Ohio State’s Offensive Line Enters Crucial Offseason: Depth, Development, and a Chance to Right the Right Side
For all the star power on Ohio State’s 2025 roster - the high-octane passing game, the elite defense, the Heisman-caliber quarterback - there was one glaring weakness that ultimately cost them when it mattered most: the right side of the offensive line. In the Cotton Bowl loss to Miami, that vulnerability was fully exposed. The Buckeyes were outmuscled at the point of attack, and it showed.
Heading into 2026, Ohio State returns four of five starters up front. That lone departure?
The team’s most inconsistent lineman. So in a way, it's a clean slate - and potentially, a step forward - at the right guard spot.
Ryan Day isn’t sugarcoating the issue. He knows that group has to be better, and he’s made it clear that internal development - not splashy Transfer Portal additions - will be the key to fixing it.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the Cotton Bowl, Day laid out his expectations for the offensive line on 97.1 The Fan. And if you're a Buckeyes fan, you’ve got reason to feel cautiously optimistic.
“We Need Guys to Take the Next Step”
Day specifically highlighted the right guard competition, naming names and setting the tone for what will be one of the most important position battles of the offseason.
“At right guard, that's where now we need Josh to really step up. We need Gabe to now take the next step, and then we need Phil Daniels to take the next step,” Day said.
“So when you look at that, Jake Cook has shown a lot of things for us. That'll be as deep as we've been in a while in terms of being able to put guys in there.”
Let’s unpack that. Josh Padilla appears to be the early frontrunner to start at right guard, while Gabe VanSickle is in the mix as well.
Both are young players with upside, but neither has locked down the job yet. Phil Daniels, who struggled at right tackle late in the season, is also in the conversation.
His versatility could be a factor, but he’ll need to show significant improvement in technique and consistency.
Jake Cook, meanwhile, is an intriguing name. He’s flashed in limited action and could carve out a role if he continues trending upward.
The big takeaway here? Depth.
A year ago, the Buckeyes didn’t have it. Now, they just might.
Development Over the Portal
It’s notable that Day didn’t aggressively pursue a top-tier offensive lineman in the Transfer Portal. That’s not to say Ohio State ignored the portal entirely - but when it came to retooling the offensive line, the focus has clearly been on growing what’s already in the building.
That’s a gamble, but it’s also a bet on the program’s player development. If Padilla, VanSickle, Daniels, or Cook can take that next step, the Buckeyes could turn a liability into a strength.
And if they don’t? Well, we’ve already seen what happens when the line can’t hold up in big games.
The Julian Sayin Factor
Let’s not forget what’s at stake here. Ohio State’s offense is built around Julian Sayin - a dynamic quarterback with elite tools and a legitimate shot at another Heisman finalist campaign.
But even the best quarterbacks need time to operate. If Sayin gets better protection in 2026, the Buckeyes' ceiling is sky-high.
The offensive line doesn’t always get the headlines, but make no mistake: how this group gels - especially on the right side - will go a long way in determining how far Ohio State can go next season. The Cotton Bowl showed how costly poor line play can be. Now, it’s up to this unit to flip the script.
The pieces are there. The depth is improving.
And Ryan Day is putting his trust in the guys already wearing scarlet and gray. Time will tell if that trust pays off.