Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State gave the Buckeyes exactly what a 56-3 win should: big numbers, clean production and a few early clues about who’s driving this offense.
The Three Stars of the Game for the Buckeyes’ 2026 kickoff were wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Devin McCuin. Smith took the top spot after putting on a show in just one half, Sayin followed with a crisp all-around outing, and McCuin made a strong first impression in his Ohio State debut.
Smith was impossible to miss. He finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and all of that came before halftime.
The Buckeyes kept feeding him, and Ball State had no real answer. His receptions covered 48, 17, 12, 15, 24, 19, 13 and 3 yards, and the 48-yard and 3-yard grabs both ended in the end zone.
The first score was the kind of play that turns heads fast: Smith shook off a Ball State cornerback, then reached back for an over-the-shoulder, one-handed catch to put Ohio State on the board. Later, he and Sayin showed off the kind of timing that can make an offense dangerous all season. On a back-shoulder throw near the goal post, Sayin put it in the perfect spot and Smith finished the job, then celebrated with a Heisman pose as his momentum carried him in front of Ohio State’s on-field suites.
Smith’s name has been near the top of these season-long honors before. He was the First Star of the Season as a freshman in 2024 and finished third behind Sayin and Arvell Reese in 2025. After this opener, he looks primed to stay in that mix again.
Sayin didn’t need the loudest highlights to have one of the day’s best stat lines. He completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and four total touchdowns, showing the kind of efficiency Ohio State can lean on.
His accuracy was on display throughout the afternoon as he connected with Smith, McCuin, Brandon Inniss and others. In all, 14 different Buckeyes caught passes.
There was also a glimpse of something else from Sayin: mobility. On 4th-and-Goal, he tucked it and ran for a 3-yard touchdown himself. That added another layer to a performance that already looked polished.
McCuin rounded out the list after a productive debut in Columbus. The UTSA transfer caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, and he did it while looking comfortable with Sayin despite only one offseason together. The staff weighed him against Legend Bey for the third spot, but McCuin got the nod, in part because of Bey’s two mistakes on kickoff returns and in part because McCuin looked like a real WR2 next to Smith.
His catches came from the intermediate part of the field more than the deep ball, with gains of 18, 10, 17, 16, 19 and 17 yards. Every reception moved the chains, which is the kind of steady production Ohio State will want as it lines up against defenses like Texas, Iowa, Indiana and Oregon.
The Buckeyes will keep handing out these weekly honors all season, with First Star worth three points, Second Star worth two and Third Star worth one.
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 Opener Made One Position Battle A Lot More Interesting
Ohio States season opener looked comfortable on the scoreboard, a 56-3 win that still left enough rough edges to keep the coaching staff busy. Jeremiah Smith delivered the kind of opening performance that reminds everyone why he is already such a focal point of the offense, piling up 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Devin McCuin also made his mark as the Buckeyes worked through stretches of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
One of the more intriguing takeaways came away from the spotlight plays, where freshman Legend Bey flashed enough on offense to suggest there is something to build on. His night also came with some costly special teams errors, though, and that is the kind of detail that can reshape how quickly a young player gets trusted in bigger moments. At quarterback, the depth chart also appeared to settle a little further, with Tavien St. Clair looking more like he is chasing the No. 3 job than threatening the top of the line behind Julian Sayin. [Read more 🡒]