff run. The battle in the trenches starts Wednesday night. And the Buckeyes say they’ll be ready.