The Ohio State Buckeyes would be in rough shape against the Texas Longhorns during their upcoming September 12 trip to DKR Stadium in Austin if their biggest issue from the 2025/2026 College Football postseason pops back up.
Against the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes, Ohio State's offensive line was able to create gaps between the guards in the run game, but the tackles were a weakness. Julian Sayin was sacked five times by IU's defensive front in OSU's 13-10 Big Ten Championship Game loss and five times against The U in a 24-14 Cotton Bowl Class loss.
Cleveland.com's Stefan Krajisnik admitted on the latest episode of Buckeye Talk that a similar outcome will take place for Ohio State against Texas in six months if the offensive line isn't getting the better of the defensive line this spring.
“I [would be] freaking out,” Krajisnik said. “I’m coming on here being like Indiana [and] Miami happened, and the only thing separating that and the Texas game [on Sept. 12] is that we have to wait longer."
Arthur Smith must prove he works well with Tyler Bowen to ensure OL isn't a weakness
We know what the Buckeyes' skill-position players can do. Sayin is who he is as a Heisman candidate-level quarterback, Bo Jackson is a big-game threat if everything is working in front of him, and Jeremiah Smith, plus a group of highly-rated recruits, give the passing game an abundance of talent to work with.
It feels like we should know what the offensive line could do, but that'll be on Arthur Smith and how well he works with Tyler Bowen, not to mention the linemen themselves. Smith enters a situation that has veterans who've worked together before. He just needs to make sure his blocking assignments are properly communicated.
Ohio State is a hot title pick for a reason. While they face tough tests, like rematches with the Longhorns and Hoosiers, having an OL that holds up when the pressure is at its highest is seemingly the only hurdle. Matt Patricia is proven as a schemer and developer, and while he won't have the same talent level, he'll still have one of the most physically-gifted groups in the country.
This Buckeyes team could work. It should work. If it doesn't, it's because the offensive line never came together, just as Krajisnik is fearing right now.