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Ohio State loses 2nd starter on o-line to season-ending injury, per report

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Ohio State is heading into the final stretch of the regular season with major College Football Playoff hopes. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes reportedly sustained another major blow along the offensive line.

According to a report from Joey Kaufman and Bill Rabinowitz with The Columbus Dispatch, starting center Seth McLaughlin tore an Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s practice. Such an injury would end McLaughlin’s season, giving the Buckeyes 2 season-ending injuries to starters on the offensive line.

Starting left tackle, Josh Simmons, sustained a season-ending injury against Oregon. McLaughlin was in his first season with the Buckeyes after transferring from Alabama and has been the starting center all season long.

It’s unclear how Ohio State will adjust, but it is a major blow to the Buckeyes. The offensive line has already been re-shuffled once this season after Simmons’ injury and struggling against Nebraska.

In that arrangement, Ohio State bumped star left guard Donovan Jackson out to left tackle in games against Penn State, Purdue and Northwestern. Backup center Carson Hinzman was inserted into Jackson’s normal left guard spot, and the line performed well in that lineup.

With McLaughlin’s injury, Hinzman maybe needed back at center for the stretch run. If that is the case, it will be interesting to see how the Buckeyes adjust yet again on the left side of the line.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.