Some of the best offensive linemen returning to college football reside in the Big Ten. Since 2015, the Joe Moore Award has been around to finally give recognition to the nation’s top offensive line. In those 10 seasons, a Big Ten team has taken it home four times, with Iowa and Michigan taking it home twice each. At the same time, Washington won in its final season with the Pac-12, one year before the Big Ten welcomed it in.
Now, heading into the 2026 season, it’s more of the same. In our Last Word series, we look at the top players returning to their teams in the Big Ten. Players who transfer in or within the conference are not included.
The Best Offensive Linemen Returning to the Big Ten in 2026
Honorable Mentions
Three of Ohio State’s returning offensive linemen are worthy of inclusion. From left tackle to center, Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery, and Carson Hinzman are expected to be some of the best in the country this year. Siereveld and Montgomery have sneaky first-round grades on them from a few outlets out there.
Just north, Michigan has Jake Guarnera and Andrew Sprague. The Wolverines are going to continue to bully opponents with Kyle Whittingham at the helm.
Iowa took home the Joe Moore Award last year, and it will be returning Kade Pieper. After a solid right guard campaign a year ago, he’s expected to kick in to center. His veteran leadership will be key for the Hawkeyes to vie for their third Joe Moore Award. Nebraska’s Justin Evans kicked inside to center last year and was incredible for the Huskers. When Nebraska has a solid offensive line, it’ll be thanks to Evans.
Finally, we would be remiss to not mention an inter-conference transfer. After starting two seasons at Wisconsin, guard Joe Brunner made the jump to Indiana. As you’ll see from this list, the Hoosiers are a favorite to take home the Big Ten’s fifth Joe Moore Award.
5. Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
We could not get through this ranking without any centers. There are a handful of great centers in the Big Ten returning in 2026, but Iapani Laloulu leads the way from Oregon.
Last year, as a junior, Laloulu earned second-team All-Big Ten honors to go with first-team All-American honors from the FWAA and third-team All-American honors from the Associated Press. He was a Rimington Trophy finalist as one of the best centers in college football and a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy.
In 15 games, he allowed just 11 pressures and no sacks over 442 pass-blocking snaps (according to Pro Football Focus). Heading into 2026, Laloulu has started 27 consecutive games at center for the Ducks and is the elder statesman on an offensive line that has had to reload after losing NFL picks year over year. Laloulu is the favorite to become the second Oregon center to take home the Rimington Trophy, joining Jackson Powers-Johnson from 2023.
Side note: the Big Ten has won five Rimington Trophies in a row, six of the last seven, and eight of the last ten.
4. Drew Evans, Indiana
One of the architects of Indiana’s incredible national championship season, Drew Evans, returns in 2026 after starring as the Hoosiers’ left guard. Initially a Wisconsin Badger, Evans transferred to Indiana prior to the 2023 season, in which he redshirted. As a redshirt sophomore, he logged nine starts before being knocked out due to a season-ending injury. In those nine games, Evans did not allow a sack.
He continued his upward trajectory in 2025 with another sackless season. Over the last two seasons, he went 656 pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack from his left guard position. As for just last year, he only allowed two hits and seven pressures.
According to On3’s calculations, when the Hoosiers ran behind Evans in 2025, they averaged 5.4 yards per carry. If Indiana is going to continue to dominate and try to repeat as champions, Evans will be as integral as any on that offensive line.
3. Trevor Lauck, Iowa
What sort of offensive line rankings would we have if we didn’t include at least one Hawkeye? Anchoring the left tackle position for the 2025 Joe Moore Award-winning line, Trevor Lauck is back in 2026 and will be the leader of a reloaded unit. According to On3′s top 100 players list, Lauck is the 15th-best player in all of college football.
If Pro Football Focus grades are your thing, Lauck finished the 2025 season with an 84.8 overall grade with a 79.7 run-blocking grade and 87.8 pass-blocking grade (sixth-best in the country).
At six-foot-five and 310 pounds, Lauck is as tough to get around as any. In his breakout 2025 campaign, he allowed just two quarterback hits and four hurries with no sacks in 701 pass-blocking snaps. In the games against USC and Oregon, despite the back-to-back losses, Lauck did not surrender a single pressure.
In a conference with so many top-tier pass rushers, having a left tackle as solid as Lauck does wonders for confidence in the Hawkeyes’ offense.
2. Greg Johnson, Minnesota
Kicking back inside to guard, Minnesota’s Greg Johnson is one of the top offensive linemen, regardless of position, in college football this year. A home-grown player from Minnesota, Johnson made an impact right away. In his true freshman season in 2023, he appeared in 11 games for the Golden Gophers with two starts at left guard against Michigan State and Illinois.
In 2024, Johnson kicked inside and started all 13 games at center for Minnesota. After a successful season, he moved back out to left guard for the Golden Gophers in 2025. Well, actually, he started 11 at left guard, one at left tackle, and one at right tackle. He was the top-graded Minnesota lineman in 2025, so it only makes sense that he will be the leader in 2026.
Despite having to move around and play just about every position, Johnson has just four sacks to his ledger over the course of 1,972 snaps. Last year, he was an honorable mention when the Big Ten doled out honors. He should be in the short conversation for first-team honors this year.
1. Carter Smith, Indiana
One of the best players in the Big Ten and one of the best offensive linemen in the nation, Carter Smith is back for more in 2026. With 41 career starts to his name, Smith is among the elites of the game. Last year, as the first-ever Indiana Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, Smith became the first Hoosier offensive lineman to crack the first-team selections since 1987.
Indiana’s offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, and with him anchoring the left side again this year, the Hoosiers may be the favorite to win it again.
If you take stock in PFF grades, Smith earned an 87.7 pass-blocking grade (fourth-best among all offensive linemen with 300+ snaps) and an 83.4 run-blocking grade with an 85.7 overall offensive grade. In 2025, he suited up for 1,019 total snaps and allowed a total of two sacks. Both of those sacks came in the CFP National Championship against Miami’s two first-round EDGE rushers.
Of all of the offensive linemen returning to the Big Ten, Smith looks to be the easy choice to be the best.
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