Ohio State will kick off the football season on Saturday against Ball State, and with it will come soaring expectations, as the No. 1 team in the country according to the AP poll.
Ohio State is embarking on its 137th season, and so it is almost a surprise to say that this is going to be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The lack of previous matches is a rarity, as Ohio State routinely schedules regional programs over the past few decades. However, Ball State has never been on that list.
That changes Saturday. Ohio State comes into the game as one of the most hyped teams in the country this year, led by their quarterback Julian Sayan and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes will have to do their best to fight off any temptations
of overlooking Ball State for their looming matchup against the Texas Longhorns in Austin, TX, the following week.
Buckeye Nationโฆ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ โผ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/GDDbj1Clva
โ Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 31, 2026
The two teams will square off at 12:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium on the Big Ten Network. Regardless of the final score on Saturday, history will be made. It will be the first-ever matchup between these two programs.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion.
Follow Sunny on X:@thesunnyv
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State, Ball State set for first football meeting











