Julian Sayin is Sharp, Jeremiah Smith Strikes the Pose, Buckeyes Roll to Easy Win
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The Ohio State Buckeyes got their 2026 season off to a great start on Saturday afternoon with a relatively clean game against the Ball State Cardinals, almost from start to finish.
The game started with Legend Bey receiving the opening kickoff and mistakenly returning it from deep in the end zone to the 15-yard line. The Buckeyes' offense followed a shaky return with a shaky start when quarterback Julian Sayin started 0-for-2, and one short run led to a three-and-out and a punt.
That was the end of that as Ohio State really turned up the heat on both sides of the football.
The headliner of the day was by far and away Jeremiah Smith.
Everyone was so excited to see what Jeremiah Smith was going to come out of the gates with, and he brought his best stuff. His very first catch of the year was one for the record books.
He went on a double move, out and up, and after the Cardinals rolled their coverage, he was one-on-one with the safety. Sayin tossed up a decent ball, and Smith did the rest. The coverage ended up being pretty solid, but it needs to be perfect against Smith. Smith got his right hand on the football and pinned it to his helmet for a one-handed catch.
Julian Sayin finished the first half 19-23 for 290 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one rushing score. Smith had eight catches for 151 yards and two scores. He was special and looked every bit the part.
The Buckeyes' defense was sturdy against the Cardinals' offense. The first turnover of the year came midway through the second quarter when linebacker TJ Alford was in the right spot at the right time for an underthrow that he picked off.
Smith got on the board again to cap off a 90-yard touchdown drive at the very end of the first half, in which he hit the Heisman pose right after.
It was a well oiled machine that carried into the second half for Ohio State.
Ohio State came out of the locker room and committed themselves totally to the run, and they were rewarded for it. Both Bo Jackson and Florida transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson ripped off huge runs for touchdowns.
It was smooth sailing for Ohio State in the second half. Ball State got absolutely nothing going on offense, while the Buckeyes' offense settled in and just played a very smooth second half. It was a tale of two different classes, and it was evident.
Sayin finished with 320 yards through the air, while both of the Jackson running backs had 83 yards and a touchdown. Ball State only had 165 total yards on the day.
The game of the year is up next. Next Saturday night, the Buckeyes travel to Austin, Texas, to take on the Longhorns in what will be one of the best games of the year.
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