Sayin, Jeremiah Smith Impress, Box Score Stats, Highlights, Draft Stock from Ohio State-Ball State

The No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes opened the 2026 college football season with a 56-3 victory over the Ball State Cardinals, powered by standout performances from returning juniors Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin.

For Ohio State's season opener, the Buckeyes were a considerable 50.5-point favorite over Ball State on Saturday morning, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

The quarterback-receiver duo picked up right where they left off last season, leading the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff quarterfinals run, but looked even sharper as the upperclassmen emerged from the offseason.

Player	Comp/Att	Yds	TD	INT
Julian Sayin	21/25	320	3	0

Sayin produced an outstanding first half, throwing three touchdown passes and adding a 3-yard rushing score of his own.

The Buckeyes scored on four-of-six possessions in the first half, punting just twice. Sayin was pulled midway through the third quarter with a hefty 42-3 lead built.

Player	Rec	Yds	TD	Long
Jeremiah Smith	8	151	2	48

Smith caught two touchdown passes from Sayin, including a 48-yard score in the first quarter and a toe-tap reception in the endzone to close out the half and give the Buckeyes a 28-3 lead.

Ahead of the season, ESPN's Jordan Reid projected the receiver to be selected as high as No. 4 in the 2027 NFL draft, the first non-quarterback behind Dante Moore, Arch Manning and CJ Carr.

CBS Sports' Mike Renner concurs, believing Smith to be the first non-quarterback to go off the board, but could go top-three.

"Truthfully, he likely would have been the first non-quarterback drafted in each of the past two years had he been able to declare," Renner added. 

Smith's draft stock has remained steady since his breakout freshman season with the Buckeyes, when he recorded 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, career highs in both categories, despite doing so on his fewest receptions over his two seasons.

Meanwhile, Sayin's breakout year came last season, emerging from the shadow of national championship-winning quarterback Will Howard. Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions in his first season as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

Despite his impressive sophomore showing and a fourth place Heisman Trophy finish, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. was not as confident in Sayin's draft stock, leaving him off his projected Day 1 selections. 

For now, Kiper has Sayin in the "maybe" category, meaning he has plenty to prove this season if he wants to become a first-round pick.

Nevertheless, they both proved why they are a vital part of the No. 1 team in the country after Saturday's win over Ball State. But ... it was Ball State.

The two will be truly tested next Saturday against one of the projected top picks of the 2027 NFL draft in Arch Manning and the No. 5 Texas Longhorns on the road at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.