Phil Steele ranks Top 25 Offensive Line Units ahead of 2024 college football season

College football analyst Phil Steele ranked the top 25 offensive line units ahead of the 2024 college football season and it’s quite a group.

You can see Steele’s preview magazine in full HERE. In these rankings, Steele weighs veteran experience heavily, as well as big-time production in the run game. Don’t forget QB protection as well.

Below are Steele’s top 25 offensive line units ahead of the 2024 season.

1. Georgia

Steele has the Bulldogs as the top OL unit going into the fall. With four returning starters back, this should be quite the group.

Tate Ratledge headlines the offensive line for Georgia. This is a unit that allowed just 13 sacks last year and opened up holes for runners to average 5.3 yards per carry.

2. Texas

The Longhorns have a man named Kelvin Banks Jr. at offensive tackle. He’s arguably the best man at his position going into the season.

Overall, the offensive line has 121 combined starts, which is good news for quarterback Quinn Ewers and company. This will certainly help Texas as the program moves to the SEC this year.

3. Oregon

The Ducks’ offensive line unit was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award last season, for good reason. The team averaged nearly six yards per carry in 2023. They only allowed five sacks.

Three starters are back for Oregon this season, which should certainly help veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel. With a transfer as well, Oregon’s unit has 144 career starts between the lot, giving them one of the best offensive lines in the country.

4. Oklahoma State

Here’s a bit of a surprise from Steele, at least to the general public. A non-SEC or Big Ten school is in the top five, more on that next up as well. 

The Cowboys have ultra-talented running back Ollie Gordon and he’s helped by this unit that allowed its running backs to average nearly five yards per carry. Plus, Oklahoma State only allowed 13 sacks with all five starters back for 2024.

5. Florida State

As Steele pointed out, FSU had 206 career starts combined for last year’s group. This year, it’s 187, so not that big of a drop-off coming into this fall.

The Seminoles could have the best offensive line they’ve ever had, according to head coach Mike Norvell. They’ll certainly need it to win another ACC title and make a run in the College Football Playoff.

6. LSU

This LSU offensive line is headlined by Will Campbell, who could be the top offensive lineman taken in next year’s draft. It’s either him or Banks.

The Tigers protected Heisman winner Jayden Daniels quite well last year and should do the same for Garrett Nussmeier. A Joe Moore award finalist last year, this unit brings back four starters, 111 starts and 6.2 yards per carry.

7. Miami

The offensive line is Mario Cristobal’s specialty and it could be the unit that makes or breaks the Hurricanes this season. But, Steele’s and the general consensus is that this unit is really good.

Last year, the offensive line opened up holes and the team averaged 5.1 yards per carry and only allowed 16 sacks. Three starters are back and it should be more of the same in 2024.

8. Tennessee

Tennessee brings back three starters this season after a successful campaign in 2023. That includes Cooper Mays, the star center.

In 2023, the Volunteers paved the way for 5.4 yards per carry and just 5.9% sacks allowed among all dropbacks. This unit should be one of the best again.

9. Clemson

Seven offensive linemen are back this season for Clemson, which includes four starters. The Tigers should be in good shape with a lot of pressure on the team in 2024.

Marcus Tate is back at guard, highlighting the group along with right guard Walker Parks. The interior of the offensive line should be Clemson’s strength.

10. Georgia Tech

Head coach Brent Key turned this unit into one of the best in the country and Steele has the Yellow Jackets as a top 10 offensive line. Last year, the line opened up lanes for 5.4 yards per carry.

So with four starters back, this is a veteran group in 2024. In terms of combined starts, Georgia Tech goes from 66 to 128 year to year.

Rest of Top 25 offensive line units

11. West Virginia
12. Ohio State
13. Ole Miss
14. Cincinnati
15. Wisconsin
16. Alabama
17. Kentucky
18. SMU
19. Utah
20. Texas A&M
21. Missouri
22. Iowa State
23. Boise State
24. Minnesota
25. Arizona

So there you have it, Steele’s top 25 offensive line units in college football. Going into the fall, these are the groups we have to watch, but who will end up on top?