Austin Siereveld’s return might matter more than anyone realizes

Ohio State’s biggest question this week is obvious. Ryan Day still hasn’t named a starting quarterback, and he said Tuesday it’s “definitely possible” both Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair play against USC.

Whoever starts, the most important thing for that quarterback might be the return of a guy who hasn’t played in almost a month.

Austin Siereveld is back at practice this week after missing Ohio State’s last two games with an illness. Day said it’ll be determined over the course of the week whether he’s ready for a full game, but if he plays, it’ll be at tackle.

That might not sound like the biggest headline of the week, but I think it could be one of the most important developments for Ohio State’s offense in Los Angeles.

We saw what happened without him

In my piece before the Indiana game, I wrote that if Ohio State lost in Bloomington, it would probably start at offensive tackle. The Buckeyes won, but the right side of the line was a problem all afternoon.

Without Siereveld, Phillip Daniels returned at right tackle after missing a month, and Gabe VanSickle moved back to right guard. It did not go well.

Sayin was sacked four times, two each by Mario Landino and Tobi Osunsanmi, and was under pressure all afternoon. The sack that ended his season came when Landino beat Daniels around the right side. Ohio State’s run game didn’t fare much better, finishing with just 78 rushing yards.

That’s not all on Daniels. He was playing his first game in over a month against one of the best defensive lines in the country, and anyone would have looked rusty. But it showed how much the line misses Siereveld’s steadiness on that side.

Ohio State’s best five

Siereveld is a team captain, and Day has called him Ohio State’s best offensive lineman. He’s also the most versatile.

He came into the season as the starting right guard, then slid out to right tackle when Daniels was hurt at Texas and played there for three straight games. When he was healthy, Ohio State’s line looked like a real strength.

The last time he played was at Iowa on Oct. 3. That day, Ohio State’s five starters, Ian Moore at left tackle, Luke Montgomery at left guard, Carson Hinzman at center, VanSickle at right guard and Siereveld at right tackle, played all 75 offensive snaps together against one of the best defenses in the country.

Ohio State put up 484 yards, and the Jacksons combined for 142 rushing yards. That might be the best this line has looked all season.

Hinzman made it clear this week how much the line has missed him.

“Talk about a freak athlete, man. Very large human being,” he said. “Great communicator when it comes to the offensive line.”

That last part might matter most. With a quarterback making his first career start, the line has to handle the protection calls, adjust on the fly and make sure everyone is on the same page. Having your leader and best communicator back is huge.

Day’s plan to play Siereveld at tackle is the right call. It gets Ohio State back to the group that played so well against Iowa, with VanSickle at guard where he’s been at his best. Daniels can still provide depth if Siereveld isn’t ready for a full game, but the Iowa lineup gives Ohio State its best chance to keep their young quarterback upright.

Protecting the freshman

That’s what this all comes down to.

Whether it’s Fahey or St. Clair, the offense has to be simple. That means running the ball, getting it out quickly and avoiding negative plays. None of that works if the right side of the line can’t hold up.

USC is a good matchup for Siereveld’s return. Wisconsin sacked Jayden Maiava five times last week, but USC’s own pass rush isn’t on Texas or Indiana’s level.

If Ohio State’s line can control the line of scrimmage, it can open running lanes for Bo Jackson and Isaiah West and keep the Buckeyes out of third and long, where a freshman quarterback is most vulnerable.

There’s also a bigger picture element here. The defense has carried Ohio State the last few weeks, but the offense needs to be able to sustain drives too, especially in a hostile environment at night in the Coliseum. A healthy, consistent offensive line is what gives Ohio State the best chance to do that.

Everyone will be watching the quarterback on Saturday night. But if Ohio State wins in Los Angeles, there’s a good chance it’ll be because the five guys in front of him finally got their best lineup back together.