Carson Hinzman’s first playing season at Ohio State ended on an inauspicious note.
After starting all 12 of the Buckeyes’ regular-season games at center, Hinzman didn’t play a single snap in the Cotton Bowl. Matt Jones, who had been the Buckeyes’ starting right guard all season, slid over to center for the season finale against Missouri while Enokk Vimahi took Hinzman’s place at right guard.
Even though Ohio State’s offensive line struggled mightily throughout its season-ending 14-3 loss, the Buckeyes never put Hinzman in the game. Ryan Day said after the game that Hinzman had been “having a tough time the last couple of weeks in practice,” prompting the decision to replace him in the lineup for the bowl game.