Top-ranked Ohio State opened its 2026 college football season with a commanding 56-3 victory over Ball State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, setting the stage for next week’s highly anticipated matchup against No. 5 Texas.
The Buckeyes (1-0) overcame an initial three-and-out on their opening drive to score on seven of their next nine possessions, displaying a dominant offensive performance. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns before exiting midway through the third quarter. He also recorded the first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career on a four-yard run on fourth down early in the second quarter, helping to build a substantial lead.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was a key contributor, hauling in eight catches for 151 yards—all in the first half—including two highlight-reel touchdown receptions. Smith opened the scoring with a 48-yard, one-handed, over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone off a play-action pass from Sayin. He later extended Ohio State's lead to 28-3 with a three-yard touchdown reception seconds before halftime.
Early in the game, Ohio State’s rushing attack was limited to 35 yards and averaged just 2.1 yards per carry. However, the ground game gained momentum in the second half, producing 202 yards on the ground in the third and fourth quarters. Running backs Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson spearheaded the effort with long touchdown runs of 65 and 49 yards, respectively. Bo Jackson finished with nine carries for 83 yards, while Ja’Kobi Jackson gained 83 yards on eight carries.
Ball State (0-1) managed a lone score with a 54-yard field goal by Brody Boehm late in the second quarter. Quarterback Keldric Luster, making his first collegiate start, completed 18 of 33 passes for 89 yards. Despite the deficit, Luster expressed satisfaction with his team’s composure, noting that the players remained calm and focused throughout the game.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day emphasized the importance of quickly moving past the win to prepare for their upcoming challenge against Texas. “There’ll be times [during the season] we enjoy this through the night and then wake up tomorrow and move on to the next opponent,” Day said. “Not this one. The minute we leave the locker room, it’s on to Texas.”
In a ceremony before the game, former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was honored with induction into Ohio Stadium’s Ring of Honor, joining Paul Brown and Woody Hayes. Tressel, who led the Buckeyes from 2001 to 2010 and secured a national championship in 2002, was celebrated by many of his former players on the field.
As Ohio State looks ahead to what promises to be a critical contest against Texas next week, the team appears to have gained valuable momentum from their dominant performance against Ball State.