Ohio State’s first game week of the 2026 season is here, and the conversation around the Buckeyes is already moving fast.
On Tuesday’s edition of Ohio State Buckeyes Live, Bucknuts.com’s Steve Helwagen joined host Mark Rogers and Tony Gerdeman of Buckeye Insiders for a full hour of talk centered on Saturday’s opener against Ball State, set for 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The show also moved to a new weekly slot, airing Tuesdays at 4 p.m. instead of Wednesdays.
A big chunk of the discussion came from Ryan Day’s first weekly press conference of the year, with the group digging into his read on each position room. They also spent time on the backup quarterback battle, where Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey continue to push for the No. 2 job behind the starter.
Another key topic was how much of the freshman class might get on the field in the opener. That included a closer look at wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., whose trajectory continues to trend upward.
There was also plenty of attention on the offense itself, now with Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator. The group talked through what that unit could look like under Smith, while also noting that there still isn’t much known about Ball State and its 5-10, 250-pound quarterback Keldric Luster.
The show also touched on stat projections for Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, Jeremiah Smith and other Ohio State skill players, along with the massive point spread, with the Buckeyes favored by 51 points.
Beyond Ohio State, the conversation widened to a few other notable games on the weekend slate, including Wisconsin-Notre Dame and Ole Miss-Louisville.
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Julian Sayin Faces One Big Test In Ohio State Year 2
Julian Sayin is heading into his second season as Ohio States starter with the kind of expectations that come with wearing the job in Columbus. After a strong freshman year, he has spent the offseason drawing praise from Ryan Day and teammates for the progress he has made in mobility, leadership and physical development, all of it pointing to a quarterback who looks more comfortable taking command of the offense.
Now the attention shifts from offseason optimism to September reality, with the opener against Ball State serving as the first chance to show how much of that growth carries onto the field. Sayin already proved he can handle the spotlight once, but Year 2 often brings a different level of scrutiny, and for Ohio State the early signs from its quarterback will matter as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Freshman Receiver Battle Fans Need To Watch
Jerquaden Guilfords road to Ohio State has already made him one of the more intriguing names in the Buckeyes 2026 class. The five-star wideout originally committed to Penn State before backing off that pledge, and Ohio State had to hold its ground through coaching changes and a tough recruiting stretch to keep him in the fold. Since arriving, Guilford has reportedly turned heads in preseason camp, which only adds to the buzz around a receiver group that continues to stockpile talent.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are part of that same conversation, giving Ohio State a freshman battle worth following closely once the season gets rolling. The Buckeyes have no shortage of options at wideout, but the challenge now is separating promise from production and figuring out which young receivers are ready to carve out a real role. Guilfords camp showing suggests he is at least in the mix, and the competition among that trio could end up shaping the early depth chart in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opens With Unexpected Pressure On One Buckeyes Quarterback
Ohio States season opener against Ball State has a little more intrigue than a routine September tune-up usually carries, because the backup quarterback picture is already taking shape. Ryan Day has said the Buckeyes expect both Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey to see the field if the game goes the way it is supposed to, giving the staff an early look at two young passers behind the starter and a chance to keep building depth before the schedule gets tougher.
For St. Clair, the spotlight comes with a bit of pressure. Once viewed as a major quarterback prospect, he enters the opener trying to steady his standing while Fahey has gained momentum in fall camp and pushed himself into the conversation for the future. How Ohio State handles those reps against Ball State should say plenty about where the backup job stands right now, even if the bigger answer for this season is still waiting down the road. [Read more 🡒]