For an Ohio State team that entered the 2026 season with championship expectations and a trip to Austin waiting just seven days away, Saturday afternoon against Ball State was never really about whether the Buckeyes would win.

It was about what they could accomplish before things became considerably more difficult.

Ohio State checked just about every box.

The No. 1 Buckeyes opened their season with a dominant 56-3 victory over Ball State, scoring 14 points in every quarter while piling up 671 yards of total offense and holding the Cardinals to just 165 yards. Ohio State threw for 434 yards, rushed for another 237 and averaged a staggering 9.3 yards per offensive play.

The starters created the separation everyone expected. The younger players turned a comfortable win into a complete one. And by the time the Victory Bell rang inside Ohio Stadium, perhaps the most valuable aspect of the afternoon was that Ohio State had been able to get deep into its roster without ever allowing the game to lose its shape.

It was exactly what a championship contender should do against an overmatched opponent.

Now comes Texas.

But before Ohio State turns its full attention toward Austin, there was plenty to take away from Week 1.

FINAL WHISTLE: OHIO STATE 56, BALL STATE 3

There wasn’t much suspense, and that might have been the most encouraging part.

Ohio State’s opening possession ended without points, but the Buckeyes quickly settled in and scored on each of their next three drives. By halftime, Ohio State had built a 28-3 advantage, and the game had essentially transitioned from competition to evaluation.

What stood out was that the production didn’t disappear once the first-team offense began leaving the field.

Ohio State matched its first-half scoring output with another 28 points after halftime despite Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and several other offensive starters spending most of the final two quarters on the sideline. Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair both threw touchdown passes. Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson each broke long touchdown runs. Young players including Legend Bey and Chris Henry Jr. found the end zone.

There are games on the schedule where Ohio State will need its stars to carry the afternoon.

Saturday wasn’t one of them.

Instead, it became an opportunity to show just how far down the depth chart the Buckeyes could go without losing control.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ohio State’s first touchdown drive offered an early reminder that even when opponents know exactly where the football is likely to go, stopping Jeremiah Smith is another matter entirely.

Backed up near its own goal line, Ohio State marched 99 yards in seven plays, with Sayin finishing the drive by finding Smith for a 48-yard touchdown. It was Ohio State’s first 99-yard touchdown drive since the 2004 Michigan game and immediately changed the feel of the afternoon.

The next possession was more methodical but produced the same result. Ohio State drove 75 yards in nine plays, with Sayin finding Texas transfer Devin McCuin for a 17-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 14-0.

Then the defense created its first major moment of the season.

Sophomore linebacker TJ Alford intercepted Ball State quarterback Keldric Luster, setting Ohio State up with a short field. Sayin ultimately finished the possession himself, keeping the football for a three-yard touchdown run and giving the Buckeyes a three-score advantage.

Ball State’s only points came late in the second quarter when Brody Boehm connected on an impressive 54-yard field goal, briefly cutting Ohio State’s lead to 21-3.

It appeared that might be the halftime score.

Instead, Ohio State provided one more glimpse of what could make this offense so dangerous.

The Buckeyes covered 90 yards in just 65 seconds, and Sayin found Smith for a three-yard touchdown with only 10 seconds remaining before halftime. Ohio State entered the locker room leading 28-3, and the starters had essentially completed their assignment.

The second half belonged to the running backs and the depth chart.

Bo Jackson exploded through the defense for a 65-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Not long afterward, Ja’Kobi Jackson produced a 49-yard touchdown run of his own. By then, the lead had grown to 42-3 and Ryan Day was able to begin turning the afternoon over to younger players.

Fahey connected with Legend Bey for a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and St. Clair completed the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Chris Henry Jr.

Eight touchdowns. Fourteen points in every quarter. Three quarterbacks throwing touchdown passes.

For an opener positioned one week before a major road game, it was about as efficient an afternoon as Ohio State could have hoped for.

BY THE NUMBERS

The 53-point margin told most of the story, but the statistics underneath it were arguably even more convincing.

Ohio State outgained Ball State 671-165, including a 434-120 advantage through the air and 237-45 on the ground. The Buckeyes averaged 9.3 yards per play while limiting Ball State to just 2.8.

Ohio State also collected 32 first downs compared with 13 for the Cardinals.

That combination is important.

This wasn’t simply Ohio State hitting five or six explosives while otherwise struggling to sustain offense. The Buckeyes consistently moved the football and then layered explosive plays on top of that efficiency.

Defensively, Ohio State never allowed Ball State to establish much of anything. The Cardinals finished with only 45 rushing yards, while starting quarterback Keldric Luster completed 18 of 33 passes for just 89 yards and an interception.

Ball State wasn’t expected to challenge Ohio State physically.

The Buckeyes made sure it didn’t.

BUCKEYE SPOTLIGHT: JEREMIAH SMITH

At some point, it becomes difficult to find new ways to explain what Jeremiah Smith does.

Smith essentially played one half Saturday afternoon and still finished with eight receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns, averaging nearly 19 yards every time he caught the football.

His first touchdown came from 48 yards away. His second came from three.

More impressive than the final stat line might be that Ohio State had absolutely no reason to send him back onto the field after halftime.

The junior also continued climbing through the program record book, moving past Marvin Harrison Jr. into seventh place in career receiving yardage and pushing his career touchdown total to 29.

Smith enters this season with virtually every defense Ohio State faces knowing that stopping No. 4 has to be the first item on the game plan.

Knowing that and accomplishing it are two entirely different things.

Ball State learned that quickly.

Texas gets the next opportunity.

JULIAN SAYIN LOOKED READY

Jeremiah Smith produced the highlights, but Julian Sayin may have provided the most important performance of the afternoon.

Sayin finished 21-of-25 for 320 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, completing 84 percent of his passes and averaging 12.8 yards per attempt. He also added the three-yard rushing touchdown before his afternoon ended early in the third quarter.

The numbers were excellent, but it was the way Sayin produced them that mattered.

He looked comfortable and decisive. The ball came out quickly when Ohio State wanted to work underneath, and he didn’t hesitate when opportunities presented themselves downfield. There weren’t many moments where the offense looked disjointed or where Sayin appeared to be searching for answers.

Ball State obviously isn’t the measuring stick for Ohio State’s quarterback.

Texas will provide that next week.

But season openers can occasionally become awkward, particularly when a team knows a much larger game is waiting around the corner.

Sayin never allowed that to happen.

ANOTHER RECEIVER STEPS FORWARD

One of the most encouraging developments outside of Smith was the performance of Devin McCuin.

The Texas transfer caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in his Ohio State debut, immediately establishing himself as another potential weapon for Sayin.

That matters considerably when looking ahead.

Every opponent knows coverage is going to tilt toward Jeremiah Smith whenever possible. The more consistently another receiver can take advantage of the space that attention creates, the more difficult Ohio State’s offense becomes to defend.

McCuin provided an early indication that he might be capable of becoming that player.

His 17-yard touchdown gave Ohio State a 14-0 advantage, but the larger takeaway was his comfort within the offense. He was consistently available for Sayin and looked like more than simply another complementary option.

Against Ball State, that’s encouraging.

Against Texas and the top of the Big Ten, it could become essential.

THE RUNNING BACK ROOM SHOWS ITS DEPTH

Ohio State’s passing game carried much of the first half, but the running backs provided the biggest offensive plays after halftime.

Bo Jackson finished with 83 yards on nine carries, while Ja’Kobi Jackson also produced 83 yards on eight attempts. Each scored once.

Same rushing total. Same touchdown total. Different highlight reel.

Bo’s 65-yard touchdown and Ja’Kobi’s 49-yard scoring run turned the third quarter into an advertisement for Ohio State’s explosiveness in the backfield.

Legend Bey added another 37 yards on six carries and showed his versatility by catching the 25-yard touchdown pass from Fahey.

The Buckeyes finished with 237 rushing yards overall, and having multiple backs capable of turning one crease into six points is unquestionably encouraging.

Still, the final rushing total requires a little context.

Those two touchdown runs accounted for 114 of Ohio State’s 237 rushing yards. Remove them, and the Buckeyes gained 123 yards on their other 33 rushing attempts — about 3.7 yards per carry.

That doesn’t erase the explosiveness. Those runs count, and creating explosive plays is part of what good rushing offenses do.

But it does suggest there is still work to do when it comes to consistently moving defenders at the line of scrimmage and generating reliable yardage when the explosive lane isn’t there.

Against Ball State, one crease can become a 65-yard touchdown.

Against Texas, three yards on first down may matter considerably more.

DEFENSIVE SPOTLIGHT: THE YOUNG LINEBACKERS

It’s easy for the defense to become an afterthought when the offense scores 56 points, but Ohio State quietly put together a nearly complete defensive performance.

Ball State managed only 165 total yards and three points, with the Cardinals reaching the scoreboard only because of a 54-yard field goal.

Sophomore Riley Pettijohn led Ohio State with six tackles, while fellow sophomore TJ Alford added five tackles and the game’s interception.

Those performances might carry more long-term importance than anything the scoreboard showed.

Ohio State is going to need its younger defenders to grow into larger roles as the season progresses. Getting meaningful snaps is valuable. Getting meaningful snaps while playing within the structure of the defense is even better.

Ball State never found an offensive rhythm, even after Ohio State began substituting heavily.

Good defenses don’t apologize for dominating opponents they’re supposed to dominate.

They make sure inferior teams never develop confidence.

Ohio State did that.

WHAT NEEDS CLEANED UP: FLAGS AND THE RUN GAME

There were a couple of areas that will undoubtedly get attention when Ryan Day and his staff turn on the film.

The most obvious is the penalty total.

Ohio State was flagged nine times for 81 yards, and that’s simply too much.

Against Ball State, the Buckeyes could give away 81 yards and barely notice it on the scoreboard. Against Texas, those same mistakes can kill drives, extend possessions, flip field position and hand a talented opponent opportunities it didn’t earn.

Fahey also threw Ohio State’s lone interception while working with the backup offense, preventing the afternoon from becoming completely clean in the turnover department.

But the other area worth watching is the consistency of the running game and the offensive line’s run blocking.

The final total of 237 rushing yards looks impressive, especially when paired with touchdown runs of 65 and 49 yards. Those explosives showed exactly what Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson can do when they reach the second level.

The concern is what happened on the snaps in between.

Nearly half of Ohio State’s rushing production came on those two plays. On the other 33 rushing attempts, the Buckeyes averaged roughly 3.7 yards per carry.

Against Ball State, Ohio State’s athletic advantage was enough to eventually create those home-run opportunities. Against the defensive fronts waiting later on the schedule — beginning immediately with Texas — Ohio State will need to be better at generating movement at the point of attack and producing four, five and six-yard gains when defenses don’t bust a fit or allow a back into open space.

That doesn’t mean the offensive line played poorly overall. Sayin had enough time to operate a passing game that produced 434 yards through the air, and Ohio State ultimately moved the football at will.

Run blocking, however, is going to be one of the biggest areas to evaluate next week.

Can the Buckeyes move a talented defensive front when Texas knows they’re running?

Can Ohio State stay ahead of the chains without relying on a 50-yard run to inflate the average?

Can the interior line create enough push in short-yardage and red-zone situations?

Those questions didn’t need to be answered Saturday for Ohio State to win comfortably.

They’re going to matter very soon.

That’s one of the advantages of a game like this. Ohio State gets mistakes and imperfections on film without paying for them in the standings.

That luxury disappears in Austin.

DEPTH CHECK: EXACTLY WHAT THE BUCKEYES NEEDED

The second half might ultimately prove more useful to Ohio State than the score itself.

Sayin’s afternoon was over early. Smith never needed to return. Several established starters were removed.

The Buckeyes still scored four touchdowns.

Luke Fahey completed five of six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Tavien St. Clair also went five of six, throwing for 52 yards and a score.

The St. Clair-to-Chris Henry Jr. touchdown in particular offered a glimpse at two players expected to be significant pieces of Ohio State’s future.

Ohio State didn’t need its backup quarterbacks Saturday.

That’s the point.

Games like this provide opportunities to get younger players into situations that more closely resemble real football than any practice rep can.

You don’t discover whether you’re a national championship team by beating Ball State.

You can discover whether the back half of the roster is developing.

Ohio State had to like much of what it saw.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

A 56-3 victory over Ball State isn’t going to become the centerpiece of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff résumé.

It also wasn’t supposed to.

For the Buckeyes, the playoff implications of Saturday were less about adding a marquee victory and more about avoiding the kind of early-season problem that can complicate a championship chase before it really begins.

Ohio State entered the season ranked No. 1 with expectations that extend far beyond simply reaching the postseason. The Buckeyes are trying to put themselves in position to compete for the Big Ten championship, earn favorable playoff positioning and ultimately make another run at a national title.

Against that backdrop, games like Ball State are about protecting the résumé while preparing for the games that will define it.

Mission accomplished.

Ohio State moved to 1-0 without needing its starters deep into the game, avoided a significant scare and gave its younger players extended snaps. Just as importantly, the Buckeyes didn’t produce the kind of sluggish result that leaves voters, analysts or eventually the playoff selection committee wondering whether preseason expectations were misplaced.

The schedule will provide plenty of opportunity for résumé-building.

It begins immediately.

A road game against No. 5 Texas offers Ohio State its first opportunity to add a major national win to its profile. The Big Ten schedule will bring additional chances after that, and if the Buckeyes remain in the conference championship race, the playoff picture will largely take care of itself.

That makes Saturday’s result exactly what it needed to be.

Ohio State didn’t enhance its championship credentials simply by beating Ball State.

It preserved them.

Now comes the game that can strengthen them.

A SPECIAL DAY IN THE SHOE

Saturday also carried significance beyond the current team.

Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was officially enshrined in the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor, joining Woody Hayes and Paul Brown as the only Buckeye coaches to receive that distinction.

Tressel’s 94 victories, the 2002 national championship and his role in changing the direction of the Michigan rivalry remain major parts of the foundation on which the modern Ohio State program was built.

Ryan Day reached a milestone of his own.

Saturday marked Day’s 83rd victory as Ohio State’s head coach, tying Urban Meyer for fourth-most in program history.

The Buckeyes also extended their streak to 27 consecutive victories in season openers.

For a game primarily serving as the opening chapter of the 2026 season, there was plenty of Ohio State history surrounding it.

THE BUCKEYE50 TAKEAWAY

You can only learn so much from Ohio State beating Ball State by 53 points.

But you can learn something.

The Buckeyes looked like a team that understood exactly what Saturday was supposed to be.

They didn’t spend three quarters sleepwalking before finally overwhelming an inferior opponent. They didn’t need Sayin and Smith playing late into the afternoon to create separation. They didn’t watch a comfortable lead disappear once the younger players entered.

Ohio State scored 14 points in every quarter.

Its starting quarterback completed 84 percent of his passes.

Its best receiver had 151 yards before halftime.

Three different quarterbacks threw touchdown passes.

The defense allowed three points.

The Buckeyes outgained Ball State by more than 500 yards.

There are also things to correct.

Nine penalties are nine too many. The 237 rushing yards were boosted significantly by two explosive touchdown runs, and the offensive line still has something to prove when it comes to creating consistent movement in the run game. The defense has yet to play an offense capable of really stressing it, and Ohio State’s young players haven’t yet been asked to perform with the outcome hanging in the balance.

But Saturday wasn’t supposed to answer every question about the 2026 Buckeyes.

It was supposed to provide a starting point.

Ohio State took care of business, stayed relatively fresh, developed its depth and looked every bit like the No. 1 team should look against this level of opponent.

At the same time, it left enough on the film for the coaching staff to have everyone’s attention when practice resumes.

That’s probably the ideal outcome before traveling to Austin.

NEXT UP: NOW WE FIND OUT

There isn’t much time to celebrate this one.

Ohio State now turns toward No. 5 Texas, with the Buckeyes traveling to Austin for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday, September 12 on ABC.

It will be the third consecutive season Ohio State and Texas have met.

Ohio State won the previous two, first defeating the Longhorns during the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship run and then surviving a dramatically different 14-7 defensive battle against the then-No. 1 Longhorns to open the 2025 season.

Ball State was the tune-up.

Texas is the measuring stick.

Saturday showed that Ohio State has explosive playmakers, considerable depth and a passing game capable of overwhelming an opponent.

Next Saturday should tell us much more about the offensive line, the running game and just how complete this version of the Buckeyes can become.

Final: No. 1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3

Record: 1-0

Next: No. 1 Ohio State at No. 5 Texas — Saturday, September 12, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC

The opener is over.

Now the 2026 season really begins.

Photo Credit: Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch