Ball State won’t provide Ohio State with its toughest test, but the opener offers an early look at several important storylines.
Ohio State is heavily favored by 50.5 points against Ball State on Saturday, and that’s part of the problem when evaluating the Buckeyes in Week 1. The Cardinals aren’t likely to test Ohio State across all three phases, but the season opener can still provide some early answers to lingering questions from fall camp.
There are key areas and dynamics to watch on the field that will be important to the team’s overall success this season, though they are less obvious than some of the flashier ones. Here are three things to keep an eye on during Ohio State’s home opener:
Consistency from Phillip Daniels and Ian Moore on the Offensive Line
Ohio State has one of the most veteran offensive lines in college football, but it still enters the season with question marks. Ian Moore is expected to be the fifth starter, lining up at left tackle, while Phillip Daniels maintains his role from a year ago as the right tackle. The two outside positions are the ones to watch, as the Buckeyes’ interior trio of Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, and Austin Siereveld is ultra-reliable.
Though it was believed only one spot was up for grabs, Phillip Daniels also found himself in a battle as Tyler Bowen searched for the best five. The coaching staff was looking for consistency from Daniels, and Ryan Day said they’ve seen it, which allowed him to earn the starting job.
“[We needed] consistency, as number one…He certainly has the ability to play as good as anybody in the country, but the challenge was for him to play consistently,” Day said Wednesday following practice.
Can Daniels play with the consistency necessary to uphold the standard?
As mentioned earlier, that consistency still has to be shown on the field in games. The Buckeyes play their most difficult schedule in school history, and looking down the slate, there are talented defensive lines that could upend Ohio State’s season. The last thing they want is a repeat of last year, when the offensive line played poorly under the brightest lights, with hardware on the line.
Oregon, Texas, and Indiana are powerful in the trenches, but Ohio State believes it’s ready for the challenge. Carson Hinzman shared Tuesday that Ian Moore has built trust with his teammates up front based on how he approaches the game, practice, and recovery. Hinzman also praised Moore, who started against Purdue last year in place of the injured Daniels, for stepping up and highlighted his brute strength and tenacity.
How will Ian Moore fare as a starter on the left side?
Those traits are what make a “dude” on the offensive line, which Hinzman considers the highest honor you can receive in the trenches. Furthermore, Ryan Day described the OL as “walking on water” and “high energy,” reflecting the confidence and swagger the unit has thanks to Arthur Smith and Tyler Bowen.
Smith’s imprint is already evident in the offensive line’s mentality as the group strives to become the “most dominant group in college football.” Hinzman said, “That’s really important to us.” Smith has built offenses around physicality in the run game, so expect Ohio State to test Ball State up front early and often on Saturday, especially if it rains.
How Arthur Smith Operates From the Sideline
Arthur Smith will be on the field for Ohio State calling plays, according to Ryan Day on Wednesday night during his lightning round interview. This move will benefit Julian Sayin and the offensive line the most, as both are in Smith’s wheelhouse. But being on the field allows for quicker, more hands-on feedback and the ability to implement adjustments.
In 2019, Smith explained his reasoning for being an on-field play caller to reporters ahead of the Tennessee Titans matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
“It’s all based on your personality,” Smith said. “You ask 32 different guys, and you’ve got 32 different opinions. For me, I went down there; I like the communication we have with the staff. It’s just feel, being able to talk to the players and coaches.”
OC Arthur Smith plans to call plays from the sideline this year #Titans #Browns pic.twitter.com/Yh7iHwsqIU
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 5, 2019
When a coordinator is upstairs, direct communication with players necessarily takes another step. There is no concrete evidence that having a play caller on the field directly correlates with a “better” offense, but it does enhance the overall operation through communication.
Pay attention to Smith’s conversations with Sayin and how quickly adjustments are made on the field.
Players can walk directly off the field and have face-to-face communication to receive feedback, which will prove valuable against some vaunted defenses. It becomes a list of pros and cons, but for this experienced Ohio State team, paired with the offensive analysts and assistants in the coach’s booth, I think it will be beneficial.
Can Phillip Bell Find a Role?
Ohio State could have more weapons at its disposal than any team in the nation. Within that assortment of riches lies the wide receiver room — only so many can play at a time, which means depth players must find other ways to contribute. It’s been long documented that one of the most meaningful ways to get on the field and earn playing time is by impacting special teams at Ohio State.
On Wednesday, Ryan Day shared that Phillip Bell is in the rotation at punt returner, alongside Brandon Inniss and speedster Devin McCuin. On Day 3 of Fall Camp, I was watching the receivers run through drills, and No. 7 caught my attention, so I made a note. Then I continued to hear positive feedback about Bell throughout August, which led to Ryan Day’s comments on Wednesday night.
The punt-return competition could be Bell’s first avenue onto the field. If he handles that responsibility well, it could create opportunities for him to earn offensive snaps as the season progresses. The 6-foot-1 second-year talent has battled adversity during his time on campus, but his technique and precision as a route-runner are his assets, as he plays bigger than his height would suggest.
Combining those skills, Bell can develop into a weapon on the outside for the Buckeyes, especially with the absence of Kyle Parker due to injury. The wide receiver room is crowded, but Cortez Hankton is not afraid to rotate. He will get an opportunity to return punts on Saturday and is a player to watch as he grows into his role later in the season.
“The only thing holding you back is you,” Ryan Day said on Tuesday when discussing player rotations and the new 5-for-5 rule. If Bell is good enough, he’ll get on the field, and I believe that will happen as the season wears on.
Saturday won’t tell us everything about this Ohio State team. It will, however, provide the first opportunity to see whether some of the things we’ve heard throughout camp translate to the field.
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Blake Biscardi serves as Co-Founder, Lead Reporter, and Senior Editor of The Silver Bulletin. He hosts the Buckeye Cadence podcast, where he breaks down Ohio State football and basketball with an inside look into the programs. Covering Julian Sayin in New York City in 2025 was his Heisman moment, which became a viral moment in its own right. Biscardi is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and has degrees in Business Administration and Strategic Communication & Leadership.