Four challenging offensive lines Buckeyes will face this season

The summer offseason is in full swing, and Lettermen Row is trying to survive it with our annual Position Week breakdowns. By the time all nine units and coaching staff at Ohio State have been covered, training camp and media days will nearly have arrived, and the return of football in the Horseshoe will be just around the corner. We’re continuing with our sixth positional week — and first on the defensive side — with a unit primed for a breakout season: the Buckeyes defensive line.

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has the talent on hand to boast one of the top defensive lines in all of college football.

Three Buckeyes defensive linemen are even gathering way-too-early first-round NFL Draft buzz, meaning the expectations for the unit are through the roof. They’re even ranked as the No. 4 defensive line in college football, according to Phil Steele’s 2023 College Football Preview Magazine.

But that top-five unit will face four of the top 15 offensive lines in the country this fall, according to Steele.

Lettermen Row is peeking ahead at the Buckeyes schedule and finding the four best offensive lines they’ll face in the upcoming season — and what makes those offensive line units so good.

Sept. 23 — at Notre Dame

Legendary Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand retired this offseason, so the Fighting Irish hired former Wisconsin offensive line coach Joe Rudolph to run that position group. Rudolph has developed elite offensive lines at previous stops, so expect Notre Dame to be solid up front. That all starts and ends with starting left tackle Joe Alt, who will be a preseason All-American pick and potential first-rounder next spring. Right guard Blake Fisher also returns, giving the Irish two pillars on the edges. Both guards are being replaced, but the Irish will be good at the point of attack, especially with new quarterback Sam Hartman and an experienced stable of running backs. Ohio State will need to ace its first big test of the season on the road. The tone will be set by whichever team can establish dominance inside.

Oct. 21 — vs. Penn State

The Nittany Lions have really improved along the offensive line in the last two seasons. Now with an offense that will be among the best in the country, Penn State has an offensive line that can protect its first-time starting quarterback Drew Allar. It all starts with returning left tackle Olu Fashanu, who is projected to be a first-round pick next spring. the Nittany Lions also return left guard Landen Tengwall, who will be among the best guards in the Big Ten. Ohio State has traditionally been able to control the line of scrimmage against Penn State, especially with special performances from defensive ends against Penn State tackles. The mid-October showdown will feature a new challenge, as the Nittany Lions have gotten much better along the offensive line.

Oct. 28 — at Wisconsin

The Badgers field one of the country’s top offensive lines every season, and Luke Fickell’s first season as the head coach will be more of the same. Wisconsin lost three starters from the offensive line last year, including second-round pick at center Joe Tippman. But the Badgers went out and landed two starters from Cincinnati to bolster their line. The offensive line has 97 career starts and is a deep unit. Junior Jack Nelson will lead the way at left tackle. One thing to keep in mind: Wisconsin is overhauling its offense under new leadership from offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who is known as an air-raid coach. How that impacts the effectiveness of the offensive line remains to be seen. Ohio State will need to ace this road test in the trenches, regardless.

Nov. 25 — at Michigan

This is a no-brainer, right? The Wolverines have won the Joe Moore Award — given to the best offensive line unit in the country — in back-to-back seasons. They lost their starting center and starting left tackle, two of the most important positions on the line, but return three starters, including guards Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter. Michigan brought on three transfers, all from the PAC 12, and now have 143 career starts along its projected starting lineup. That’s an experienced unit that will pave the way for talented running backs and a good offense. Ohio State will have its hands full on the road with this Michigan front. If the Buckeyes will beat the Wolverines, it will start up front.

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