Ohio State got the result it wanted, but the performance came with enough rough edges to keep the Buckeyes honest.
A 56-3 rout of Ball State still counts as a clean opening-night win, and that was the first box Ryan Day needed checked. But the game wasn’t spotless by any stretch, especially with Texas looming next on the schedule. The Buckeyes had stretches where they looked out of sync on both sides of the ball, though there were still plenty of bright spots tucked inside the blowout.
Jeremiah Smith was the loudest of them all. The wideout opened his final season in Columbus with a 48-yard touchdown, and the throw from Julian Sayin was right where it had to be.
Smith did the rest, showing once again why he’s already one of the most feared pass-catchers in the sport. With people talking up Malachi Toney as the best wideout in the country, Smith answered with a statement of his own.
He finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Devin McCuin also gave Ohio State a lot to like. After Day’s summer comment that McCuin was “as good as anyone we've had” at Ohio State, the UTSA transfer backed it up against Ball State. At 6-0 and 195 pounds, he finished second on the team behind Smith with six receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown, continuing to look like a dependable target for Sayin.
There was also a dose of excitement from Legend Bey, even if his day came with a split verdict. As an offensive weapon, the true freshman flashed real juice in the second half, capped by an unreal touchdown catch.
But his special teams work was a mess. On the opening kickoff, Bey brought the ball out of the end zone even though Brandon Inniss had his hands up telling him not to.
Then he did the same thing again later in the first half. For a young player, mistakes happen.
Repeating the same one is where it becomes a problem.
The quarterback depth chart produced one of the biggest surprises of the day. Luke Fahey, not Tavien St.
Clair, was the next man up behind Sayin. That means St.
Clair, a former 5-star prospect from the 2025 class, looks like the QB3 for now. Fahey even hooked up with Bey for a touchdown in relief, which is the kind of play that will keep getting replayed.
It’s far too early to talk about transfer watch, but if a true freshman has passed him, that’s a development worth watching.
On the coaching side, Arthur Smith earned some relief after halftime. The first half was ugly enough to raise real concerns about the offense, especially the run game and the work up front.
But the second half looked much more like Ohio State expected it to look. Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson each rushed for 83 yards and scored a touchdown, with both of those scores coming after the break.
Whatever Smith said at halftime, it worked - and he’ll need more of that against Texas.
Tyler Bowen, meanwhile, has work to do with the offensive line. The group looked better later, but the early struggles were hard to miss.
Bowen rolled out a new starting five - Ian Moore, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Phillip Daniels from left to right - and Daniels in particular did not look ready to handle the assignment. Ohio State has had offensive line issues before, including last season, and that cannot be the thing that drags this team down again in 2026.
There’s no guarantee the same five open against the Longhorns.
In Other News...
Ohio States Receiver Rotation Just Got More Complicated Before Week 1
Ohio States receiver picture got a little murkier heading into Week 1 after Kyle Parker was ruled out for the opener against Ball State because of an injury. Ryan Day had already flagged Parker as dealing with a minor issue, and now the Buckeyes will have to open the season without one of the players in their wideout mix.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are among the receivers expected to get more snaps with Parker unavailable, which only adds another layer to a position group already under the microscope in camp. For a team trying to sort out roles early, even a short-term absence can matter, and this one gives Ohio State an early look at its depth before the real tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Week 1 Start Just Added Fuel To A Huge Debate
Ohio States season opener did plenty to reinforce why the Big Ten already feels like the league to beat, with Julian Sayin looking sharp in his first extended action and the Buckeyes setting the tone early against Ball State. Across the conference, Indiana also came out strong behind new quarterback Josh Hoover, while Rutgers, Michigan State and Nebraska each left a little more uncertainty on the board after mixed openings.
Curt Cignettis postgame comments about the Big Ten being superior to the SEC only added to a debate that has been simmering for months, and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyers praise for the leagues strength gave it even more oxygen. For Buckeyes fans, the opening weekend was less about settling anything outright than about reminding everyone that Ohio State is already in the middle of a bigger argument about where the sports best football is being played. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State May Have A Real Running Back Shakeup Brewing
Ohio States backfield is worth watching closely as fall camp opens, because the early practice rotation hinted at a possible shift in the pecking order. Isaiah West took reps with the first team while Bo Jackson worked with the second group, a notable development for a position that belonged to Jackson last season and had West filling the backup role.
Ryan Day also made it clear this isnt about one player getting comfortable and the other fading into the background. He praised Wests offseason work and said both backs still need to take the next step, which leaves the door open to more movement as camp goes on. For a team trying to sort out its offense before the season starts, the running back race suddenly looks like one of the more interesting battles on the roster. [Read more 🡒]