Ohio State is set to open its 2026 season this weekend against Ball State, a game that has now been moved to Senior Day after Ross Bjork made the change. It’s not expected to be a major test, but the Buckeyes still have plenty of new faces worth watching in Week 1.
One of the most intriguing is freshman running back Legend Bey, who drew strong praise this week from senior center Carson Hinzman. Bey had a rough start in fall camp, but Hinzman made it clear where he stands now when he spoke to the media during game week.
"Young Legend coming in, he's a great athlete. He's a great, key role player we're going to have on this team. Obviously, he's played quarterback, so he's got a little bit more of an understanding of the scheme as a whole with what we are doing."
Hinzman was the first running back he brought up, which says plenty about how Bey is being viewed inside the program. The Buckeyes plan to use him in a variety of ways this season. Running back is the main role, but there’s also a chance he eventually gets work at receiver.
Ohio State’s backfield is crowded enough already. Bo Jackson is the starter, and Isaiah West has also turned heads during fall camp. Both have handled expanded reps for the first time in their careers and made something happen with those opportunities.
For fans, Bey is one of the names worth circling Saturday against the Cardinals. He was unavailable for the Spring Game because of injury, so this will be the first real chance to see what he can do in an Ohio State uniform.
He should get a good number of snaps, with a few potentially coming with the first team, though most of his work is expected to come once the game is out of hand. The second half is where he’s likely to get the biggest run.
If Bey looks the way Hinzman thinks he can, it could be the beginning of a steady rise into more meaningful reps down the road.
He’s not the only freshman who should see action on offense, either. Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are both expected to get significant snaps, while Jay Timmons is in line for plenty of work at cornerback on defense.
The wait is over for Ohio State fans, and Week 1 should give them their first look at several young players trying to make their mark.
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Diant Griffins return to Ohio Stadium in a Ball State uniform adds an unusual layer to Ohio States season opener, because the grandson of Archie Griffin spent part of his college career right there in Columbus before transferring for his final year. He left with a national championship ring, a degree and a set of relationships that still matter to him, and now hes back on the opposing sideline with the chance to measure himself in a place that helped shape his career.
For Griffin, the matchup is about more than family history or a familiar setting. He has made clear hes proud of what he accomplished at Ohio State, but he also wants to be seen as his own player, not just a name tied to Buckeye lore. Ball State gives him that stage, and the opener in the Shoe offers the kind of backdrop that can make a personal proving ground feel a lot bigger. [Read more 🡒]
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The changes also reach beyond the field, with expanded facial authentication for entry and new traffic barriers designed to enhance security on game days. And amid all the modernization, the Buckeyes will also add a more traditional touch, unveiling a new sign honoring former coach Jim Tressel as the stadium gets ready for another chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Biggest 2026 Matchups Just Got A TV Hint
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If the draft holds, the Indiana game would land in the noon window on FOX with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt on the call, while Oregon would get a 3:30 p.m. FOX slot with Brad Nessler and Charles Davis. For Ohio State, the network placement matters almost as much as the opponent in a season built around marquee dates, and these early TV hints only sharpen the intrigue around two games that should carry plenty of weight in the Big Ten race. [Read more 🡒]