Ohio State passed on the transfer portal for offensive linemen last offseason, brought back four starters, and moved into this season with only one major change up front: Tegra Tshabola was gone.
That decision is looking a little different now.
Tshabola, who struggled badly at right guard for the Buckeyes last season, has taken off since transferring to Kentucky. His play with the Wildcats has been the best stretch of his career, and the first three games of this season have produced the highest PFF grades of his time at both Ohio State and Kentucky.
For Ohio State, that creates an obvious question. The Buckeyes have had trouble creating running lanes, and the right side of the line has been part of the issue.
Julian Sayin has had problems there, too. If Tshabola is performing this well elsewhere, it naturally invites second-guessing about whether Ohio State should have tried harder to keep him.
It also puts some pressure on Tyler Bowen, whose reputation when he was hired by Day centered on recruiting. The results have not matched that billing. Bowen has yet to land a five-star recruit, and he still hasn’t shown that he can consistently develop offensive linemen from one year to the next.
That said, there’s another side to the story.
Even with Tshabola thriving at Kentucky, Ohio State still had reasons to move on. He was a major liability in the Big Ten Championship and in the Cotton Bowl against Miami, where he was eventually replaced because of his poor play. The Buckeyes may have believed the fit simply wasn’t there, and that he needed a different environment to get his game right.
Maybe that’s exactly what happened. Maybe he just needed less pressure and a fresh start.
Either way, the larger problem in Columbus hasn’t gone away. The offensive line remains a real concern as the schedule gets tougher, and Ohio State still has enough talent to chase a national championship. But talent alone won’t be enough if the coaching doesn’t clean up the issues in front of Sayin.
Phillip Daniels being injured only adds to the uncertainty. And even when he returns, there’s still a question about whether he’s the right answer at right tackle.
For now, Tshabola’s rise at Kentucky is a reminder of what Ohio State let walk out the door - and why the Buckeyes are still searching for more stability up front.
In Other News...
Ohio States Playoff Picture Could Shift Fast With These Week 4 Games
A cluster of Week 4 matchups could quickly reshape the College Football Playoff conversation, and Ohio State has plenty of reason to watch closely even before it kicks off its own game. Around the country, marquee teams are stepping into spots where a win would strengthen their resume and a loss could force an early climb back into contention, with games involving Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Texas A&M and LSU all carrying some degree of postseason weight.
For the Buckeyes, the real interest is in how the broader field stacks up once those results come in. The playoff picture can move fast in September, especially when ranked teams start beating up on one another, and a few of these outcomes could change who looks safe, who looks vulnerable and where Ohio State sits in that pecking order by the end of the week. [Read more 🡒]
Julian Sayin Showed Ohio State Something Important In Key Passing Situations
Julian Sayin got a longer look in Saturdays blowout of Kent State, and he made the most of it while Ohio State was building on a one-sided win. In just over two quarters, the young quarterback finished 18 of 22 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, with much of his best work coming when the Buckeyes used play-action and let him settle into the pocket.
Sayin completed all eight of his play-action throws for 117 yards and a touchdown, and he was just as sharp when he had a clean pocket, going 16 of 19 for 223 yards and two scores. Ryan Day called it a solid performance overall, while also pointing to room for improvement, which leaves Ohio State with a useful takeaway as the competition gets tougher and the details around Sayins next steps come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Enters Big Ten Play With Its Playoff Path Already Tightening
Ohio State heads into Big Ten play already feeling a little less secure than it did just a week ago. A loss at Texas in its second game of the season snapped the Buckeyes nonconference winning streak and served as an early reminder that the margin for error in a playoff race can disappear quickly, especially when the schedule is about to get heavier.
The timing matters because the road ahead is full of ranked opponents, and the Buckeyes no longer have the luxury of treating October as a ramp-up month. With their ranking sliding after the defeat, Ohio State now has to stack wins in conference play and do it against a slate that will keep the pressure on every Saturday. [Read more 🡒]