Ohio State opens its 2026 season today with a noon kickoff against Ball State at Ohio Stadium, and fans looking to catch the game without paying full price have a few options. The Big Ten Network will carry the matchup live at 12:30 p.m.
Eastern, and free trials from DIRECTV and FuboTV are available. Sling TV also offers access through packages starting at $19.99 with Sling Select, plus the $11.99 sports add-on.
Sling Select includes FS1 and local channels in select markets.
The Buckeyes enter the opener with a lot to sort through after eight months of sitting on an early College Football Playoff loss. This is a team loaded with change, including 50 new players and a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith.
Ohio State is also adjusting after the departure of legendary receivers coach Brian Hartline to USF. Still, the top of the roster is familiar enough to set the tone, with Heisman contenders Sayin and Smith leading the way.
Training camp also produced a few names that pushed their way into the conversation. Freshmen Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd impressed the staff enough to earn roles in the opener. Ohio State is also planning to use Legend Bay in two spots, both as a running back and as the starting kickoff returner, while Jay Timmons is expected to lock down the starting nickel job.
Ball State brings its own reset into the game. Junior Keldric Luster is set for his first collegiate start, and second-year head coach Mike Uremovich is working with a roster that also features 50 new additions. The Cardinals’ defense includes Diante Griffin, a former Buckeye and grandson of Archie Griffin, who transferred to Ball State after four years in Columbus.
History is squarely on Ohio State’s side. The Buckeyes have won season openers every year since 1999 and own a 21-1 record against first-time opponents. This is the first meeting between Ohio State and Ball State, which leaves the Cardinals trying to snap a long-running home-opener run that has been part of the Buckeyes’ identity for decades.
Weather could add another wrinkle. The National Weather Service is calling for a 60% chance of thunderstorms, with a high of 86 degrees expected in Columbus.
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Ohio States Next QB Battle May Already Be Taking Shape
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Ryan Day has already made clear this isnt just about filling garbage-time reps. Both backups are being viewed as potential successors, which means the evaluation is still very much open and the pecking order could keep changing as the season goes on. For a program that always has one eye on what comes next at quarterback, the real intrigue is less about who played in that moment and more about how long this competition will stay unsettled. [Read more 🡒]