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Projecting which offensive lines in college football will be the best is one of the most challenging predictions to make in the preseason. In the transfer portal era, most teams are scrambling to assemble depth; extensive player movement can disrupt valuable year-over-year development and create more challenges for a unit to mesh each preseason. Also, it’s tough to assess how players who thrived in the Group of 6 conferences will translate to the power conference level. Offensive linemen are often the unsung heroes of a championship team, but the 2026 season has several groups that should get plenty of attention.
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Notre Dame leads the way in Athlon’s ranking of the best offensive lines for 2026, but the gap to the next tier of teams – Georgia, Ohio State and Indiana – is small. Texas ranks No. 5 on this list and should be among the nation’s most-improved lines this fall. Outside of the top five, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, Iowa and Oklahoma headline the following tier.
How did we come up with this list? Depth, overall talent, production, level of competition and projected output in ’26 all factored into these rankings for the offensive line. While some teams may have experienced a down year last season, a new assistant, top recruit, or scheme change can make a huge difference. These rankings reflect projections for ’26, not solely what teams accomplished last year.
The Fighting Irish return four starters from a unit that cleared the way for rushers to average 5.7 yards per carry and allowed only 12 sacks last season. Junior Anthonie Knapp – a second-team preseason All-American by Athlon Sports – is the headliner for line coach Joe Rudolph after allowing only 10 pressures last year, per Hudl IQ data. He’s slated to kick inside to guard this year, opening the left tackle job for rising star Will Black. Center Ashton Craig is still on the mend from a torn ACL, but Joe Otting is a capable replacement after playing nearly 400 snaps last season. Right tackle Guerby Lambert is another player on the rise after not allowing a sack (per Hudl IQ data) over 670 snaps.
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Center Drew Bobo’s return to full strength after a late-season injury will be a huge boost for this unit and Georgia’s hopes of another SEC title. Bobo is a second-team preseason All-American by Athlon Sports for 2026. Earnest Greene III was also limited by injury in ‘25, but is back at 100 percent and slated to flip from right tackle to the left side to replace Monroe Freeling. Guard Dontrell Glover is a rising star after starting 12 games as a true freshman last season. A couple of spots on the right side are up for grabs this fall. True freshman Zykie Helton could be the answer at guard, with Juan Gaston and Jah Jackson battling at right tackle. This unit allowed only 20 sacks over 14 games in ‘25 and has the pieces in place to play at a higher level this fall.
The Buckeyes need more out of this group after sluggish performances against Indiana and Miami to close 2025. However, with four starters back, this unit is poised to take a massive step forward. Line coach Tyler Bowen is mixing and matching this fall to find the right five, but three players – Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman – are preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports. Sophomore Ian Moore could be the answer at left tackle, while Phillip Daniels anchors the right side. This unit allowed only 16 sacks over 14 games last season and cleared the way for rushers to average 4.6 yards per carry.
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This unit was instrumental to Indiana’s national championship last season and was also a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line. Three starters are back, including Athlon Sports first-team All-American Carter Smith at left tackle. Smith is on the mend from shoulder surgery but is expected at full strength for ‘26. Drew Evans is expected to slide from guard to center to replace Pat Coogan. Sophomore Adedamola Ajani and Joe Brunner are slated to anchor the right side of the line, with Bray Lynch penciled in at left guard.
The Longhorns certainly didn’t measure up as one of the top-five offensive lines in college football last year. However, coach Steve Sarkisian’s group should be significantly improved in ‘26. Left tackle Trevor Goosby is a likely first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft, and Wake Forest transfer Melvin Siani was a huge get from the portal to fortify the other tackle spot. Siani’s arrival will allow Brandon Baker to kick inside to guard, with Connor Robertson back to anchor the line in the middle. Left guard is up for grabs this fall, but the job could fall to Western Kentucky transfer Laurence Seymore. With Andre Cojoe returning from injury, along with a few additions from the portal, the overall depth of this unit has improved.
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Rising star left tackle David Sanders Jr. and guard Wendell Moe Jr. headline an experienced offensive line for coach Josh Heupel. LSU transfer Ory Williams was brought in to anchor the right tackle spot.
New coach Kyle Whittingham thrived at building top-notch play in the trenches at Utah and should quickly replicate that success in Ann Arbor. Four starters are back for the new staff, including standouts in center Jake Guarnera and tackle Andrew Sprague. The development of tackle Andrew Babalola is a storyline to watch this fall.
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Center Iapani Laloulu is a first-team Athlon Sports All-American for 2026 and returns as the anchor for a unit breaking in three new starters.
The Hawkeyes need to find three new starters this fall, but a strong foundation is in place with Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck returning.
After an up-and-down 2025 season, the guess here is that Oklahoma’s offensive line takes a massive step forward in ‘26. Four starters are back, including rising star left tackle Michael Fasusi and center Jake Maikkula. Arkansas transfer E’Marion Harris was a key portal addition to solidify the right side of the line.
11. Missouri
12. Cincinnati
13. USC
14. SMU
15. Virginia
16. Army
17. Navy
18. Miami
19. BYU
20. Nebraska
21. Texas A&M
22. LSU
23. Ole Miss
24. Texas Tech
25. Washington
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This story was originally published August 12, 2026 at 6:00 AM.