Carson Hinzman has experienced the highest of highs during his college football career at Ohio State. However, it is how he acts in defeat that reveals who he really is.
The fifth-year senior displayed his strong character after the loss to Texas on Saturday.
He did not allow his college football teammates to hang their heads. He pulled them back on to the field to stand tall.
Who is Carson Hinzman?
As a four-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2022, Carson Hinzman received 21 scholarships out of Saint Croix Central High School in Hammond, Wisconsin. He committed to Ohio State over schools like Iowa, Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU, Miami and Oregon, among others, as the No. 9-ranked interior offensive lineman and a top-200 player overall.
Hinzman earned his spot in the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound center lost only two games in each of his first three seasons and reached the College Football Playoff in all three years. The Buckeyes won a national championship in 2024 with two losses. They do not have to go undefeated to accomplish the ultimate goal.
That is an important message for the Ohio State team in 2026. The top-ranked team in the AP Preseason Poll (which ultimately means nothing) suffered a devastating loss at Texas on Saturday.
The Longhorns trailed 23-3 at the start of the fourth quarter. They went on to score 21 unanswered points to win 24-23.
As the Buckeyes shift their focus toward the next 10 games, they can maybe afford one more loss. Upperclassmen leadership will be crucial and there is no one better than Hizman. Although he is not a captain, he is one of the most important cogs in the machine. He has already been in the system for four years and he is one of just two players who touch the ball on every play.
Ohio State stood on the field to sing the alma mater in defeat.
The loss on Saturday was demoralizing. Ohio State basically needed one defensive stop and/or one offensive touchdown during the final 15 minutes of play. It didn’t get one. Not even a field goal.
There is no way to feel good about what happened. It was a choke job of epic proportions. Fans of 45 years called it the worst non-Michigan loss of Ryan Day’s tenure as head coach. I find it hard to disagree.
However, even in defeat, the Buckeyes showed the utmost respect toward their school and its traditions. Even if it took some coercing from one of their veterans.
‘Carmen Ohio’ was adopted by the university in the early 1900s. It is performed by the band after every game. Carson Hinzman did not allow his teammates to head back to the locker room after the game until they stood proud and sang the alma mater.
That is leadership. Hinzman means a lot to the football program, to the university and to the community of Columbus. To see him lock arms after a loss, when some of his teammates were not going to do the same, is a testament to who he is and to his character.