The Ohio State football team is facing a major challenge as they prepare to move forward without standout center Seth McLaughlin, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. McLaughlin’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, as he was a key leader on and off the field and was named an Outland Trophy semifinalist.
Despite this setback, head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are focused on adapting and moving forward. Here is what they had to say to the media following their Wednesday practice prior to playing Indiana:
McLaughlin’s injury forced the team to shuffle the offensive line once again, a theme throughout the season. Ryan Day expressed the reality of their situation, saying, "At the end of the day, nobody cares. We got to move on and we got to win games.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining the "next-man-up" mentality, which has been critical for the Buckeyes this year as they’ve dealt with multiple lineup changes across the offensive line.
Carson Hinzman will take over the center position, where he started 12 games last season. Day expressed confidence in Hinzman’s readiness, explaining, "Every year as an offensive lineman you grow, you change, you learn, and he'll be ready this weekend." Hinzman has benefited greatly from playing alongside McLaughlin this year, gaining valuable experience and insight, and now steps back into a critical role.
Replacing Hinzman at left guard will be Austin Siereveld, who has shown tremendous growth and physicality throughout the season. Siereveld has been described by teammates as a "physical monster," and he’ll need to step up in a big way.
Luke Montgomery will serve as the backup guard, and Josh Padilla will take over as the backup center. Day has been preparing these younger players for the moment, noting, "I mentioned that to Luke last week, I think it was during a walkthrough, like, 'Man, you're you're a play or two away from being right in the middle of this thing when it matters most.'"
McLaughlin’s leadership remains crucial, even as he begins his recovery. Day emphasized how important it is to have him around the team, stating, "It's one thing to have a coach, it's another to have a player or a peer that you can go to for certain things... guys who have been through it, know the team dynamics, things like that." McLaughlin is still involved, attending practices and meetings, and serving as a mentor to his younger teammates.
Senior lineman Donovan Jackson echoed this sentiment, praising McLaughlin’s impact and reaffirming the team’s readiness to step up in his absence. “We all wear block Os on our chest for a reason,” Jackson said. “You know, we’re not here for a free vacation, we’re here to play football.” He stressed the importance of this moment for the younger players, adding, "But at the end of the day, you know, we're all recruited here to play football, so we're going to play.”
McLaughlin’s injury has sparked a rallying cry within the team, and practices have been intense as they prepare for the upcoming games. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka noticed the energy shift, saying, “I think it was a great practice, one of the better practices we've had all year." His confidence in the offensive line reflects the team's belief that they can continue to perform at a high level despite the adversity.
Lathan Ransom, who has battled his own injuries, spoke about McLaughlin’s quick return to the team, even just a day after his injury. "It means a lot, it says so much about Seth, the type of player he is, type of leader he is," Ransom said. “I mean, that... that's a leader."
Although McLaughlin’s loss is significant, the Buckeyes are determined to keep moving forward. With experienced players like Hinzman stepping up, younger talent like Siereveld is ready to compete, and Montgomery is ready to fill in if they need him. Ohio State is prepared to make the necessary adjustments.
As Day put it, “We’ve won a lot of games with Carson at center... it’s a great opportunity for those guys.” The team’s depth and resilience will be tested, but there’s confidence that they’ll continue to succeed, united by the leadership and inspiration McLaughlin has instilled in them.