The Football Writers Association of America just dropped the 2026 Outland Trophy preseason watch list, and holy smokes, Ohio State’s interior line is bringing the thunder. Three Buckeyes , Austin Siereveld, Carson Hinzman, and Luke Montgomery , all made the cut for the award, which honors the best interior lineman in college football. This isn’t just some token nod, folks; this signals a major force returning to the trenches for OSU.
Siereveld, The Anchor, Ready to Dominate
Let’s talk about Austin Siereveld for a minute. This redshirt junior is already a two-year starter, and he got thrown into the absolute fire during Ohio State’s 2025 College Football Playoff national championship run. You know that kind of pressure, right? He stepped up big time. Last season, he was arguably the best lineman on that team, playing solid at left tackle. He might even shift positions this year to make sure the absolute best five guys are on the field together. Think about it: a guy that dominant and versatile? He’s gonna be the anchor of that line again, and you can bet NFL scouts are already circling his name for next April’s draft. That’s a serious talent right there ready to go off.
Hinzman and Montgomery: Championship Pedigree and All-American Talent
Then you’ve got Carson Hinzman, a fifth-year guy who has seen it all. He snagged the starting center job back in 2023, even moved to guard for the start of the 2024 season, before stepping back to center for that national championship push when Rimington winner Seth McGlaughlin went down with injury. Talk about resilience and being ready when your number is called! After that, he was the undisputed starting center last season, earning AFCA First Team All-American honors and a Third Team All-Big Ten nod. The guy is an absolute beast, also landing on the Rimington preseason watch list for the nation’s best center.
And don’t sleep on Luke Montgomery either. This junior carved out his own piece of history during that 2024 championship run, starting the last two games and earning the coaching staff’s full confidence. He started all 14 games on the interior last season, bringing his total starts to 16 and appearances to 28. They’re counting on him to be another All-Big Ten-type performer this year. These dudes literally built their legacies in the trenches during a championship season!
A Legacy to Chase, A Trophy to Claim
You want to talk about experience and raw ability coming back? This is it. Ohio State’s offensive line is looking scary good with these three leading the charge. While four Buckeyes have won the Outland Trophy since its inception in 1946, the last one was Orlando Pace way back in 1996. Jim Parker, Jim Stillwagon, and John Hicks also hoisted it. It’s been a minute! Could one of these three break that long drought and bring the Outland home? We’ll find out when the award is announced on December 11 during ESPN’s Home Depot College Awards Show. Mark it down, because this O-line is going to be fun to watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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