No. 1 Ohio State opened the 2026 season exactly the way a top ranked team is supposed to.
The Buckeyes overwhelmed Ball State 56-3 Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium, putting together a dominant performance on both sides of the football. Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first three drives and never allowed the Cardinals to seriously threaten the game.
Jeremiah Smith Picks Up Where He Left Off
The biggest star of the afternoon was wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Smith connected with quarterback Julian Sayin for a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter before adding another touchdown on a 3-yard reception late in the first half. He finished the first half with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
The connection between Sayin and Smith immediately looked dangerous, giving Ohio State fans plenty of reason to be excited about the offense heading into the rest of the season.
Sayin Looks Comfortable
Sayin also delivered an impressive performance in his first game of the season.
The quarterback used both his arm and his legs to keep Ball State’s defense off balance. Sayin threw touchdown passes to Smith and De’Mond McCuin while also scoring on a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
Ohio State entered the season with enormous expectations, and Sayin looked more than capable of leading the offense.
The Running Game Takes Over
Once Ohio State built a comfortable lead, the Buckeyes turned to their rushing attack.
Bo Jackson broke loose for a spectacular 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, followed shortly afterward by another explosive rushing touchdown from Jordan Jackson.
Ohio State finished with 656 total yards, including 237 on the ground and 419 through the air.
A Statement From the No. 1 Team
Ball State managed only three points, while Ohio State continued piling on touchdowns throughout the afternoon.
For Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, this was exactly the type of start they wanted. Ohio State entered the season ranked No. 1 nationally and with championship expectations after a disappointing finish to the 2025 campaign.
The real test comes next.
Ohio State now turns its attention toward a massive Week 2 matchup against Texas, giving the Buckeyes an opportunity to prove whether Saturday’s dominance can translate against one of the nation’s top teams.
For now, though, Ohio State couldn’t have asked for a better opening statement.
The No. 1 Buckeyes rolled to a 56-3 victory, and the rest of college football has already been put on notice.
