Ohio State defeats Ball State 56-3 in season opening victory

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 12:01 PM

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Ohio State defeats Ball State 56-3 in season opening victory

Summary

Ohio State opened its 2026 season with a 56-3 victory over Ball State at home on Saturday. The Buckeyes totaled 671 yards of offense while limiting the Cardinals to 165 total yards and three points. Quarterback Julian Sayin finished with 320 passing yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Jeremiah Smith recorded 151 receiving yards and two scores before halftime. The game also featured notable contributions from younger players, including touchdown receptions from Legend Bey and Chris Henry Jr. Following this win, Ohio State prepares for a matchup against Texas in Austin on September 12, 2026. Texas also opened its season with a 59-7 victory over Texas State.

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By the Numbers

•Ohio State finished with 671 total yards of offense.
•Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
•Julian Sayin completed 27 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns.
•Ohio State faces Texas in Austin on September 12, 2026.

Latest Updates

1:01 PMYahoo Sports — All the news, analysis from Ohio State’s 56-3 win over Ball State
12:01 PMYahoo Sports — Off-Script Ohio: Ohio State rolls past Ball State, but Texas is already looming

What they're saying

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With Texas looming, look back on all of the news, analysis, and commentary from yesterday’s season opening blowout of the Fighting David Lettermans.
— Yahoo Sports