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Ohio State opens 2026 season against Ball State in Columbus

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 3:01 PM

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Ohio State opens 2026 season against Ball State in Columbus

Summary

Ohio State prepares to host Ball State for its 2026 season opener in Columbus. Analytical models, including the Football Power Index and various computer rankings, favor the Buckeyes in the matchup. Ohio State enters the contest holding a 39-1 all-time record against Mid-American Conference opponents. The program has won 36 consecutive games against the conference and maintains an undefeated 25-0 record at Ohio Stadium against MAC teams. This marks the first meeting between these two schools in program history. Coaches and analysts are relying on 2025 performance data as a baseline for the season opener since no official games have been played for either team in 2026.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Ohio State enters the 2026 season opener with a 36-game win streak against the MAC.
•The Buckeyes remain undefeated against MAC schools at home with a 25-0 record.
•This game represents the first football matchup ever played between Ohio State and Ball State.
•Preseason analytical models currently project a 99% win probability for Ohio State.

Latest Updates

3:01 PMYahoo Sports — Scarlet Spreadsheet: What the analytics say about Ohio State vs. Ball State

What they're saying

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There isn’t a ton of data to go off before either Ohio State or Ball State have played a game in 2026, but this is what the analytics have to say about the Buckeyes’ season opener
— Yahoo Sports

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