Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.
Which college football programs have the best offensive line situation heading into 2019? The top pick has plenty of experience on the interior with all five starters returning. Here are the top 15.
1. Oregon Ducks
To say that the Ducks' offensive line has experience may be a bit of an understatement for 2019. Their 153 career starts returning are the most in the FBS since SMU had 158 starts in 2011. After their rushing output dipped down to 179 yards per game a year ago with 22 sacks allowed, expect the numbers to improve this year, as not only do all five starters return, but four of them are listed on my preseason All-Pac-12 team.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
While the Bulldogs averaged 260 yards per game on the ground during the regular season, some struggles in both the SEC title game and Sugar Bowl saw their yearly numbers drop to 239 yards per game (with 20 sacks allowed). This season they return four starters to the unit (83 career starts return overall). Georgia is my No. 2 offensive line for the second straight season, and the Bulldogs will be in contention for the Joe Moore Award (nation's top offensive line) by the end of 2019.
3. Clemson Tigers
The Tigers find themselves as the only team in the top five of all four offensive categories for 2019, and despite losing a pair of starters, 69 career starts return (four players earned seven or more starts in 2018). With nine very highly touted players among the group, including my top-ranked sophomore lineman, left tackle Jackson Carman (200 snaps as a true freshman in 2018), Clemson could come close to last season's mark of 248 rushing yards per game and 17 sacks allowed.
4. Michigan Wolverines
Last year, Michigan saw four of its five offensive linemen start all 13 games, with each earning some type of All-Big 10 honor, led by first-team Big Ten left tackle Jon Runyan. Overall in 2018, Michigan improved to 204 rush yards per game and allowed only 23 sacks. This season all of the Wolverines' previously mentioned contributors return (89 career starts return) making them the premier group in the Big Ten.
5. Auburn Tigers
After going from a loaded unit in 2017 (106 career starts returned) to inexperienced in 2018 (just 40 career starts returned), the Tigers are back on the veteran side of things in 2019. All five starters return (104 career starts overall), led by left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho. There are 11 heralded linemen in the group, including six with previous starting experience. Auburn, which ran for 167 yards per game in 2018 (its lowest mark since 2012), should have no issue increasing last year's lower than expected rushing total.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide
Last year, the Tide had four starters back (103 career starts returned) and saw their numbers dip from 251 rush yards per game to 198 rush yards per game, but they allowed only 15 sacks. While they do lose a trio of starters for 2019 (just 49 career starts return), a second consecutive drop in rushing is extremely unlikely considering that the Tide has my fourth-best set of running backs and there are 14 promising linemen in the group.
7. UCF Knights
Last year, the Knights, who returned 85 career starts, saw four linemen earn first-team AAC honors and their rushing numbers improve to 265 yards per game while allowing just 19 sacks. While two starters move on this season, the career starts remain steady at 75, and three linemen who were first-team AAC in 2018 return. Their rush numbers should remain strong.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
In 2017, the Irish earned the coveted Joe Moore Award (most outstanding offensive line), clearing the way for 3,501 rush yards and falling just short of the school record. Last season, they lost a pair of first-round picks to the NFL (65 career starts returned) and the numbers dropped as expected to 183 rush yards per game. This season things are looking much more promising for the Fighting Irish, as not only do they have 13 highly touted players among the unit, but four starters and 60 career starts are set to return as well.
9. Army Black Knights
Last year, Army averaged 312 yards per game on the ground with 36 career starts returning. This season they go from just one returning starter to three, with the career starts returning climbing up to 45. With more experience among the group, including left guard Jaxson Deaton, Army lands inside of the top 10 for the 2019 season.
10. Washington Huskies
The Huskies were loaded with talent a year ago with 97 career starts and four starters back. With left tackle Trey Adams missing most of the season, Washington's rush numbers dipped to 176 yards per game. This season they lose a first-round pick to the NFL, but four starters and 107 career starts return, including Adams. With 10 heralded players in the group, Washington should increase its numbers following consecutive years of decline.
11. LSU Tigers
Last year, LSU (35 career starts back) saw its rushing yards per game drop to less than 200 yards for the first time since 2012. This season the Tigers have four returning starters (78 career starts return), and 10 promising linemen in the unit. LSU's offensive line might be the most improved unit on the entire team and should make a significant leap in contributing to the overall rushing yards per game for the 2019 campaign.
12. Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers were my top-rated rated offensive line a year ago with 150 career starts returning. Wisconsin improved its rush numbers to 273 yards per game (24 sacks allowed) with three starters earning first-team All-Big 10 honors. While the career starts returning drop down to 34 for the 2019 season, the history of this group, along with a Heisman favorite at running back, has them inside my top 15.
13. Florida Atlantic Owls
After crushing the school rushing record in 2017 with 285 rush yards per game (and just 16 sacks allowed), FAU had just two starters back in 2018 (74 career starts), and the numbers slipped some to 243 rush yards per game (but only 14 sacks allowed). This year the Owls return three starters (79 career starts) and could see those rushing totals stay steady in 2019.
14. Texas A&M Aggies
Last year, the Aggies saw their rush numbers take a substantial rise up to 219 yards per game, which was their highest total since 2012. While three starters depart for 2019, five linemen who started seven or more games in a season (69 career starts return overall) are back. Jimbo Fisher also has recruited seven highly touted players for this unit that are either freshman or sophomores, and this group looks to have the right mix of youth and experience.
15. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
In 2018, Louisiana had 67 career starts back with the same five players starting all 14 games and the Cajuns averaged 219 yards per game rushing. This season all five starters return, and the career starts returning jumps up to 131. With a pair of 2018 All-SBC performers along the offensive line and a trio of great runners in the backfield, the Cajuns should improve their rushing numbers once again in 2019.