Cole Cubelic makes case for Texas to be considered among top offensive lines in college football

You won’t find a bigger fan of offensive lines in the college football world than ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic, who played center at Auburn from 1996-2001.

Cubelic joined ESPN’s Greg McElroy on the “Always College Football” podcast to rank the top-ten offensive lines in college football. Texas was left out of the rankings, much to the chagrin of Cubelic.

“I do think Texas at least needs some of the conversation,” Cubelic told McElroy. “You’ve got Trevor Goosby who’s played a decent bit. Cole Hutson has played a lot and I think there’s an understanding there with coach Flood of what it needs to be and what it’s gonna be. And [head coach Steve Sarkisian] does a good job of stealing your eyes and forcing you to play a different way of defense that it can allow those guys to maybe develop a little bit earlier.”

The Longhorns had three members of their offensive line selected in the 2025 NFL Draft (OT Kelvin Banks Jr., OT Cameron Williams and OG Hayden Connor) with another electing to enter the Transfer Portal (OT Malik Agbo). They did not bring in an offensive lineman through the portal.

This leaves a starting O-line of LT Trevor Goosby, LG Neto Umeozulu, C Cole Hutson, RG DJ Campbell and RT Brandon Baker. Last season, the Texas O-line allowed 37 sacks (118th best in NCAA) and surrendered 225 sack yards (105th best in NCAA). They’ll be protecting quarterback Arch Manning, who is a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite.

McElroy and Cubelic’s Top OL in 2025

1. Notre Dame (LT: Knapp, LG: Schrauth, C: Craig, RG: Jagusah, RT: Wagner)
2. Texas A&M (LT: Zuhn III, LG: Bisontis, C: Nabou Jr., RG: Reed-Adams, RT: Crownover)
3. Florida (LT: Barber, LG: Harris, C: Slaughter, RG: George Jr., RT: Lovett)
4. Alabama (LT: Proctor, LG: Dewberry, C: Brailsford, RG: Roberts, RT: Formby)
5. Utah (LT: Lomu, LG: Togiai, C: Kump, RG: Mokofisi, RT: Fano)
6. Miami (LT: Bell, LG: Rodriguez, C: Brockermeyer, RG: Cooper, RT: Mauigoa)
7. Penn State (LT: Shelton, LG: Ioane, C: Dawkins, RG: Cousins, RT: Rucci)
8. Auburn (LT: Chaplin, LG: Wade, C: Lew, RG: Wright, RT: Murphy)
9. Clemson (LT: Leigh, LG: Sewell, C: Linthicum, RG: Parks, RT: Miller)
10. Oregon (LT: World, LG: Pregnon, C: Laloulu, RG: Bedford, RT: Harkey)

“The question I have about them is can they protect [Arch Manning] and run the ball?” ESPN’s Rece Davis asked earlier this week. “They lost four guys and a couple of draft picks from last year’s [offensive line] and I didn’t even think they were great on the offensive line last year. So, that’s a bigger question to me about Texas.”

All questions about the Longhorns’ offensive line will be settled when they opened the season against reigning National Champions Ohio State on August 30.