Ohio State’s 56-3 win over Ball State didn’t answer every question, but it did give the Buckeyes something real to work with before they head to Austin for Saturday’s matchup with Texas. With 60 minutes of film now in hand, Ryan Day and his staff can spend the week sorting through what held up, what didn’t, and which pieces are going to matter most once the competition level jumps.
The biggest takeaway from Saturday depends on where you’re looking.
On one side, the defense showed that the youth movement is already paying off. Freshman cornerback Jay Timmons looked the part of a player trusted to start in the secondary, finishing with two pass breakups while being targeted five times and allowing just two catches for 11 yards, per PFF. He stayed glued to his assignment and stood out all over the field.
Freshman defensive lineman Khary Wilder also flashed in limited action. Although he’s listed at defensive end, Ohio State used him as an interior rusher on long third downs in what appears to be a preview of the 2026 version of the ‘Rushmen’ package. On his first two reps, he generated immediate pressure up the middle and nearly turned that into a sack.
The second-year linebackers made noise too, even without starting. TJ Alford delivered the game’s biggest splash with an interception late in the first quarter, and he graded as Ohio State’s top defender overall at 91.6 in 34 snaps, per PFF. Riley Pettijohn led the Buckeyes with six total tackles and 0.5 TFLs, and his 83.8 grade in 30 snaps was the third-best mark on the defense.
Matt Patricia used a lot of bodies on defense as he works toward figuring out what the unit will look like in 2026, so the rotations are still fluid. Even so, the performance against Ball State suggested this version of the Silver Bullets may not be as top-heavy as last year, but it does have plenty of young talent.
That said, the offensive development of Devin McQuin may end up mattering even more over the course of this season.
The senior transfer from UTSA caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown before exiting early in the third quarter, but the production was only part of the story. He ran sharp routes, created separation, worked through contact, and made catches that came from more than just being uncovered against overmatched defenders. He looked like a veteran target Julian Sayin can trust.
That matters because Jeremiah Smith is going to draw everything a defense can throw at him. Brackets, double teams, safety help - the whole menu.
When that happens, somebody else has to win. McQuin looked like the guy who can do it.
Ohio State has plenty of intriguing young receivers. Chris Henry Jr. has big-time upside despite the drops.
Brock Boyd got his first career catch. Phillip Bell flashed on a punt return that was wiped out by a penalty.
There’s no shortage of talent in the room.
But McQuin doesn’t need to be the next first-round Ohio State receiver to change the offense. He needs to be reliable.
Ryan Day already turned heads in camp when he said McQuin was “as good as we’ve had here,” and one game against Ball State doesn’t settle that conversation. It did, however, make the preseason buzz look a lot more believable.
Jeremiah Smith is still the centerpiece. McQuin might be the player who makes it much harder to slow him down.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces A More Dangerous Texas Test Than Last Year
The rematch on the schedule already carries enough weight, but this one comes with a different feel for Ohio State. The Buckeyes and Texas are meeting for the third straight year, only this time it is in Austin at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, with ESPNs College GameDay on hand and the Longhorns carrying a 1.5-point edge. After the last two seasons gave both programs a fresh look at each other, the matchup now arrives with even more attention and a bigger stage.
For Ohio State, the challenge is not just the venue or the buildup, but the version of Texas waiting on the other side. Arch Manning gives the Longhorns a new layer at quarterback, while new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp adds a familiar edge to that side of the ball. For a Buckeye team used to measuring itself against the nations best, this one feels less like another early heavyweight game and more like a true test of how much has changed since the last time these teams lined up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Just Sparked An Ohio State QB Debate
Lincoln Kienholz spent enough time around Ohio State to know how unforgiving the quarterback conversation can be there, and his latest outing at Louisville gave the discussion a fresh jolt. In his debut against Ole Miss, the former Buckeye showed the kind of production that turns heads quickly, topping 300 yards and throwing three touchdowns while looking comfortable as both a passer and a runner.
For Ohio State fans, the appeal is obvious because it feeds into the never-ending question of what might have been and what the Buckeyes missed when Kienholz moved on. His path also says something about the fit in college football: sometimes a player needs a different setup, a cleaner runway and a coach like Jeff Brohm to let the full skill set show up on game day, even as the foundation built in Columbus still shapes how he leads and handles the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's QB Uncertainty Just Added Intrigue To The Game
Ohio State opened its season with a comfortable win over Ball State, while Michigan had a far less reassuring afternoon in a narrow escape against Western Michigan. That alone would have been enough to keep Buckeyes fans watching closely, but the storyline got more interesting when Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham left the door open on Bryce Underwoods status at quarterback, a notable twist for a position that usually settles the tone for the rest of the rivalry week chatter.
Underwoods uneven play has only deepened the questions around Michigans offense, and it carries extra weight because of what this game means beyond one Saturday in September. For Ohio State, any uncertainty on the other sideline only adds to the intrigue heading into a meeting where the Buckeyes will be paying attention to whether Michigan can steady itself, or whether the Wolverines are heading toward a bigger change than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]