Ohio State’s Offensive Line Faces the Heat: Can the Slobs Hold the Line Against Miami?
It wasn’t just a bad day-it was a wake-up call. In the Big Ten Championship Game, Indiana’s defense didn’t just show up, they broke through.
The Hoosiers sacked Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin five times, nearly doubling the Buckeyes' season total for sacks allowed in a single night. For a unit that had only surrendered six sacks across 12 regular-season games, that kind of breakdown wasn’t just surprising-it was alarming.
“Obviously, our pass protection wasn't up to par of what our expectation is,” said Carson Hinzman, Ohio State’s steady presence at center and a first-team All-American. “Looking at some of the things, just going back to fundamentals, over these next couple weeks, we know what's gonna be important.”
The Buckeyes are now staring down another elite defensive front, this time from No. 10 Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl.
The Hurricanes bring relentless pressure, ranking fourth in the country with 41 sacks on the year. That means it’s back to basics for Ohio State’s offensive line-footwork, hand placement, communication-everything that slipped against Indiana has to be cleaned up, fast.
And Sayin? He knows he’s part of the solution too.
“A lot of it's on me,” Sayin admitted. “I can't hold on to the ball as long.
Get the ball out of my hand and keep us on schedule. When we get sacked and getting those 3rd-and-longs, 2nd-and-longs, it makes it tougher on our offense.”
That kind of self-awareness is part of what made Sayin a Heisman finalist. He’s shown exceptional pocket presence all season, but even the best quarterbacks need help when the pocket collapses in under three seconds. Against Miami’s front, that margin might be even slimmer.
A Familiar Path: Adversity, Then a Run?
This isn’t uncharted territory for Ohio State’s offensive line. Hinzman, left guard Luke Montgomery, and left tackle Austin Siereveld have all been here before.
In 2024, the Buckeyes lost two All-American-caliber linemen-Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin-to season-ending injuries. The line struggled in the rivalry game against Michigan, but then regrouped and powered a four-game surge to a national title.
Fast forward to 2025, and the script feels eerily similar. After a dominant win over Michigan midseason, the line stumbled again in the Big Ten title game. Now, the question is whether they can flip the switch once more, starting with Miami.
“I've fortunately been in this position last year,” Hinzman said. “Somewhat similar of a situation… maybe sometimes you get away from a little bit of fundamental work. But that's exactly what we've been doing this past couple weeks to get back into it.”
Next Man Up: “Sicko Mode” Steps In
The Buckeyes will be without veteran right guard Tegra Tshabola, who’s sidelined for at least the CFP quarterfinal with an injury. Tshabola started 28 games in his career, but his 2025 season was a rollercoaster, with frequent rotations at the position.
Enter Gabe VanSickle-nicknamed “Sicko Mode” by his teammates-who stepped in during the Big Ten title game and could be in line for his first career start on New Year’s Eve.
“Sicko Mode, he’s been proving that he's more than capable of going out there and playing with us,” Hinzman said. “We always talk about, ‘What are you doing, how are you doing it, and why are you doing it?’ And I think he's done a great job of not only building his own confidence, but building confidence with Phillip (Daniels) and I, playing in between there.”
That kind of trust is crucial when facing a defensive line like Miami’s. The Hurricanes are loaded with talent and aggression, headlined by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor-two of the most disruptive edge rushers in the country.
Bain, a consensus first-team All-American, has been a nightmare for opposing offenses with 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and even an interception. Mesidor, a first-team All-ACC selection, brings 13.5 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles into the Cotton Bowl. And don’t sleep on Ahmed Moten Sr.-the 300-pound defensive tackle has 4.5 sacks of his own and can collapse the pocket from the inside.
“Block Them”: The Plan, Simplified
So how do you stop a group like that?
“Block them,” head coach Ryan Day said with a smirk, drawing laughter from the room. Then he got serious.
“Not easy. Not easy.
All of them-Moten, Bain, Mesidor-they’re good players. And they come.
Jason Taylor’s doing a great job coaching those guys. It’s a huge challenge for our offensive line.”
But Day was quick to point out that pass protection isn’t just on the line-it’s a team effort. That includes Sayin making quicker reads, receivers getting open on time, and backs helping in protection when needed.
The Buckeyes know all eyes will be on their offensive line on Dec. 31, and according to Day, they’re embracing the spotlight.
“They’re fired up,” he said.
Sayin’s Clock Is Ticking
For Sayin, the adjustments are as much mental as they are physical. He’s got the arm talent to hit big plays, but the key against Miami might be knowing when to let the deep shot go and take the five-yard checkdown.
“Sometimes you're waiting, you might have a big shot downfield… but sometimes we can just get the ball out of our hands,” Sayin said. “We see it, let's get it out now. Let's get the ball (out) and get five yards and move on to the next play.”
That kind of discipline could be the difference between 2nd-and-5 and 3rd-and-12. And in a playoff game, those margins matter.
The Stakes
This is it. Win, and Ohio State moves on to the CFP semifinals.
Lose, and the season ends under the bright lights of AT&T Stadium. If the Buckeyes are going to keep their championship hopes alive, it starts with keeping Sayin upright.
They’ve done it before-rallied after adversity, reestablished fundamentals, and gone on a title run. Now, with Miami’s ferocious front looming, the question is whether the Slobs can do it again.
The spotlight is on. The challenge is real. And the countdown to kickoff is on.