For the 79th year in college football, the Outland Trophy will be awarded to the top interior lineman. The award can go to either an offensive or defensive lineman but edge rushers are exempt. This preseason, 13 Big Ten linemen landed on the watchlist. Now, two remain as the FWAA pared it back for its semifinalists.
To date, based on the current makeup of the conference, 32 Big Ten players have won the award (15 went to players who actively played in the Big Ten). The pair from the Big Ten is joined by three from the SEC and one each from the Big 12 and MAC.
Two Big Ten Linemen Named as Outland Trophy Semifinalists
Mason Graham, Michigan
A Bednarik Award semifinalist and preseason All-American, Mason Graham has been a bright spot for the Michigan defense. After being named on the preseason Outland Trophy watchlist, Graham made the cut in the midst of another great season.
Already through 10 games, Graham has either met or beat last year’s impressive numbers. He has amassed 36 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three-and-a-half sacks, and one pass breakup. Graham has been Pro Football Focus’s top-graded defensive tackle for this season thus far. He is likely headed as a day one 2025 NFL Draft pick.
Graham has recorded at least half of a tackle for loss in eight of his ten games and is riding a streak of seven such games. He and his running mate, Kenneth Grant, have been terrorizing interior offensive lines all year.
Graham is looking to become just the second Michigan player to take home the Outland Trophy after Olusegun Oluwatimi did so in 2022.
Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
After transferring in from Alabama, Seth McLaughlin was having an All-American kind of season. He has been the leader on a Joe Moore Award semifinalist offensive line and has seemingly rectified the snapping issues seen at Alabama. He was named a William V. Campbell Trophy finalist and a top 17 total offense.
Then, news broke on Tuesday, November 19 that he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. It’s the second season-ending injury to the Ohio State offensive line and now the Buckeyes will have to go on without its two best offensive linemen.
The Buckeyes have produced the fourth-most winners of the award, only behind Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Alabama. McLaughlin will have to rely on his 10 weeks of play to join Jim Parker (1956), Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973), and Orlando Pace (1996).
The Rest of the Field
- Kelvin Banks, Jr., Texas
- Will Campbell, LSU
- Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
- Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
- Addison West, Western Michigan
