Ohio State opens Week 2 as the No. 1 ranked team in the country and welcomes Ball State to Columbus for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. On paper it is a mismatch. In reality, first-year head coach Ryan Day is watching every rep to see if his rebuilt secondary can hold up before the meat of the Big Ten schedule arrives.
The Buckeyes come off a 42-3 opening win over Texas that had the entire college football world reevaluating what this team can be. Quarterback Julian Sayin was efficient and unbothered under pressure. Running back TreVeyon Henderson picked up right where he left off. The defense was suffocating from the opening whistle.
Ball State is 0-1 after losing to Ohio 24-10 last week. Head coach Mike Uremovich is in his second year rebuilding the program, and the Cardinals are not expected to threaten in Columbus. The over-under is set at 63.5 points with Ohio State favored by 45.5.
The interesting question is depth. Ohio State’s second-string is arguably a top-25 team on its own. Watching Sayin’s backup Air Noland lead multiple drives will give the Buckeyes real answers about whether they can survive the inevitable Big Ten attrition later in the season.
The wide receiver room is stacked. Jeremiah Smith is the best receiver in college football and might be the best in years. Carnell Tate has become a reliable second option. Freshman five-star Bryson Rodgers has flashed in fall camp and could get real snaps if the game gets out of hand early.
Defensively, coordinator Matt Patricia is still installing his system. The Texas game was a good early data point, but Ball State’s simplified offensive scheme will be a very different look. Patricia has emphasized creating turnovers, and the Buckeyes have four in two games so far.
The bigger picture is what comes next. Ohio State travels to Washington in Week 3 for the first road test of the year, and this Ball State game is essentially the final tune-up. If Sayin plays cleanly, Henderson stays fresh, and the defensive rotation gets meaningful reps, the Buckeyes are exactly where they want to be.
Ball State’s motivation is money and film. The Cardinals are getting paid a substantial guarantee, and getting on film against the No. 1 team gives their skill players a real recruiting tool. Cornerback Amare Snowden is a legitimate NFL prospect and will get to compete against the best receiver room in college football.
Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. Eastern on the Big Ten Network. The over-under implies a 55-8 final. The real question is not the score, it is what the Buckeyes look like when the varsity checks out early in the fourth quarter.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
