Ohio State opened its season against Ball State with the kind of offensive line shuffle that can look confusing in real time but makes a lot more sense when viewed through the lens of last year’s championship run.
The Buckeyes began Saturday with the expected five-man front: Ian Moore at left tackle, Luke Montgomery at left guard, Carson Hinzman at center, Austin Siereveld at right guard and Phillip Daniels at right tackle. That alignment reflected the long-awaited shift of Moore into the starting group and Siereveld back inside, where Ohio State had planned to use him.
Then the rotation got a little more interesting.
By the third and fourth offensive drives, Siereveld had slid out to right tackle, Gabe VanSickle had taken over at right guard and Daniels was on the bench. It raised the obvious question: was there still a battle going on for that spot on the right side, or was Ohio State simply testing options?
The answer came soon after. For the Buckeyes’ final four drives before the starters were pulled, they returned to the original starting lineup.
That kind of flexibility isn’t new around this program. Ohio State’s last national title team in 2024 had to survive a battered offensive line and keep adjusting on the fly.
Donovan Jackson moved from guard to tackle. Carson Hinzman shifted from center to guard and then back to center.
Siereveld bounced between both guard spots.
Without that cross-training, and without early-season reps for reserves, Ohio State might not have been able to make its historic run through the first 12-team College Football Playoff.
Saturday suggested the Buckeyes are trying to build that same kind of insurance again.
Ryan Day has called this his deepest offensive line since arriving at Ohio State, and the Buckeyes entered the opener with a veteran interior and a clear goal of chasing the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line. The execution wasn’t spotless - Ball State sacked Julian Sayin twice in the first half - but the way Ohio State handled its personnel told the story.
The Buckeyes appear to believe they have more than five linemen who can start. And if this season turns messy the way last season did, that belief may matter just as much as the starting lineup itself.
In Other News...
Ohio States Receiver Rotation Just Got More Complicated Before Week 1
Ohio States receiver picture got a little murkier heading into Week 1 after Kyle Parker was ruled out for the opener against Ball State because of an injury. Ryan Day had already flagged Parker as dealing with a minor issue, and now the Buckeyes will have to open the season without one of the players in their wideout mix.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are among the receivers expected to get more snaps with Parker unavailable, which only adds another layer to a position group already under the microscope in camp. For a team trying to sort out roles early, even a short-term absence can matter, and this one gives Ohio State an early look at its depth before the real tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Week 1 Start Just Added Fuel To A Huge Debate
Ohio States season opener did plenty to reinforce why the Big Ten already feels like the league to beat, with Julian Sayin looking sharp in his first extended action and the Buckeyes setting the tone early against Ball State. Across the conference, Indiana also came out strong behind new quarterback Josh Hoover, while Rutgers, Michigan State and Nebraska each left a little more uncertainty on the board after mixed openings.
Curt Cignettis postgame comments about the Big Ten being superior to the SEC only added to a debate that has been simmering for months, and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyers praise for the leagues strength gave it even more oxygen. For Buckeyes fans, the opening weekend was less about settling anything outright than about reminding everyone that Ohio State is already in the middle of a bigger argument about where the sports best football is being played. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opener Made One Position Battle A Lot More Interesting
Ohio States season opener looked comfortable on the scoreboard, a 56-3 win that still left enough rough edges to keep the coaching staff busy. Jeremiah Smith delivered the kind of opening performance that reminds everyone why he is already such a focal point of the offense, piling up 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Devin McCuin also made his mark as the Buckeyes worked through stretches of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
One of the more intriguing takeaways came away from the spotlight plays, where freshman Legend Bey flashed enough on offense to suggest there is something to build on. His night also came with some costly special teams errors, though, and that is the kind of detail that can reshape how quickly a young player gets trusted in bigger moments. At quarterback, the depth chart also appeared to settle a little further, with Tavien St. Clair looking more like he is chasing the No. 3 job than threatening the top of the line behind Julian Sayin. [Read more 🡒]