The Ball State Cardinals and Ohio State Buckeyes play on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, in a game on the college football Week 1 schedule.
Which team will win the college football Week 1 game?
Check out these college football Week 1 picks and college football Week 1 predictions for the game, which can be seen at 9:30 a.m. MST on Big Ten Network (stream with FUBO).
Ohio State is a 50.5-point favorite over Ball State in college football Week 1 odds for the game, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The over/under (point total) is set at 56.5 points.
College football Week 1 picks: UTEP vs Oklahoma | Miami vs Stanford | Fresno State vs USC | North Texas vs Indiana | East Carolina vs Alabama | Ball State vs Ohio State | Tennessee
State vs Georgia | Boise State vs Oregon | Texas State vs Texas | Marshall vs Penn State | Furman vs Tennessee | Northern Illinois vs Iowa | Missouri State vs Texas A&M | Clemson vs LSU | Western Michigan vs Michigan | Washington State vs Washington | Wisconsin vs Notre Dame | Louisville vs Ole Miss | SMU vs Florida State
Watch Ohio State vs Ball State on FUBO (free trial)
Sporting News: Ohio State 52, Ball State 3
Bill Bender writes: "Ohio State is 6-0 against MAC schools under Ryan Day — and they have won those games by an average of 51.5 points per game. That's why this line sits here — and it really hinges on how much the Buckeyes want to pour it on against the Cardinals and quarterback Keldric Luster, a 5-10, 250-pound quarterback."
Bookies.com: Bet Ball State with the points vs Ohio State
Bill Speros writes: "Maybe David Letterman of Ball State fame can dot the 'i.' Ryan Day and the Bucks need to hang a 60-burger to put the nation on notice. Oddsmakers lay 50.5 points on a 56.5 total. Can Ohio State's third-stringers hold on to for the shutout? We smell a garbage time TD for the late, backdoor cover."
Big 12 football Week 1 picks: Colorado vs Georgia Tech | Idaho vs Utah | Oregon State vs Houston | Coastal Carolina vs West Virginia | Baylor vs Auburn | Boston College vs Cincinnati | Oklahoma State vs Tulsa | Abilene Christian vs Texas Tech | Utah Tech vs BYU | NAU vs Arizona | Morgan State vs Arizona State | Score predictions | TV channels | Betting
Dimers.com: Ohio State 52, Ball State 2
It writes: "After extensive simulations, our model gives Ball State a win probability of 0%, while Ohio State has a win probability of 100%."
ESPN: Ohio State has a 99% chance to defeat Ball State on Saturday
The site gives the Cardinals a 1% shot at winning the college football Week 1 game.
Sports Betting Dime: Ohio State 30.4, Ball State 10.3
The site's formula predicts that the Buckeyes will beat the Cardinals in the Week 1 college football game.
College Football News: Ohio State 55, Ball State 7
Pete Fiutak writes: "Ohio State might be reloading on the defensive side, but it’ll look like business as usual as all of the new starters take their respective games up a few notches — this group will look very, very fast. The offense will put this away after the first two drives. There won’t be any messing around here. The Buckeyes will make their point in a fantastic first 30 minutes."
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ohio State vs Ball State picks, predictions, odds for Week 1 game
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