Ohio State’s offensive line has received some good news with the announcement that Luke Montgomery, their starting left guard, will return for the 2026 season. This decision alleviates some of the pressure on the Buckeyes’ coaching staff as they navigate the transfer portal in search of reinforcements for a unit that faced challenges last year.
Montgomery took to social media to express his love for Ohio State and its community, posting a heartfelt message alongside a photo: "Love this place and the people" (link to tweet).
In the 2025 season, Montgomery proved to be a formidable presence on the field, starting all 14 games at left guard. His performance earned him recognition as a second-team All-Big Ten player, an honor bestowed by both the coaches and media within the conference. Impressively, during the regular season, he was a wall, allowing no sacks and only conceding 10 pressures across 366 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus statistics.
However, as impressive as his regular season was, Montgomery and the entire offensive line faced significant struggles during the postseason. In two critical games against Indiana and Miami, he allowed three sacks and six pressures. Collectively, the Buckeyes’ offensive line allowed a staggering total of ten sacks in those two matchups. This experience has undoubtedly left Montgomery eager to conclude his collegiate career on a higher note.
As a top-100 prospect from Ohio in the 2023 recruiting class, Montgomery began to make his mark during the 2024 College Football Playoff, where he shared left guard duties with starter Austin Siereveld. He later transitioned to a full-time role in the semifinal and championship games, contributing to Ohio State's victories. Over his career, he has accumulated a total of 16 starts.
Looking ahead, Ohio State is set to welcome back three additional starters from their 2025 offensive line: Siereveld, who has been recognized as a key asset playing left tackle; center Carson Hinzman; and right tackle Phillip Daniels. While Tegra Tshabola has entered the transfer portal, both Joshua Padilla and Gabe VanSickle, who had varying rotations with Tshabola during the past season, will remain with the team.
Despite these returning players, it’s clear that Ohio State will need to carefully assess any potential opportunities in the transfer portal for further improvements to their offensive line. Nonetheless, Montgomery’s return provides a solid foundation for the Buckeyes as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 season.
