While the players who score touchdowns land the featured spot on highlight reels, a thriving scoring attack typically has a sturdy offensive line leading the way.

As with any positional unit, no single group defines a successful team. But it sure helps to have excellent blockers.

One prime example is the Michigan Wolverines, who have boasted an elite offensive line in each of the last two seasons. That strength up front has fueled Michigan's run to consecutive Big Ten championships and trips to the College Football Playoff.

And the Wolverines, among nine other programs we're set to highlight, should have a terrific unit again in 2023.

AAC: UTSA Roadrunners

As the Roadrunners shift to a new conference, they're bringing an experienced offensive line.

Terrell Haynes, Venly Tatafu, Ernesto Almaraz, Frankie Martinez and Walter Baty all played significant snaps last season. Haynes, Almaraz and Baty each earned honorable mention All-Conference USA recognition.

Makai Hart landed the same status in 2021—along with a second-team spot in 2020—and he'll bolster the unit after injuries limited him to only two appearances last year.

Demetris Allen is an experienced backup with a real chance to become UTSA's left tackle, and Northwestern transfer Payne He'Bert held a starting job late in 2022, as well.

UTSA has excellent depth all over the offensive line and should be able to lean on the group during the program's AAC debut.

ACC: Florida State Seminoles

The offensive line is a quietly key piece of the Florida State bandwagon.

Led by second-team All-ACC left tackle Robert Scott Jr., the unit also returns center Maurice Smith, third-team All-ACC right guard D'Mitri Emmanuel and late-season starter Darius Washington.

Plus, the Seminoles brought in Keiondre Jones (Auburn), honorable mention All-Pac-12 guard Casey Roddick (Colorado) and first-team All-Conference USA tackle Jeremiah Byers (UTEP) to reinforce the O-line. All three of them are heavily experienced players.

Throw in Bless Harris—who started the 2022 opener but missed the rest of the season with an injury—and FSU has immense depth.

Big Ten: Michigan Wolverines

Michigan is expected to have several new faces on the offensive line, but that doesn't mean it's not also a veteran group.

Right guard Zak Zinter is a two-time All-Big Ten selection, and left guard Trevor Keegan is a two-year starter with the Wolverines. Karsen Barnhart played right tackle last season, while Trente Jones and Giovanni El-Hadi filled in when Barnhart and Keegan missed time.

Then, in this offseason, Michigan added three-year Arizona State starter LaDarius Henderson, standout Stanford center Drake Nugent and his teammate Myles Hinton.

Given the excellence of the Wolverines' blockers in 2021 and 2022, a bit of transition should pose little issue in 2023.

Big 12: Texas Longhorns

How's this for a luxury: Texas returns all five starters.

The cornerstone player is left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who secured second-team All-Big 12 honors as a freshman. Banks and right tackle Christian Jones give the Longhorns two quality bookends.

On the interior—from left to right—Hayden Conner, Jake Majors and Cole Hutson are expected to reprise their roles. DJ Campbell played well in limited snaps and should be a top backup for them.

Now, the Longhorns didn't have a dominant group in 2022. Running back Bijan Robinson also helped them out because of his dynamic ability to force missed tackles, and the value of his elusiveness should not be understated—and it's not replaceable to his level, either.

But between the first-string group's familiarity and likelihood of development, a strong year is fair to project.

C-USA: UTEP Miners

Losing a first-team All-Conference USA lineman could be a dagger for a Group of Five program's O-line.

That's not the situation at UTEP.

Yes, the Miners face a tough challenge to fill FSU-bound Jeremiah Byers' slot at left tackle. However, all four other starters—Justin Mayers, Andrew Meyer, Elijah Klein and Steven Hubbard—are back after landing honorable mention All-C-USA recognition last season.

Zuri Henry is a sixth-year player who started much of the 2018-20 campaigns before holding top rotational roles in 2021 and 2022. He may slide back into a first-string position this fall.

The skill positions on UTEP's offense are a work in progress, but these blockers should be steady if they stay healthy.

MAC: Toledo Rockets

Behind this offensive line, the reigning MAC champions should be built for another run at a conference title.

First-team All-MAC pick Nick Rosi anchors the unit, which also returns the interior trio of Vinny Sciury, Devan Rogers and Kendall Major. They'll be familiar faces in front of dynamic quarterback Dequan Finn.

Toledo gets another boost from Tyler Long as he returns from an ankle injury. Long started at right guard in 2020 and 2021 but missed the whole 2022 campaign.

Reserve tackles Garrett Schwiebert and Jackson Stoefen may challenge for a tackle spot opposite Rosi, sending one of the other four to a rotational spot. But if that happens, it simply means the Rockets have a seasoned backup ready for snaps.

MWC: Air Force Falcons

As usual, Boise State is a prime Mountain West contender. Fresno State is chasing a second straight MWC crown, and the Bulldogs have another stout offensive line. Wyoming may be in the picture, too.

Air Force, though, has a blocking corps stacked with seniors who have logged significant snaps.

Left tackle Everett Smalley received second-team All-MWC recognition in 2022. Left guard Wesley Ndago, center Thor Paglialong and right tackles Adam Caras and Kaleb Holcomb have been important pieces of the group for the last two seasons.

Ethan Jackman started at left guard against Baylor in the Armed Forces Bowl, otherwise holding a reserve job alongside Ayden McCollough and Steve Iles.

Air Force needs to revamp at the skill positions, but the foundation of this option offense is stable.

Pac-12: Utah Utes

Don't take it from me; listen to Utah boss Kyle Whittingham.

"We think the offensive line is a big strength," he said, per Jeff Call of the Deseret News. "We're going to have probably a dozen guys competing for 10 spots to fill that offensive line out. Typically, you have trouble finding eight, nine and 10. … That's a strong suit for us."

The returning starters are left guard Keaton Bills, right guard Michael Mokofosi and first-team All-Pac-12 right tackle Sataoa Laumea.

Yes, the Utes are reasonably thin on experience behind them. But the Utes turned to Jaren Kump and Johnny Maea for a couple of starts in 2022 and worked in players like Falcon Kuamatule and Kolinu'u Faaiu, who might end up winning jobs at left tackle and center.

When the coach of the two-time reigning Pac-12 champions calls the unit a strength, it seems best to listen.

SEC: Georgia Bulldogs

Same goes for a coach of the two-time defending national champs.

Throughout the offseason, Kirby Smart has praised the potential of the group. That's in no small part because second team All-SEC center Sedrick Van Pran is back alongside Xavier Truss and Tate Ratledge, a pair of reliable guards.

Amarius Mims excelled at right tackle in both CFP games and is set to take the role on a full-time basis this season.

The lone question, really, is the starter at left tackle. Earnest Greene and Austin Blaske competed for the position in the spring, and both are likely to contribute in the rotation anyway.

Georgia should be able to confidently lean on the blockers as the team pursues a third national title in a row.

Sun Belt: James Madison Dukes

Unfortunately for the Dukes, they're not yet eligible for postseason play. But they'll be highly respected after winning a pseudo division title in their Sun Belt debut last year.

One particularly large positive? The entire offensive line is intact.

The headliner is second-team All-Sun Belt right tackle Nick Kidwell, a three-year starter with JMU. Tyshawn Wyatt, Tyler Stephens, Tanner Morris and Cole Potts fill out the group from left tackle to right guard.

Stephens offers immense versatility, as evidenced by his playing time across four positions in 2022. And if he needs to cover for somebody, Josh Toner is ready to slide in at guard.

For good measure, Kidwell is the only player entering his final year of eligibility. JMU's line is built for long-term success.