Five Bold Predictions For Ohio State vs. Ball State
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Week 1 is finally here! The wait is nearly over as the Ohio State Buckeyes finally get to suit up against the Ball State Cardinals to open the 2026 season. It’s not a game that is expected to be among the most competitive on the Week 1 slate, but it must be played one way or another.
This season, we are going to try our hand with bold predictions because who doesn’t love wildly specific and potentially insane predictions? None of these are meant to be betting advice, so do with these what you want. It’s just for fun because college football is one of the greatest American exports and could give you an extra layer of something to keep an eye on.
Five Bold Predictions For Ohio State vs. Ball State
1. Legend Bey Will Score Multiple Touchdowns In Multiple Ways
One of the main characters of this offseason, Legend Bey has already amassed a cult following that includes head coach Ryan Day. The former quarterback and Tennessee signee, Bey had to earn the trust back from coaches after a few broken team rules. Either way, the number-two jersey looks like it’s on another dynamic playmaker.
Day named Bey as one of the kickoff returners this week, entrusting pivotal moments to the first-year player. He impressed upon Bey the importance of taking care of the ball, saying, “When the ball is in your hands, you literally have the hopes and dreams of the entire Buckeye Nation in your hands…he knows how serious it is.”
Bey is going to get playing time on special teams, as a running back, and as a receiver. He could be the Buckeyes’ do-it-all gadget Percy Harvin player this year. He may not get the opportunity to return a kick for a score, but he may be good for both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
2. The First Offensive Touchdown Will Be Scored By A Tight End
Of all of these bold predictions, this one might have the longest odds of cashing in. With so many weapons on offense, can a tight end really be the one to score the first offensive touchdown of the season?
Yeah, why not?
In the Day era, five of the seven touchdowns that kicked off the season were runs. Those other two were passes to wide receivers:
- 51-yard quarterback run
- One-yard running back run
- 71-yard running back run
- 31-yard reception from a wide receiver
- Seven-yard running back run
- 16-yard reception from a wide receiver
- One-yard running back run
Does this constitute bold? It’s never happened in the Day era, and if we went back through previous seasons, it likely hasn’t happened in a while. Nate Roberts, Mason Williams, Hunter Welcing – all eyes are on you!
3. Ohio State Defensive Tackles Will Combine For At Least Three Sacks
Each week, we will have two offensive predictions, two defensive predictions, and one on special teams. The first defensive bold prediction turns the focus on the interior defensive line.
Defensive ends and linebackers get all the love when it comes to sacking the quarterback, so why not try and change it up a bit?
Last year, the Buckeyes registered 35 sacks. Of those, six came from the interior, with Kayden McDonald registering three and Eddrick Houston getting the other three.
Houston returns with Will Smith Jr., and two transfers in John Walker and James Smith. The defensive tackle room was not a strength for the Buckeyes last year despite producing a second-round pick in McDonald. This year could be vastly different.
Smith and Houston have had all kinds of hype around them this year, and this is the perfect situation to pay it off. Of course, if they want to log multiple sacks in Week 2 as well, who are we to tell them no?
4. Jay Timmons Gets His First Career Interception
Another player-specific bold prediction, this time focusing on a first-year defender set to be the first true freshman to start in the Day era.
Jay Timmons has been a popular pick to break out for the Buckeye defense since stepping on campus. He was the fourth-best corner in the 2026 recruiting class as a five-star recruit. Ohio State flipped him away from Florida State, a program that has history with the Timmons name.
Timmons is likely starting in the nickel/slot role, so he may not have nearly as many opportunities as the outside corners Devin Sanchez or Jermaine Mathews Jr. However, Ball State knows what Sanchez and Mathews are, so it may be more willing to test the first-year corner. You see it in the NFL with rookie corners getting tested early in the year; it should be a similar situation here.
The hype train for Timmons is off the rails, so imagine what’s going to happen when he hauls in that interception. Bonus points if it’s a pick-six?
5. Connor Hawkins Hits A 50+ Yard Field Goal
While this isn’t a “it has never happened in the Day era” prediction, it hasn’t happened in a very, very long time. Did you know that Ohio State has gone six full seasons without converting on a field goal of greater than 50 yards? Blake Haubeil nailed a 55-yard field goal at the gun at the end of the first half against Northwestern in 2019.
Since then? Ohio State has been 0-5 from beyond 50. Jayden Fielding missed all three of his attempts (once over the last three seasons), and Noah Ruggles missed both of his (including the one at the stroke of midnight in the Peach Bowl).
Ideally, Ohio State just scores touchdowns on every drive it has throughout the year, but that’s not realistic. Connor Hawkins has converted on three of his five kicks from 50+. All three of those makes came last year, with a long of 54.
He has the leg, and this will likely be a low-stakes game. It would not be surprising if Day just lets Hawkins try to rip one.
The Bottom Line on Ohio State vs. Ball State
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
History: N/A
Last Matchup: N/A
Date and Time: September 5, 2026; 12:30 p.m.
How to Watch: Big Ten Network
Spread: Ohio State -50.5; O/U 56.5 (via FanDuel)
Prediction: That is a massive spread. Ohio State hasn’t scored 51 points on an FBS opponent since it opened the 2024 season with 52 points on Akron and 56 on Western Michigan. Day likely isn’t going to run it up, but Ohio State is certainly 50 points better than Ball State. Let’s go with Ohio State winning this one, 62-10.
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Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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