Eric Boggs
Amid another remarkable season by the Ohio State football team — a baffling statistic is drawing attention across college football: Ohio State has now played 17 straight Big Ten games without an opponent being called for holding.
According to The Silver Bulletin, the streak marks exactly two years since a Big Ten official last threw a holding flag against one of Ohio State’s conference opponents. For context, that’s over 1,000 pass rushes from some of the most dominant defensive linemen in the country — and not one penalty for holding.
While it’s common knowledge that officials don’t call every hold, it’s statistically improbable for a team that consistently fields elite edge rushers — including Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., and Caden Curry — to go two full seasons without drawing a single flag for holding.
The topic caught fire this week and The OHIO Podcast had to address it. Both Eric Boggs and Chris Wilds broke down the numbers and raised legitimate questions about Big Ten officiating standards. “You can’t tell me with a straight face that our defensive ends haven’t been held at least once in two years,” Boggs said. “It’s an impossible stat.”
They aren’t alone in their skepticism. Across the entire Big Ten, only four programs rank in the top 100 nationally for penalties called against their opponents. Ohio State ranks 134th, and Iowa — often cited for its physical defensive style — ranks even lower at 136th. In short, Big Ten officials appear to be calling fewer infractions across the board, particularly along the offensive line.
Some argue the lack of calls stems from a league-wide philosophy to “let the players play,” avoiding excessive penalties that could disrupt game flow. But critics contend that such leniency comes at the expense of fairness — especially when elite pass rushers are routinely battling offensive tackles who may be getting away with infractions that would be called elsewhere.
The conversation underscores a broader issue within college football officiating: consistency. Calls are growing for the conference to invest in full-time, better-trained officiating crews. “This can’t keep happening,” Boggs said. “A conference that has schools making tens of millions annually should expect its officials to perform at the highest standard.”
Despite the ongoing officiating debate, Ohio State’s play has rendered most controversies irrelevant where it matters most — the scoreboard. The Buckeyes continue to dominate on both sides of the ball, displaying the balance and resilience of a championship-caliber team.
Still, as Ohio State eyes another Big Ten title and a return to the College Football Playoff, fans and analysts alike are left to wonder: When will the streak finally end? Because as good as Ohio State’s defense has been, it’s hard to believe that not a single offensive lineman in the Big Ten has been caught holding for more than two years straight.
