EDGE: Ohio State's Veteran Offensive Line Could Be the Key to a Championship Run

Ohio State Buckeyes’ offensive line enters 2026 with unmatched experience, returning four starters—Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Phillip Daniels—with clear NFL potential. Can the Buckeyes’ revamped front impose its will from week one and set the tone for a championship run? Jay Stephens breaks down the fierce competition for the fifth starting spot, spotlighting Ian Moore as the frontrunner and assessing the impact of interior linemen Josh Padilla, Gabe VanSickle, and Jake Cook on this high-stakes battle. Simulation fever hits as EA Sports College Football 27 predicts Ohio State to dominate—winning 22 simulated national championships out of 100. Could these digital expectations stoke the Buckeyes’ motivation to turn virtual victories into reality? Jay Stephens explores how coaching strategies, player motivation, and even video game simulations might fuel Ohio State’s quest to stay unbeaten and chase another title this season. Photo credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.  FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.