No. 1 Ohio State routs Ball State 56-3
Team pages: Ball State · Ohio State
No. 1 Ohio State routed Ball State 56-3. Share this game
We had Ohio State favored. It won.
Top comment in the game thread
I see why bro doesn't wanna knee lmfao.
How it swung
Before kickoff, our ratings gave Ohio State a 99% chance, and the closing betting line (Ohio State was a 50.5-point favorite) put it above 99%.
Ohio State led by 14 after the first quarter and by 25 at the half.
Ohio State 56-3 Ball State
Ohio State wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.Ball State 3-56 Ohio StateBall State lostMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.No single play moved the chance by 20 points.
No single play moved the chance by 20 points.
What fans said, play by play
The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.
- Q1 8:47Sayin throws deep touchdown to Smith, who holds ball up while tackled
Who’s a better wide receiver, anon? Jeremiah Smith or a bag of Fun-Yuns?
r/CFB game threadWhere is the throw it to Jeremiah Smith button on my controller? Is it Y or X? 😂
r/CFB game thread - Q2 15:00Ohio State fans celebrate Sayin's rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 21-0
Hell yeah Sayin giddy up
r/CFB game thread - Q2 12:08A quarterback rushed for a touchdown.
Hell yeah Sayin giddy up
r/CFB game thread - Q2 1:27
every time i see someone else kick a field goal above 40 yards it makes me hate jayden fielding so much more
r/CFB game threadI feel like legend bey gonna be waiting long time before he sees the field again
r/CFB game thread - Q2 0:24Sayin passes to Smith for touchdown as fans praise his Heisman case
Watching Smith is a treat. Watching the O-line run block is not.
r/CFB game threadI love having Jeremiah Smith on my team
r/CFB game thread - Q3 8:20A live helmet mic picked up an unfiltered comment.
Hot mic of doom lol
r/CFB game thread - Q3 8:20The quarterback hurdled a defender.
They hurdle? They hurdle now!
r/CFB game thread - Q4 15:00Quoted at the top of the page.
Can you imagine the feeling for Bey rn. So happy for the kid.
r/CFB game thread
How to read this chart
Starts from the pregame line (Ohio State -50.5), at 100% for Ohio State (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. The gray band is r/CFB game-thread activity, its loudest stretches in gold. A gold diamond marks a play fans were reacting to.Watch the plays
The bar and the arrow show Ohio State’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.
- Q1, 8:47Sayin 48-yd TD pass to SmithOhio State goes ahead 7-0Q1, 8:47 · Ohio State 7, Ball State 07-0score after the play7-0score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q1, 5:52Sayin sacked for a 5-yd lossQ1, 5:52 · Ohio State 7, Ball State 07-0score after the play7-0score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q1, 1:23Sayin 17-yd TD pass to McCuinOhio State leads 14-0Q1, 1:23 · Ohio State 14, Ball State 014-0score after the play14-0score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q2, 14:49Luster intercepted by Alford at the Ball State 30Q2, 14:49 · Ohio State 14, Ball State 014-0score after the play14-0score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q2, 12:08Sayin 3-yd TD runOhio State leads 21-0Q2, 12:08 · Ohio State 21, Ball State 021-0score after the play21-0score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q2, 0:10Sayin 3-yd TD pass to SmithOhio State leads 28-3Q2, 0:10 · Ohio State 28, Ball State 328-3score after the play28-3score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q3, 11:29Jackson 65-yd TD runOhio State leads 35-3Q3, 11:29 · Ohio State 35, Ball State 335-3score after the play35-3score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q3, 8:20Jackson 49-yd TD runOhio State leads 42-3Q3, 8:20 · Ohio State 42, Ball State 342-3score after the play42-3score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q3, 6:17Fahey intercepted by Franklin at the Ohio State 36Q3, 6:17 · Ohio State 42, Ball State 342-3score after the play42-3score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q4, 14:16Fahey 25-yd TD pass to BeyOhio State leads 49-3Q4, 14:16 · Ohio State 49, Ball State 349-3score after the play49-3score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
- Q4, 1:55T.St. Clair pass complete short middle to C.Henry Jr. for 15 yards to the BallSt00 touchdownQ4, 1:55 · Ohio State 56, Ball State 356-3score after the play56-3score after the play▶Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
Every drive
Ohio State scored on 8 of its 12 drives; Ball State on 1 of its 13.
Ohio State’s drives are teal, Ball State’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.
“Toney is great. He is not better than this dude.”
How fans reacted
Quiet
Fans were loudest in the second quarter.
The jump was quiet; the crowd was steady.
Never in doubt.
What it cost
Ohio State’s chance to win the conference rose from 38% to 39%.
Win the conference
Before the game (September 4, 2026) → after this result, in our model.
Box score
Ohio State 56, Ball State 3
Ohio State covered −50.5 by 2.5. The total, 59, went over 55.5.
| Team totals | Ball State | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 165 | 671 |
| Passing | 20 of 37, 120 yds | 31 of 37, 434 yds |
| Rushing | 23 for 45 yds | 35 for 237 yds |
| First downs | 13 | 32 |
| Third down | 3 of 14 | 5 of 11 |
| Fourth down | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 3 for 15 yds | 9 for 81 yds |
| Time of possession | 28:22 | 31:38 |
Ball State leaders
- Passing Keldric Luster 18 of 33, 89 yds, 1 INT
- Rushing Elijah Jackson 2 for 20 yds; Keldric Luster 9 for 10 yds
- Receiving Elisha Durham 1 for 26 yds; Tate Hoover 5 for 20 yds
Ohio State leaders
- Passing Julian Sayin 21 of 25, 320 yds, 3 TD
- Rushing Ja'Kobi Jackson 8 for 83 yds, 1 TD; Bo Jackson 9 for 83 yds, 1 TD
- Receiving Jeremiah Smith 8 for 151 yds, 2 TD; Devin Mccuin 6 for 97 yds, 1 TD
No rain and calm
80° at kickoff · no rain recorded · wind 5 mph from the northwest, gusts to 14
Warmer than 9 in 10 of the 68 other games played at Ohio Stadium since 2016 (airport temperature during the game window). The usual here around this date is 72°, with about 7 in 10 games between 62° and 82°.
September game-day temperatures at Ohio Stadium
Drag along the chart, or step through the game.
Where this weather comes from
Measured at Columbus/st Univ airport, 6.3 miles away, and Columbus airport, 7.4 miles away. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.Before kickoff
Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.
Recent games
Last three games · 2025 season
Ball State · 4-8
Rated 161st in our preseason ratings.
L 24-45 @ Miami (OH) #82 of 667
lost by 21 as a 16.5-point underdog
L 9-38 @ Toledo #28 of 667
lost by 29 as a 28.5-point underdog
L 9-24 vs Eastern Michigan #133 of 667
lost by 15 as a 2.5-point underdog
W 17-13 vs Kent State #211 of 667
won by 4 as a 3.5-point favorite
L 7-21 @ Northern Illinois #172 of 667
lost by 14 as a 6.5-point underdog
W 42-28 vs Akron #180 of 667
won by 14 as a 2.5-point underdog
L 0-42 @ Western Michigan #85 of 667
lost by 42 as a 9.5-point underdog
W 20-14 vs Ohio #76 of 667
won by 6 as a 14.5-point underdog
L 25-31 @ UConn #74 of 667
lost by 6 as a 20.5-point underdog
W 34-29 vs New Hampshire #160 of 667
won by 5 as a 2.5-point favorite
L 3-42 @ AuburnTop 25 #13 of 667
lost by 39 as a 42.5-point underdog
L 0-31 @ Purdue #89 of 667
lost by 31 as a 16.5-point underdog
Last three games · 2025 season
Ohio State · 12-2
Rated 4th in our preseason ratings.
L 14-24 vs MiamiTop 25 #6 of 667
lost by 10 as a 7.5-point favorite
L 10-13 vs IndianaTop 25 #4 of 667
lost by 3 as a 5.5-point favorite
W 27-9 @ MichiganTop 25 #26 of 667
won by 18 as a 9.5-point favorite
W 42-9 vs Rutgers #84 of 667
won by 33 as a 28.5-point favorite
W 48-10 vs UCLA #64 of 667
won by 38 as a 32.5-point favorite
W 34-10 @ Purdue #90 of 667
won by 24 as a 30.5-point favorite
W 38-14 vs Penn StateTop 25 #20 of 667
won by 24 as a 17.5-point favorite
W 34-0 @ Wisconsin #82 of 667
won by 34 as a 24.5-point favorite
W 34-16 @ IllinoisTop 25 #41 of 667
won by 18 as a 15.5-point favorite
W 42-3 vs Minnesota #47 of 667
won by 39 as a 23.5-point favorite
W 24-6 @ WashingtonTop 25 #30 of 667
won by 18 as a 9.5-point favorite
W 37-9 vs Ohio #73 of 667
won by 28 as a 28.5-point favorite
W 70-0 vs Grambling #191 of 667
won by 70 as a 51.5-point favorite
W 14-7 vs TexasTop 25 #3 of 667
won by 7 as a 1.5-point favorite
Matchups
Biggest mismatch: Ohio State’s passing EPA against Ball State, 91 points
Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.
Ohio State’s EPA/play against Ball State’s defense
Ohio State offense, 87th percentile · Ball State defense, 1st
Ohio State’s passing EPA against Ball State’s defense
Ohio State offense, 92nd percentile · Ball State defense, 1st
Ohio State’s explosive plays against Ball State’s defense
Ohio State offense, 75th percentile · Ball State defense, 8th
Season profile, all the rows
Season profile
Line, fans and home field
The betting line, and the fans
Ohio State fans are feeling it less than most fanbases this week (7th among FBS fanbases), and the other side is no happier.
Ohio State favored by 50.5 · Total 55.5
How games like this usually go
Ohio State by 50.5, and it went to form
Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game
The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 411 games since 2025 with a favorite of 21.5 points or more.
The market
The spread moved 1 point toward Ohio State.
Spread: −49.5 → −50.5
Weather at kickoff
Warm and dry. Feels like 83° at kickoff.
Ball State at Ohio State · Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 · Ohio Stadium, Columbus
- 83°feels like at kickoff
- Dryno rain at kickoff
- 87weather score, Mixed
At kickoff, Sept. 5, 2026.
Weather score: 0 to 100, higher is better, for the first 3 hours and 20 minutes of the game. Ideal is 100, Comfortable 90 to 99, Mixed 75 to 89, Rough 50 to 74, Harsh under 50.
Later kickoff times scored higher that Saturday
Games in this time zone used 7 kickoff times that day, local time (kickoffs within 30 minutes of each other count as one). This game is ringed. At Ohio Stadium that day, a 7:45 pm kickoff would have scored 99, against 87 at noon.
- noon: 87, Mixed (this game)
- 12:45 pm: 87, Mixed
- 2 pm: 87, Mixed
- 3:30 pm: 84, Mixed
- 6 pm: 92, Comfortable
- 7 pm: 96, Comfortable
- 7:45 pm: 99, Comfortable
Weather score at each kickoff time.
Tap a dot to read that kickoff time.
At kickoff, Sept. 5, 2026. Wind is not drawn here; gusts are in each score.
Home field
Ohio State is worth +6.3 points (±3.7) more at home than on the road since 2018 — top third of FBS, 86th percentile.
95% at home, 86% on the road against FBS opponents (53-3 home, 32-5 away).
Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +1.6 at home vs. away over 95 games — inside the ±5.9 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.
The visitors travel about 127 miles to get here.