No. 1 Ohio State opened its 2026 season with a dominant 56-3 victory over Ball State on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, turning its season opener into a showcase for an offense that produced 671 total yards.
The Buckeyes wasted little time establishing control. Quarterback Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith for a 48-yard touchdown early in the first quarter, and Ohio State added another touchdown on a pass to Devin McCuin shortly afterward.
Sayin continued to pick apart the Ball State defense throughout the first half. He finished 21-of-25 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns while also adding a rushing touchdown. Smith was his top target, recording eight receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Ohio State entered halftime with a commanding 28-3 lead and never slowed down. The Buckeyes added another 14 points in the third quarter before finishing the game with another 14 in the fourth.
The running game provided another major highlight. Bo Jackson rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown, including a 65-yard scoring run, while Ja’Kobi Jackson also recorded 83 rushing yards and a 49-yard touchdown run.
Ball State struggled to generate consistent offense throughout the afternoon. Quarterback Keldric Luster completed 18 of 33 passes for 89 yards and threw one interception. The Cardinals finished with only 165 total yards compared with Ohio State’s 671.
The victory gave Ohio State exactly the kind of opening performance expected from the nation’s top-ranked team. More importantly, the Buckeyes avoided injuries and built confidence before their much-anticipated matchup with No. 4 Texas.
With a balanced offense and a defense that limited Ball State to just three points, Ohio State’s season began with a statement performance.