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Ohio State routs Ball State, ready for 'monster game' at Texas
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ryan Day gave his top-ranked Buckeyes just 15 minutes to celebrate their season-opening win over Ball State.
"The minute we
the locker room, it's on to Texas," the Ohio State coach said after Saturday's 56-3 victory. "There'll be times we enjoy [wins] through the night. Not this one."
Day called Ohio State's trip to No. 5 Texas next weekend a "monster game," adding that his program's entire offseason and preseason was "designed around" winning big matchups on the road -- beginning with a chance to defeat the Longhorns for a third consecutive season.
Ohio State toppled Texas two years ago in the playoff quarterfinal on the way to winning the national championship.
Last season, the Buckeyes beat then-No. 1 Texas in the opener 14-7.
"A great opponent. They have really good talent across the board," Day said. "So it's going to be a great environment.
"But this is what we're going to have to do this year when you look at our schedule. We're going to have to be able to go on the road and win games like this."
The Buckeyes were sharp in their tuneup, taking a 28-3 lead over Ball State into halftime before resting many of their starters.
Among them was star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who delivered a spectacular first half with 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Smith passed Marvin Harrison Jr. for seventh in school history with 2,709 career receiving yards. He also broke a tie with Cris Carter with his 28th and 29th career touchdown catches to move into fifth place all time at Ohio State.
"The game plan was suited to make sure he touched the ball," Day said, "and he did a great job of making some plays. ... we decided to hold him in the second half, which, for Jeremiah, he understands what's coming."
The Buckeyes also pulled quarterback Julian Sayin early in the third quarter.
Sayin, a Heisman finalist last year, completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns before watching much of the second half from the sidelines.
Sayin admitted that the Buckeyes have been "thinking all summer" about playing the Longhorns.
"It's full throttle on to Texas," he said. "And we can't wait for the matchup."
sports.yahoo.com
Nearly everyone in the country has had this game circled for a very long time, and it is rightly identified as one of the most important football games of the entire 2026 season. Ohio State is heading down to Texas to take on the Longhorns in what will be a season-altering game.
Both of these teams are in a very similar position. They have National Championship expectations; they have loaded rosters, solid quarterbacks, incredible wide receivers, but, most importantly, very challenging schedules.
The Buckeyes have one of the hardest schedules in the Big Ten, while the Longhorns have one of the hardest schedules in the SEC. Whichever team wins this football game earns itself much more room for error this year, while the loser is immediately pinned up against the wall.
Vegas spoke on what they think this game is going to be. It has been a steady pick 'em game all summer long, and after week one, that stayed the same. Ohio State opened this week as +1.5 underdogs to Texas.
The home team in these toss-up games typically gets the benefit of the doubt in the eyes of the sportsbooks.
Saturday night has the potential to be one of those all-time historic football games. There will be so much NFL talent on the football field, just as there has been the last two times that these teams have played.
For Ohio State, they have come out on the right side of the ledger in both of them. The Buckeyes got the job done in the College Football Playoffs last year thanks to one Jack Sawyer. Last year, Carnell Tate was the hero when he hauled in the huge touchdown pass inside the Horseshoe.
Head Coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have a 2-0 record against the Longhorns, and they are looking to make it three in a row.
If they do that, this could be a season-defining victory. If they don't, they will have their work cut out for them for the rest of the year.
Day called Ohio State's trip to No. 5 Texas next weekend a "monster game," adding that his program's entire offseason and preseason was "designed around" winning big matchups on the road -- beginning with a chance to defeat the Longhorns for a third consecutive season.
Ohio State toppled Texas two years ago in the playoff quarterfinal on the way to winning the national championship.
Last season, the Buckeyes beat then-No. 1 Texas in the opener 14-7.
"A great opponent. They have really good talent across the board," Day said. "So it's going to be a great environment.
"But this is what we're going to have to do this year when you look at our schedule. We're going to have to be able to go on the road and win games like this."
The Buckeyes were sharp in their tuneup, taking a 28-3 lead over Ball State into halftime before resting many of their starters.
Among them was star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who delivered a spectacular first half with 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Smith passed Marvin Harrison Jr. for seventh in school history with 2,709 career receiving yards. He also broke a tie with Cris Carter with his 28th and 29th career touchdown catches to move into fifth place all time at Ohio State.
"The game plan was suited to make sure he touched the ball," Day said, "and he did a great job of making some plays. ... we decided to hold him in the second half, which, for Jeremiah, he understands what's coming."
The Buckeyes also pulled quarterback Julian Sayin early in the third quarter.
Sayin, a Heisman finalist last year, completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns before watching much of the second half from the sidelines.
Sayin admitted that the Buckeyes have been "thinking all summer" about playing the Longhorns.
"It's full throttle on to Texas," he said. "And we can't wait for the matchup."
The Ohio State Buckeyes Open as Slight Underdogs in Week Two Showdown vs. Texas
The Ohio State Buckeyes open as slight underdogs in what will be a pick 'em game in Austin, Texas, next week.
The Ohio State Buckeyes Open as Slight Underdogs in Week Two Showdown vs. Texas
The Ohio State Buckeyes are already onto the Texas Longhorns. Well, Ryan Day gave them just 15 minutes to celebrate Saturday's win over Ball State before turning the page to Texas.Nearly everyone in the country has had this game circled for a very long time, and it is rightly identified as one of the most important football games of the entire 2026 season. Ohio State is heading down to Texas to take on the Longhorns in what will be a season-altering game.
Both of these teams are in a very similar position. They have National Championship expectations; they have loaded rosters, solid quarterbacks, incredible wide receivers, but, most importantly, very challenging schedules.
The Buckeyes have one of the hardest schedules in the Big Ten, while the Longhorns have one of the hardest schedules in the SEC. Whichever team wins this football game earns itself much more room for error this year, while the loser is immediately pinned up against the wall.
Vegas spoke on what they think this game is going to be. It has been a steady pick 'em game all summer long, and after week one, that stayed the same. Ohio State opened this week as +1.5 underdogs to Texas.
The home team in these toss-up games typically gets the benefit of the doubt in the eyes of the sportsbooks.
Saturday night has the potential to be one of those all-time historic football games. There will be so much NFL talent on the football field, just as there has been the last two times that these teams have played.
For Ohio State, they have come out on the right side of the ledger in both of them. The Buckeyes got the job done in the College Football Playoffs last year thanks to one Jack Sawyer. Last year, Carnell Tate was the hero when he hauled in the huge touchdown pass inside the Horseshoe.
Head Coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have a 2-0 record against the Longhorns, and they are looking to make it three in a row.
If they do that, this could be a season-defining victory. If they don't, they will have their work cut out for them for the rest of the year.
