Three Ohio State players named to Lombardi preseason watch list

The college football world has seen numerous preseason award watch lists recently, with Ohio State making an appearance on most of them. Among these is the Lombardi Award, an annual honor given to college football's top offensive, defensive, or linebacker player. This prestigious award, named after legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi, has been bestowed by the Rotary Club of Houston, Texas, since 1970 when Ohio State's Jim Stillwagon claimed the first Lombardi trophy.

Looking to extend its impressive streak of six Lombardi winners, Ohio State has three players on the 2026 preseason watch list. These athletes were also part of the Outland Trophy preseason watch list: Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Luke Montgomery. Siereveld, a two-year starter thrust into action during Ohio State's 2025 College Football Playoff national championship run, enters his redshirt junior season, and undoubtedly was the best Buckeye lineman last season.

Whether playing left tackle or another position, Siereveld is expected to anchor the line again and will join some of the NFL's most promising offensive linemen next April. Hinzman, now in his fifth year, took over as center in 2023, switched to guard at the start of 2024, and then returned as center for Ohio State's national championship run when Rimington winner Seth McGlaughlin was sidelined by injury.

He was the unquestioned starter at center last season and earned AFCA First Team All-American and Third Team All-Big Ten honors.

Montgomery, like his teammates, also made a significant impact during the 2024 national championship run. He started the final two games of Ohio State's championship run and earned a spot on the starting lineup for all 14 games last season. The junior from Wisconsin is now poised to be another All-Big Ten performer. He enters his junior season with 16 starts and 28 total games played on the offensive line.

The Lombardi Award will be presented at an awards ceremony in Houston on December 9. Ohio State aims to add to the legacy of Stillwagon, John Hicks (1973), Chris Spielman (1987), Orlando Pace (1995-96), and A.J. Hawk (2005).