🚨 BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: One Ohio State Football Unit Must Be Elite Early — But They Might Be the Weakest Link

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As Ohio State gears up for a national title run in 2025, the roster is stacked. Talent is everywhere — five-star defenders, elite skill position players, a deep running back room, and a quarterback battle that’s creating buzz coast to coast. But no matter how good the rest of the team looks, one unit stands out as a glaring concern heading into the season.

And the worst part? It has to be elite early — or the Buckeyes risk blowing the season before it starts.

So, what’s the issue?

👉 The Offensive Line.

🛑 THE PROBLEM UNIT: OFFENSIVE LINE LOOKS… MID AT BEST

Call it underwhelming, call it “in transition,” or just call it what it is: the weakest unit on a loaded roster.

Last season, the O-line struggled with:

Inconsistent pass protection
Poor run blocking against elite fronts
No true dominant tackle presence

And now? They’ve lost veterans, the development curve is still questionable, and they’ll be asked to protect a brand-new starting quarterback from Week 1 — likely against a top-20 defense right out of the gate.

This group isn’t just “not elite” — they’ve looked straight-up wack in spring scrimmages, according to multiple insiders and beat writers.

😬 WHY IT MATTERS: THE WHOLE OFFENSE RELIES ON THIS UNIT

You could have Marvin Harrison Jr. and Ezekiel Elliott on the field at the same time — it won’t matter if your O-line is getting tossed around.

Ryan Day’s offense is built on timing, rhythm, and play-action. If the pocket isn’t clean, if the interior collapses, if tackles are whiffing… the whole system falls apart.

And it’s not just about the QB — the run game struggled last year too, particularly in big games where the trenches got tight.

🚩 SPRING WORRIES: LITTLE IMPROVEMENT, TOO MANY QUESTIONS

During spring camp, reports from practice were… not great.

New starting center still finding his rhythm.
Left tackle spot is a rotating door — no clear starter.
The O-line got manhandled by the defensive front more often than not.

Yes, the Buckeyes’ defensive line is loaded, but that doesn’t excuse consistent breakdowns in protection against your own team.

One anonymous player reportedly said during practice week:

“We got dogs on defense. But the O-line’s gotta stop making it easy.”

Ouch.

📉 THE DEPTH PROBLEM: WHO’S READY TO STEP UP?

There’s no Paris Johnson Jr. or Wyatt Davis walking through the door. And development on the line has been a slow, frustrating process in recent years.

Some of the names being counted on:

Luke Montgomery: Talented, but raw — still learning tackle at the college level.
Josh Simmons: Transfer who struggled in big games last season.
Donovan Jackson: The one legit star up front — but he can’t do it alone.

There are bodies. There’s size. But there’s no “dude” who opposing defenses fear.

🔄 COACHING & DEVELOPMENT: IS THIS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE?

Some fans are starting to question whether this is a Ryan Day issue, a development problem, or a recruiting miss.

Because let’s be real:

Ohio State used to churn out first-round linemen like a factory.
Now? The pipeline has slowed. Development feels stagnant.
Meanwhile, Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama are building trenches like fortresses.

O-line coach Justin Frye is on the hot seat — not officially, but fans are starting to lose patience.

🔮 THE OUTLOOK: CAN THEY FIX IT?

Here’s the reality:

✅ If the offensive line improves fast — even to a “solid” level — Ohio State could steamroll everyone.
❌ If it doesn’t? All bets are off, even with five-star skill guys everywhere.

The Buckeyes face a tough early schedule. If the O-line can’t hold up early, they could drop a game before hitting full stride — and in the 12-team CFP format, that still matters. A weak showing against Penn State or Michigan could cost them a top seed or even a bye.

📢 FINAL WORD: TALENT EVERYWHERE, BUT THIS UNIT COULD DERAIL THE SEASON

It’s wild that a team with this much upside — a top-tier QB room, elite WRs, a nasty defense — could still be undone by five guys in the trenches.

But that’s how football works. It’s not flashy, but the offensive line is the foundation.

And right now?

Ohio State’s foundation is cracking.

Inphomar