Carson Hinzman has gone through a lot in his Ohio State football career. He started as a freshman at the center spot but was benched in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, which could have been due to a podcast appearance. He didn't start as a sophomore in 2024 until multiple players got hurt at the end of the year.
Hinzman swung back to the center spot once Seth McLaughlin tore his Achilles. He played very well during the College Football Playoff run, which begged the question of why he didn't start at guard that year. Last year, he was the undisputed starting center. Now, he revealed why he never considered leaving through those tough times.
Carson Hinzman explains why he never wanted to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes
In an appearance on The Bobby Carpenter Show, Hinzman revealed the deep love that he has for the Buckeyes and why he wanted to stick it out.
"I'm blessed to be a Buckeye, man. A lot of people have come through here. And, for better or worse, it's either worked out or it's not. For the most part, if you really stick it out, if you really love this program and this culture, it'll love you back. And I really think that's been true for my story, for sure.
Hinzman loved being at Ohio State and loved the teammates that he had. Obviously, he wasn't fond of the coaching decisions that were made during his second year, but he stayed ready. Had he not stayed ready, the Buckeyes would have had a much worse offensive line during their national title run.
Now, Hinzman is one of the leaders of the Buckeyes heading into 2026. He is one of four starters returning on the offensive line, and he is one of the best. He wants to leave his time in Columbus on a high note, and that means winning a national championship.
Ohio State has a lot to prove in 2026
When the preseason polls come out, the Buckeyes will likely be one of the top three teams. They have a lot of expectations surrounding the program, which is nothing new. They are usually one of the favorites to win the national championship to start almost every season.
Last year, it was because of their defense. That side of the ball led the Buckeyes, and the offense wasn't able to live up to the billing at the end of the year. This season, that dynamic has flipped. Offensively, they have a lot of skill returning from a year ago, including Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin.
How Arthur Smith unlocks the offense will be critical to their title hopes, especially early in the year against Texas. That game will give us a great look at how good this team will be against a brutally tough schedule. Having the offense operating at a high level from the onset of the season would alleviate a lot of concerns, and that includes on the offensive line.
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