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Ohio State football news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Ohio State opens its 137th season Saturday against Ball State, ranked No. 1. The Buckeyes seek their second national title in three years.
Background
Ohio State enters the 2026 college football season as the top-ranked team, with key players like quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith returning. The team is coming off a strong previous season and aims to build on its recent success, having won a national title two years ago. The opener against Ball State is part of their quest for another championship.
How it unfolded
- Aug 30, 2026Buckeyes Wire publishes '5 things we learned from Ohio State football fall camp,' summarizing key takeaways from preseason practices.
- Sep 1, 2026Ohio State releases its final depth chart ahead of Week 1, and The Athletic notes the team is ranked No. 1 in the polls.
- Sep 2, 2026Former Buckeye Maurice Clarett is announced as the first Victory Bell Ringer for the 2026 season.
- Sep 3, 2026Ohio State releases a hype video for Game 1 narrated by LeBron James, and the team is a 50.5-point favorite against Ball State.
- Sep 5, 2026Ohio State begins its 137th season against Ball State, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Ohio State is considered one of the best teams on paper, with a dangerous offense led by Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.
- Caution
- A Big Ten coach suggested Jeremiah Smith shouldn't be college football's highest-paid player, implying potential overhype.