Game Thread Ball State at tOSU, Sat. Sept. 5th, 12:30 ET BTN

[BB73]

The Buckeyes open by hosting the Ball State Cardinals, a team they have never faced before.

Ball State was 4-8 in 2025. They finished the shortened 2020 season at 7-1 after achieving their first and only bowl victory that year over San Jose State, and actually finished at #23 in the AP poll. Since then they have had 5 straight losing seasons.

In 2008 they were 12-2 under Brady Hoke, who then went to San Diego State for 2 seasons before getting the head job for TTUN.

 

[BuckBackHome]

Is it too early to start the countdown clock;-)

 

[ScriptOhio]

The Big Ten announced Tuesday that it will unveil its full football schedule on Jan. 27, but the Big Ten Football X account revealed one marquee matchup in the meantime: Indiana vs. Ohio State at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State Opens As 49.5-Point Favorite Over Ball State in Season Opener

Ohio State opens as a 49.5-point favorite over Ball State in the season opener this fall, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Ohio State Opens As 49.5-Point Favorite Over Ball State in Season Opener​

With that, DraftKings has released its opening lines for the first two weeks of the season, which include Ohio State's season opener against Ball State. The Buckeyes open as 49.5-point favorites over the Cardinals to begin the season, according to DraftKings.

While DraftKings has only given out the opening lines for Week 0 and Week 1, FanDuel has already given out its lines for some of the biggest games of the regular season, including three that involve Ohio State.

Along with being more than seven-touchdown favorites over Ball State, the Buckeyes are also listed as 1.5-point underdogs at Texas and at Indiana, and 12.5-point favorites in The Game against Michigan, according to FanDuel.

OHIO STATE BETTING ODDS FOR 2026 SEASON

DATE	OPPONENT	POINT SPREAD
SEPT. 5, 2026	BALL STATE	-49.5 (DRAFTKINGS)
SEPT. 12, 2026	AT TEXAS	+1.5 (FANDUEL)
OCT. 17, 2026	AT INDIANA	+1.5 (FANDUEL)
NOV. 28, 2026	MICHIGAN	-12.5 (FANDUEL)

When Ball State travels to Columbus for the season opener, it will mark the first time Ohio State and the Cardinals have ever played each other in football.

While the Buckeyes are underdogs in two of the four games that spreads have already opened for, Ohio State is the favorite to win the CFP national championship at season's end, both at DraftKings (+650) and FanDuel (+550). OSU is the favorite to win the Big Ten as well (+180 on DraftKings, +190 on FanDuel).

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ball State is at 12:30 PM on the BTN.

 

[calibuck]

My only wish(s) is that zero injuries, and that Tavian will get some serious reps with the 1's. Maybe a quarter and a half? With none of this hand-off stuff. I get that the playbook will be very vanilla, with Texas looming the next week, but would like to see him toss the ball around the yard. Maybe a run or two when Ball St drops 8.

 

[brodybuck21]

Ohio State Will Hold 2026 Senior Day Before Season Opener vs. Ball State​

By Dan Hope on August 14, 2026 at 2:38 pm @dan_hope

• OSU Football

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Ohio State is making a big change to Senior Day for the 2026 season.
Instead of celebrating its seniors before the final home game of the season against Michigan, Ohio State’s 2026 Senior Day ceremony will be held before the Buckeyes’ season opener against Ball State.
In a news release on Friday, Ohio State announced that it will recognize its senior class before its 12:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 5, in what Ohio State expects to be “a meaningful and celebratory moment to start the season.”
Traditionally, Ohio State has held its Senior Day before the final home game of the season. That said, Ryan Day has made a concerted effort to minimize distractions and keep the team’s routine as normal as possible before the Michigan game.
While Ohio State previously held its Senior Tackle on Thanksgiving before The Game, Day made the decision in 2022 to move that tradition to bowl practices in December. The Buckeyes also used to host the Ohio State Marching Band for a practice during rivalry week, but moved that tradition to earlier in the season as well to keep the focus on beating Michigan during the final week of the regular season.
Last year, the Buckeyes broke from tradition again by flying to Michigan rather than driving to Ann Arbor in an effort to keep their routine as normal as possible – a move that seemingly worked, as Ohio State defeated Michigan, 27-9, to break a four-year losing streak in The Game.
It’s not unprecedented for schools to move up their Senior Day when they are hosting their rival in the final game of the season. Clemson, for example, will also host its Senior Day before its penultimate home game of the regular season rather than before its regular-season finale against South Carolina. Georgia has also previously moved up its Senior Day to avoid holding it before its rivalry game against Georgia Tech.
Ohio State, however, will take it a step further by holding Senior Day before its first of seven home games this season, choosing to honor its seniors before the season begins to add some pregame excitement to its first game of the year.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2026/08/163321/ohio-state-will-hold-2026-senior-day-before-season-opener-vs-ball-state

 

[Best Buckeye]

WOW! OH WOW!. Needless to say I'm chomping at the bit to watch the Bucks play this year considering all the absolutely kick ass teams we play. Texas, Indiana, Oregon, USC, and ScuX.
And all the while we have to not take any game for granted. That could get ugggggly.
I'm on the foot of my seat already with excitement.
Um any chance we can get someone to run the Countdown thread faster?
Lord knows i need it.
GO BUCKS!!! KICK ASS

 

[ScriptOhio]

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2026/8/14/football-new-at-the-shoe-ohio-state-unveils-2026-home-game-themes-and-fan-experience-upgrades

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

Sept. 5 vs. Ball State:​

• Honoring Coach Jim Tressel:
  • It was previously announced that Ohio State will honor legendary head coach Jim Tressel with enshrinement in the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor. Tressel will become the third coach in program history to receive the distinction, joining Paul Brown and Woody Hayes, and the first addition to the Ring of Honor since 2014.
• Alumni Band & Spirit Day / Buckeyes Care:
  • Ohio State's home opener will feature these long-running annual traditions. Specifically, through Buckeyes Care partners, 4,000 tickets for this game are made available to support community organizations for its partners.
• Football Senior Day:
  • Ohio State will recognize its senior class prior to kickoff, which will create a meaningful and celebratory moment to start the season. A complete list of honorees will be announced prior to kickoff.