There is something about the first Saturday in Ohio Stadium that never gets old. The offseason debates finally give way to the band coming down the ramp, the team running out of the tunnel, and a fresh season of possibilities. Everyone has spent months projecting what Ohio State could become. Beginning Saturday, the Buckeyes get to show us.

Ohio State opens the 2026 season against Ball State with championship expectations and plenty of reasons for optimism. But even a roster with this much talent has things to establish. A new offensive coordinator must put his approach into practice, returning stars have another level to pursue, and a defense featuring new faces must develop its own identity.

The Buckeyes should have a considerable advantage in this matchup. What makes the afternoon interesting is how quickly that advantage becomes visible—and whether the execution matches the expectations.

There will be plenty of attention on the trip to Texas next week. First, Ohio State has an opportunity to build confidence, establish some good habits, and give its coaching staff meaningful film to evaluate.

Know The Opponent:

Head Coach: Mike Uremovich
2025 Record: 4–8 (3–5 MAC)
Conference: MAC
Location: Muncie, IN

Ohio State Preview

The most intriguing change begins with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who arrived in January after an extensive NFL coaching career. His partnership with Ryan Day gives Ohio State another experienced offensive voice and makes the opening weeks particularly interesting from a play-calling standpoint.

My biggest question is how the offense connects its strengths. Ohio State has a quarterback capable of distributing the football, an exceptional receiving threat in Jeremiah Smith, and a running back who can punish a defense for committing too much attention outside. The opportunity is to make those pieces work together so that an opponent’s answer to one problem creates another.

That starts up front. Against Ball State, Ohio State should be able to generate movement without needing a complicated sequence of formations or misdirection to manufacture every opening. Watch whether the offensive line consistently creates space on ordinary first-down runs. A steady stream of productive carries would tell us more about the offense’s rhythm than one long touchdown surrounded by stalled possessions.

Julian Sayin returns after throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 77 percent of his passes in 2025. That gives the Buckeyes considerable experience at the position as they begin installing their offensive identity for this season.

For Sayin, the next step is maintaining control when a possession becomes uncomfortable. Can he recognize pressure, move through his options, and get the offense into a productive answer? When a defense commits extra help to Smith, can he find the receiver benefiting from that attention?

Saturday should provide opportunities to demonstrate those skills without requiring Sayin to carry the entire afternoon. I would like to see the ball come out on time, a willingness to take the easy completion, and enough downfield aggression to keep Ball State from crowding the line of scrimmage.
There is also interest in how the receiving opportunities are distributed. Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, and Chris Henry Jr. are among the players worth watching as Ohio State establishes its rotation under receivers coach Cortez Hankton.

A supporting receiver making a difficult third-down catch could be one of the more meaningful plays of the afternoon. Ohio State already knows where much of the defense’s attention will go. Developing trustworthy answers elsewhere is how an offense becomes harder to contain.

Matt Patricia’s defense enters the season with a high standard to maintain. The Buckeyes allowed just 9.3 points per game in 2025, but this year’s group has to establish its own consistency.

That process begins with the plays that are easy to overlook when watching from the stands. A linebacker correctly fitting a run can force the ball toward help. A defensive back recognizing motion can prevent a coverage problem before the quarterback takes the snap. An edge defender maintaining his position can eliminate a scramble that otherwise extends a possession.

Those details matter against a quarterback making his first college start. Ohio State should be able to create pressure, but the rush needs to arrive with discipline. Giving an inexperienced passer a clean escape route can turn a well-defended play into a first down.

I would also watch the tackling. Are the Buckeyes arriving under control and finishing? Do short completions stay short? Does the first defender slow the runner enough for teammates to clean up?

Ball State will likely need to create extra yardage after contact or take advantage of an assignment mistake to sustain drives. Ohio State can make the afternoon much more difficult by forcing the Cardinals to earn every first down.

As the rotation expands, communication becomes an even more useful measuring stick. A comfortable lead should allow the coaching staff to evaluate combinations and depth, but those snaps still need to resemble organized, purposeful football.

Ball State Preview

Ball State enters Mike Uremovich’s second season following a 4–8 finish in 2025. The Cardinals have supplemented their roster with 19 transfers who last played at Power Four schools, adding experience for a demanding opener.

Uremovich has highlighted improved depth at receiver, running back, and in the secondary. That should give Ball State more options as the season develops, although Ohio State will immediately test whether those options can hold up against a deeper opponent.

Offensively, the Cardinals need manageable down-and-distance situations. Second-and-five allows a play caller to keep several possibilities available. Second-and-12 invites Ohio State to attack.

Expect Ball State to look for ways to help its quarterback settle in. Quick completions, changes in formation, and opportunities to move the pocket would be reasonable approaches. Those are tactical possibilities rather than a confirmed game plan, but the objective is straightforward: avoid asking a new starter to repeatedly solve long-yardage situations against a defense that can threaten him from multiple directions.

Field position matters, too. A short field created by a turnover or a special teams play would give the Cardinals a much more realistic scoring opportunity than asking them to repeatedly drive the length of the field.

Defensively, Ball State faces a difficult balancing act. Extra help toward Jeremiah Smith could leave space elsewhere. Bringing another defender toward the line might improve the numbers against the run while creating an opportunity for Sayin to attack outside.

The Cardinals need to make Ohio State work through possessions and hope the Buckeyes contribute a few mistakes. An early penalty, dropped pass, or missed assignment could provide a stop. Allowing Ohio State to score quickly and comfortably would put additional pressure on an offense still finding its footing.

Buckeye Spotlight

Jeremiah Smith. By now, every Ohio State fan knows what happens when the ball goes into the air and No. 4 has an opportunity to make a play. The anticipation begins before the pass reaches him. A difficult catch feels possible, a one-on-one matchup feels inviting, and a routine completion can become something considerably more. What makes Smith especially important to this opener is how he can influence the entire offense. Ball State must decide how much help to provide against him. If a safety shades toward his side, that changes the space available elsewhere. If a corner gives him a large cushion, Ohio State can take the shorter completion and make the defender tackle. If the Cardinals challenge him near the line without reliable help behind the play, Sayin should have opportunities to test that decision. I would like to see Ohio State involve Smith early. An accessible completion on the first possession could help establish rhythm and force Ball State to reveal how it intends to handle him. From there, the Buckeyes can build their answers around the coverage they receive. There is also value in watching Smith when the pass goes elsewhere. Does his route occupy two defenders? Does his positioning open a throwing lane for a teammate? Can he help finish a perimeter run with a block? His impact can extend well beyond the catches that appear in the box score. For Ohio State, the challenge is to make the most of Smith’s ability while keeping the offense responsive to what the defense offers. Give him opportunities to influence the game, and trust the other playmakers when the coverage creates a better answer.

Cardinal Spotlight

Keldric Luster. Keldric Luster won Ball State’s starting quarterback job after transferring from Texas State, having previously played at SMU. He enters the season with nine college appearances and only 12 pass attempts. Saturday will be his first collegiate start. That is a considerable assignment: a new offense, an enormous road environment, and a defense capable of punishing hesitation. His first few possessions will be worth watching closely. Can he communicate comfortably? Does he get the ball out when the initial read is available? If the play breaks down, does he protect the football and make a sensible decision? For Ball State, even modest early success could help. A completed third-down pass or a sustained possession would give the offense an opportunity to settle into the game. Ohio State’s responsibility is to prevent that confidence from building. The Buckeyes should challenge Luster’s processing while maintaining sound coverage and controlled pursuit. Make him complete difficult drives, and avoid providing easy answers through missed tackles or broken assignments.

Three Keys to the Game

1. Turn early possessions into touchdowns.
My benchmark remains touchdowns on at least two of Ohio State’s first three offensive possessions. That would indicate the Buckeyes are translating their advantages into points and finishing drives. Pay particular attention inside the 20. Can Ohio State run effectively when the field becomes compressed? Does Sayin have clear answers when the defense tightens its coverage? Red-zone execution is a useful early test of how comfortably the offense is operating.

2. Limit the plays that give Ball State life.
Explosive gains, turnovers, and special teams mistakes can change the feel of a game much faster than a handful of ordinary first downs.
Ohio State should aim to prevent gains of 20 yards or more while the starting defense is on the field. More broadly, the Buckeyes need to make Ball State assemble drives through repeated execution. That is a much harder task than benefiting from a single breakdown.

3. Make the second half useful.
If the game develops as expected, younger players and reserves should receive meaningful opportunities. Those snaps can help identify who is ready for a larger role. Watch whether the offensive rhythm survives substitutions and whether the defense remains organized. A sustained touchdown drive by the next group would carry more value than a late score created entirely by one individual play.

Water Cooler State of the Game

A little history for opening weekend: Ohio State and Ball State are meeting for the first time, and the Buckeyes enter with 26 consecutive season-opening victories.

Prediction

I expect Ohio State to establish its running game early, creating opportunities for Sayin to work from favorable situations. Jackson should help keep the offense moving, while Jeremiah Smith produces a couple of the afternoon’s most memorable plays.

Ball State may find a few early gains as Ohio State settles into its defensive combinations, but sustaining that success will be difficult. The Buckeyes should be able to create enough pressure and challenging third downs to limit extended possessions.

My projection has Ohio State building a substantial halftime lead and using the second half to develop its depth. A late Ball State scoring drive is possible as more reserves enter, but I expect the outcome to be comfortably decided before the fourth quarter.

The ideal opening Saturday ends with the Buckeyes healthy, the offense looking comfortable, and the defense showing that its new pieces can function together. Give us that, a few Jeremiah Smith highlights, and a stadium full of people singing Carmen Ohio, and the season will be off to a good start

Ohio State 56, Ball State 7

Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Getty Images