Where should Austin Siereveld play? Ohio State’s biggest offensive line decision has no easy answer

Ohio State enters the 2026 season with one of the most experienced offensive lines in college football, returning four starters from a group that helped power another College Football Playoff run. Yet despite all that continuity, the biggest question surrounding the unit isn’t about who will start. But rather, it’s about where Ohio State’s best offensive lineman should line up.

Austin Siereveld has already proven he can play left tackle at a championship level. He started every game there in 2025, earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors, allowed zero sacks across more than 800 snaps, and became one of the unquestioned leaders of the offense.

Still, the debate refuses to disappear. Many NFL evaluators continue projecting Siereveld as an interior offensive lineman at the next level, believing his power, anchor, and physicality make him an ideal guard on Sundays. That projection has naturally led to questions about whether Ohio State should move him back inside and allow one of its young tackles to take over the blind side.

It is a fascinating conversation, but it also misses one important point. The Buckeyes are not building an NFL roster. They’re trying to win a national championship right now. That makes the question far less about where Siereveld eventually gets drafted and much more about where he gives Ohio State its best chance to beat Texas, Penn State, Michigan, and the elite defenses waiting in the College Football Playoff.

The case for keeping him at left tackle

There is tremendous value in certainty. Ohio State already knows exactly what it has in Siereveld at left tackle because he spent all of last season proving he belonged there. After beginning his career primarily at guard during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season, Siereveld made one of the most impressive position transitions in the country. Sliding outside to arguably the most demanding position on the offensive line is never easy, yet he barely looked out of place.

His 2025 resume speaks for itself. Fourteen starts. Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Zero sacks allowed. Just 15 total pressures surrendered over the entire season. Those numbers become even more impressive considering he was protecting the blind side of first-year starting quarterback Julian Sayin while facing some of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten.

Siereveld’s game has never been built around overwhelming athleticism. Instead, he wins with outstanding technique, leverage, balance, intelligence, and functional strength. His hand placement is consistently excellent. His anchor against power rushers is among the best in the conference. He rarely panics when defenders counter inside, and his understanding of angles allows him to stay square longer than many more naturally gifted tackles.

He also brings an edge that offensive line coaches love. Siereveld plays with controlled aggression. He looks to finish blocks, plays through the whistle, and consistently creates movement in the run game. His demeanor sets the tone for the rest of the offensive line, which is one reason teammates voted him a captain despite his playing one of football’s least glamorous positions.

Just as importantly, Ohio State already knows he can survive at left tackle against elite competition. And when your first marquee road game comes against Texas, there is value in not introducing uncertainty at one of the offense’s most important positions.

Why moving him inside remains tempting

The counterargument is equally compelling. Siereveld may be Ohio State’s best tackle. And he also might be Ohio State’s best guard. That isn’t a contradiction; it’s simply a reflection of how unique his skill set is.

At 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, Siereveld possesses the thick lower body, natural power, and physical temperament many NFL scouts covet on the interior. His ability to generate movement in the run game, absorb bull rushes, and consistently win leverage battles has led many evaluators to believe guard is ultimately where he’ll become an NFL starter.

If Ohio State had another tackle capable of playing at an All-Big Ten level, moving Siereveld inside suddenly becomes very attractive for the Buckeyes. It would allow him to maximize his strengths while simultaneously upgrading another position along the offensive line.

That is where players like Ian Moore enter the conversation. Moore has continued developing into the type of long, athletic, true tackle Ohio State has been searching for. Unlike Siereveld, who successfully transitioned outside after beginning his college career inside, Moore has always projected as a natural edge protector. If Moore proves during preseason camp that he can consistently handle elite speed rushers, the Buckeyes would suddenly have an opportunity few programs enjoy.

They could put all five offensive linemen in their most natural positions. Imagine an offensive line featuring Siereveld back at guard alongside Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman anchoring the middle, with Phillip Daniels at right tackle, and Moore protecting Sayin’s blind side.

That lineup probably has the highest ceiling of any offensive line combination for OSU, but it also carries significantly more risk. Unlike Siereveld, Moore has yet to prove he can handle the responsibility of an LT over an entire season. Potential is exciting, but experience wins championships in this new era of College Football.

The decision that could define Ohio State’s offense

Perhaps the biggest reason this conversation matters is that Ohio State’s offensive line enters 2026 with legitimate Joe Moore Award potential. The Buckeyes return four starters. Hinzman is one of the conference’s most experienced centers. Luke Montgomery continues developing into one of the Big Ten’s better guards. Phillip Daniels stabilized as the right tackle during his first season in Columbus. Behind them sits experienced depth with Ian Moore, Josh Padilla, Gabe VanSickle, Carter Lowe, and several young linemen continuing to develop.

Very few programs can match that combination of experience and competition. But championships are often decided by finding the best possible combination rather than simply putting the five best players on the field. Ryan Day and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen have to determine whether keeping Siereveld outside provides the highest floor or whether moving him back inside unlocks an even higher ceiling for the entire group.

It isn’t just about one position. It’s about maximizing everyone around him. A dominant guard can transform an interior rushing attack. While an elite left tackle can completely erase an opponent’s best edge rusher. Siereveld has shown he can potentially be both.

The most likely outcome

If the season started tomorrow, Austin Siereveld would almost certainly line up at left tackle. He has earned that trust; his production has earned that trust, and his leadership has earned that trust. Ohio State simply knows what it has with him protecting Julian Sayin’s blind side.

But that does not necessarily mean he finishes the season there. The real story to watch throughout preseason camp will be Ian Moore’s development. If Moore proves he is ready to become Ohio State’s next great left tackle, then moving Siereveld inside suddenly becomes one of the easiest decisions the coaching staff can make. If Moore isn’t ready, there is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving one of the best offensive linemen in the Big Ten exactly where he has already succeeded.

Either outcome benefits Ohio State. One provides stability, while the other could unlock greatness. And that is exactly why Austin Siereveld’s position may be the single most important decision the Buckeyes make before they ever take their first offensive snap of the 2026 season.