The Ohio State football team kicks off its 2026 season at home against the Ball State Cardinals. Let’s preview the matchup on Saturday.
Tomorrow, the Ohio State Buckeyes will open their 2026 season by taking on the Cardinals of Ball State. One of two MAC opponents early in the year, Ball State will serve as an important preparation game for a top-ten matchup in Austin, Texas next week. With that being said, the Cardinals are on a mission of their own.
Opponent Profile
Ball State hasn’t won the bowl-qualifying six games since 2021. In 2025, the Cardinals finished their season 4-8 (3-5 MAC) under then first-year head coach Mike Uremovich. In his second year as head coach, Uremovich will try to take the next step toward contending in the MAC this fall and making it back to a bowl game.
According to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, Ball State stands out as “well coached” and “schematically sound.” The offense is led by Texas State QB transfer Keldric Luster, who has made headlines recently for his unique physique, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 250 pounds. Entering the season as a starter for the first time in his career, the fourth-year QB will be doing so in The Horseshoe.
His left tackle also happens to be six-foot-ten and weighs over 330 pounds. If nothing else, watching these two play should be worth the price of admission.
OSU’s Mission
As for Ohio State, attention will be paid to the trenches on both sides of the ball. The offensive line will look to turn the page on last year and take on a new identity. Tyler Bowen’s unit has been adamant that they have that new identity. Ryan Day even joked, saying they’re “walking on water” right now with confidence. If this is any sign in things to come, we should see a different unit than last year.
On the defensive side, a second edge rusher has yet to emerge for the Buckeyes alongside Kenyatta Jackson. Beau Atkinson will likely get the start, but if he can’t lock down the job, there are a handful of players in contention. Qua Russaw, Zion Grady, and Epi Sitanilei all stand a chance at snatching the position, and it wouldn’t be shocking if all those names ended up getting snaps.
Lastly, Day has put an emphasis on discipline and operation, saying he wants his team to “Play clean and be great at everything pre-snap, and then smart post-snap. We’re looking for a clean operation.” This operational emphasis has been a big part of what former NFL offensive coordinator and now Buckeye play-caller Arthur Smith has brought to the offense.
The operation for the offense will look slightly different from years past. Pre-snap movement, set changes, and mixing up cadences will become more common as the year progresses. Second-year starting quarterback Julian Sayin will have more on his plate than ever before, so this matchup will be an opportunity to fine-tune before Texas.
QB2 Battle
Aside from the trenches, there’s also a battle for the QB2 spot between Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey. This became a story about halfway through camp, and it sounds like Day wants to use this game as a large data point in determining who gets that spot. Fahey has been “pressuring” St Clair in camp for weeks now, according to Day, and that this position remains unclear is a surprise to many.
Ideally, the second half will feature both St. Clair and Fahey, giving Day and the offensive staff a much clearer picture of who he trusts moving forward. With the Longhorns awaiting Ohio State next week, having a clear-cut, trustworthy backup quarterback could prove to be essential if something were to happen to Sayin.
This should coincide with the possible emergence of young standout receivers including Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd, who are getting big opportunities as well.
Most of all, the excitement will be that Ohio State football is back. From honoring Jim Tressel to the first ‘Script Ohio,’ opening day is sure to be filled with pageantry.
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Grant Kincaid was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Dayton. He serves as Creative Director and basketball contributor at The Silver Bulletin. At one point, Grant, a collegiate baseball player, also holds a B.A. in Management and Leadership Studies. Aside from the Buckeyes, he is an avid supporter of both the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. His favorite Buckeyes include Braxton Miller, AJ Hawk, and Ted Ginn Jr.