No. 1 Buckeyes Start Season with Resounding 56-3 Win over Ball State

Saturday, September 5

Columbus, Ohio

12:30 PM

Ohio State

1-0 , 0-0

Ball State

0-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Ball St.	0	3	0	0	3
Ohio St.	14	14	14	14	56

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No. 1 Buckeyes Start Season with Resounding 56-3 Win over Ball State

9/5/2026 4:33:00 PM | Football

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With the win, head coach Ryan Day earned his 83rd victory at the helm, tying him for fourth in Ohio State history with Urban Meyer.

COLUMBUS, Ohio. – On Senior Day at Ohio Stadium, the No. 1 Ohio State football team (1-0) kicked off the 137th season with a dominant 56-3 victory over Ball State (0-1) on Saturday.

Prior to kickoff, Ohio State honored 30 members of the senior class. The fourth-year players have been part of three College Football Playoff teams and, in 2024, contributed to the Buckeyes' run to the CFP national championship. After Saturday's win, they have totaled 38 wins since the beginning of the 2023 season, the second-most nationally.

With the win, head coach Ryan Day earned his 83rd victory at the helm, tying him for fourth in Ohio State history with Urban Meyer.

Additionally, during the first-quarter break, former head coach Jim Tressel was enshrined in the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor. Tressel becomes the third coach to be honored at Ohio Stadium, joining Paul Brown (1941–43) and Woody Hayes (1951–78).

The Buckeyes recorded 671 yards of total offense, led by 434 passing yards and five touchdowns. The wideouts were led by junior Jeremiah Smith with eight receptions, 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns, followed by senior Devin McCuin with six receptions for 97 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Through the air, five Buckeyes hauled in receiving touchdowns as junior quarterback Julian Sayin finished with 320 passing yards and was followed by Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey, both going 5-of-6. Meanwhile, on the ground, tailbacks Ja'Kobi Jackson and Bo Jackson both rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Buckeyes held the Cardinals to 165 yards of total offense and were individually led by sophomore linebackers TJ Alford (five tackles, one interception) and Riley Pettijohn (six tackles).

Next up, the top-ranked Buckeyes travel to Austin, Texas, on Sept. 12 to face No. 5 Texas. This marks the third consecutive season that the two teams have met. Ohio State won the previous two matchups, including a 14-7 victory against then-No. 1 Texas to begin the 2025 season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On the second offensive drive of the game, Ohio State marched the length of the field, going 99 yards on seven plays to put the Buckeyes in front.
- The drive was highlighted by a 48-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Julian Sayin to junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
- It marked the first 99-yard touchdown drive since No. 7 Michigan on November 20, 2004.
After getting the ball back, Ohio State marched 75 yards in nine plays to put the Buckeyes up 14-0. The drive was finished off by senior wide receiver Devin McCuin with a 17-yard reception from Sayin.
On Ball State's third drive of the game, sophomore linebacker TJ Alford recorded an interception on third down.
Following the turnover, Sayin rushed six yards for his first career rushing touchdown.
Minutes into the second quarter, Ohio State increased its lead to 21-0.
Ohio State held Ball State scoreless until 1:17 left before halftime. Ball State converted a third down to extend its fifth drive to 11 plays. The Cardinals finished the drive with a 54-yard field goal.
On Ohio State's next possession, the Buckeyes marched 90 yards in nine plays for a Smith receiving touchdown from Sayin.
After a quick opening drive for Ball State to open the second half, OSU sophomore running back Bo Jackson rushed for a 65-yard touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 35-3.
Later on, Ohio State fifth-year tailback Ja'Kobi Jackson rushed for a 49-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 42-3.
Ohio State had a pair of freshmen finish the scoring on Saturday as running back Legend Bey rushed for a 25-yard score and wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. caught a 15-yard pass from sophomore Tavien St. Clair.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

With Saturday's victory over Ball State, head coach Ryan Day is now tied for the fourth-most victories in school history with Urban Meyer with 83 in his time in Columbus:

Rank	Name	Ohio State Wins	Win Percentage
1.	Woody Hayes	205	.761
2.	John Cooper	111	.715
3.	Jim Tressel	94	.817
T4.	Ryan Day	83	.874
T4.	Urban Meyer	83	.902

Additionally, Day's 87.3 winning percentage is a historic pace with only Knute Rockne having a higher winning percentage as an FBS head coach in the history of the game:

Rank	Name	Career Wins	Career Win Pct.
1.	Knute Rockne	105	.881
2.	Ryan Day*	83	.874
3.	Frank Leahy	107	.864
4.	Urban Meyer	187	.854
5.	Kirby Smart	117	.848

* Has not reached 10 years as a head coach

Day's teams are 25-1 in the month of September and 20-1 in regular season non-conference games.
The season-opener against Ball State was head coach Ryan Day's 31st game against a non-Big Ten Conference opponent in his tenure as head coach (wins vs. Oregon State and TCU as acting head coach in 2018 included).
- Day's Buckeyes are 25-6 in the previous 31 games and average 42.2 points per game.
- Included in those 24 wins are seven against teams ranked in the Top 10: vs. No. 1 Texas (2025), vs. No. 3 Clemson (2020), No. 5 Texas (2024), No. 5 Notre Dame (2022), No. 7 Notre Dame (2024), No. 9 Tennessee (2024) and No. 9 Notre Dame (2023).
Day's Buckeyes are 9-0 in season-opening games with an average margin of victory of 33.5 points per game.
- 2026:
  - W, vs. Ball State (56-3)
- 2025:
  - W, vs. No. 1 Texas (14-7)
- 2024:
  - W, vs. Akron (52-6)
- 2023:
  - W, at Indiana (23-3)
- 2022:
  - W, vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (21-10)
- 2021:
  - W, at Minnesota (45-31)
- 2020:
  - W, vs. Nebraska (52-17)
- 2019:
  - W, vs. FAU (45-21)
- 2018:
  - W, vs. Oregon State (77-31)

STAGGERING STATISTICS

Ohio State has won 27 consecutive season-opening games:
- 2026:
  - W, vs. Ball State (56-3)
- 2025:
  - W, vs. No. 1 Texas (14-7)
- 2024:
  - W, vs. Akron (52-6)
- 2023:
  - W, at Indiana (23-3)
- 2022:
  - W, vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (21-10)
- 2021:
  - W, at Minnesota (45-31)
- 2020:
  - W, vs. Nebraska (52-17)
- 2019:
  - W, vs. FAU (45-21)
- 2018:
  - W, vs. Oregon State (77-31)
- 2017:
  - W, at Indiana (49-21)
- 2016:
  - W, vs. Bowling Green (77-10)
- 2015:
  - W, at Virginia Tech (42-24)
- 2014:
  - W, vs. Navy (34-17) in Baltimore, Md.
- 2013:
  - W, vs. Buffalo (40-20)
- 2012:
  - W, vs. Miami (OH) (56-10)
- 2011:
  - W, vs. Akron (42-0)
- 2010:
  - W, vs. Marshall (45-7)
- 2009:
  - W, vs. Navy (31-27)
- 2008:
  - W, vs. Youngstown State (43-0)
- 2007:
  - W, vs. Youngstown State (38-6)
- 2006:
  - W, vs. Northern Illinois (35-12)
- 2005:
  - W, vs. Miami (OH) (34-14)
- 2004:
  - W, vs. Cincinnati (27-6)
- 2003:
  - W, vs. No. 17 Washington (28-9)
- 2002:
  - W, vs. Texas Tech (45-21)
- 2001:
  - W, vs. Akron (28-14)
- 2000:
  - W, vs. Fresno State (43-10)

FROM COACH DAY
On Jeremiah Smith's performance today…

"As you can imagine, when the game plans are being put together, [Jeremiah Smith] is very much at the front of Arthur [Smith] and the offensive staff's mind. Not everything is designed that way, but I thought the game plan was suited to make sure that [Jeremiah Smith] touched the ball. He did a great job making some plays, and Julian [Sayin] did a good job of getting [Jeremiah Smith] the ball. We decided to hold [Jeremiah Smith] in the second half, which, for Jeremiah, he understands what's coming and he was great. I think somebody who is a little bit more selfish or worried about different stats would feel a certain way, but he was great. He said, 'Let the young guys play,' and put that decision in the coaches' hands and trusted in what we did, so we decided to hold him in the second half and he understands we have a monster game next week."

UP NEXT
Next up, the top-ranked Buckeyes travel to Austin, Texas, on Sept. 12 to face No. 5 Texas. This marks the third consecutive season that the two teams have met. Ohio State won the previous two matchups, including a 14-7 victory against then-No. 1 Texas to begin the 2025 season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.