Jeremiah Smith caught a 48-yard touchdown one-handed, and Ohio State was only getting started. Watch Ball State vs Ohio State highlights on FOX Sports or stream on FOX One. The Saturday afternoon opener in Week 1 of the 2026 college football season came from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.

The No. 1 Buckeyes won 56-3 in the first football game ever played between the two programs.

Ball State vs Ohio State Highlights

Julian Sayin needed just 25 throws to put up 320 yards, completing 21 of them with three touchdown passes and adding his first career rushing score on fourth-and-goal. Jeremiah Smith did all of his damage before halftime: eight catches, 151 yards and two touchdowns, opening with a one-handed, over-the-shoulder grab from 48 yards out. Bo Jackson broke a 65-yard run and Ja’Kobi Jackson went 49 yards on the ground as Ohio State piled up 671 total yards to Ball State’s 165, with five different Buckeyes catching touchdowns in front of 101,120. The win was Ryan Day’s 83rd at Ohio State, tying Urban Meyer for fourth in program history. Ball State’s only points came from Brody Boehm, whose 54-yard field goal on his first career attempt tied for the third-longest in Cardinals history. You can stream Ball State vs Ohio State recaps on FOX One. FOX One brings together live FOX College Football games, highlights, expert coverage, and live and on-demand FOX programming, all in one place. Start your 3-day free trial and stream on supported devices.

Where to Watch Ball State Cardinals vs Ohio State Buckeyes Football

• When: Saturday, September 5, 2026
• Time: 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT
• Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
• Final Score: Ohio State 56 - Ball State 3
• TV Channel: BTN
• Live Stream: FOX One

FOX College Football Schedule 2026 - Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026

• Missouri vs Kansas - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026

• Oklahoma vs Michigan - 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
• Wake Forest vs Purdue - 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
• Howard vs Indiana - 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
• Arizona vs BYU - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
• Duke vs Illinois - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
• Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
• Utah State vs Washington - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
• Bowling Green vs Nebraska - 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
• San Diego State vs UCLA - 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
• Western Illinois vs Wisconsin - 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
• Ohio State vs Texas - 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
• North Dakota State vs Air Force - 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
• Louisiana vs USC - 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

FOX College Football Schedule 2026 - Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026

• UMass vs Rutgers - 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT
• UAB vs Illinois - 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Friday, Sept. 4, 2026

• Indiana State vs Purdue - 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
• Toledo vs Michigan State - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• Fresno State vs USC - 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026

• North Texas vs Indiana - 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
• Ohio vs Nebraska - 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
• Ball State vs Ohio State - 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT
• Boston College vs Cincinnati - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
• Marshall vs Penn State - 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
• Northern Illinois vs Iowa - 4:15 p.m. ET / 1:15 p.m. PT
• Abilene Christian vs Texas Tech - 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
• Clemson vs LSU - 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
• Hampton vs Maryland - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• South Dakota State vs Northwestern - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• Central Michigan vs New Mexico - 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026

• Louisville vs Ole Miss - 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Ohio State and Ball State had never played football before Sept. 5, 2026, so the Buckeyes’ 56-3 win at Ohio Stadium opens the all-time series at 1-0. Ohio State outgained the Cardinals 671-165 in the only meeting on the books, and Ball State’s lone score, a 54-yard field goal by Brody Boehm, stands as the visitors’ only points in series history.