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Returning offensive line starts

If experience at the line of scrimmage matters to an offense -- and who doesn't think that? -- then Oregon State, USC, Stanford and Washington fans should be excited, while California and Utah fans should be worried.

Phil Steele has calculated returning offensive line starts for every FBS team, and six Pac-12 teams rank in the top 50.

Oregon State leads the way with players with a combined 90 starts back on its line.

The Beavers' 2012 Alamo Bowl opponent Texas, which didn't make that Oregon State line look terribly good, at least in terms of pass blocking, is No. 1 with 124 returning starts.

Oregon nonconference foe Tennessee is No. 2 with 123.

Cal and Utah rank 117th in the nation with just 28 returning starts.

Of course, starts don't win push guys over -- talent and skill does. Oregon ranks only 77th with only 55 starts coming back, but its three returning starters -- tackles Tyler Johnstone and Jake Fischer and center Hroniss Grasu -- are outstanding.