Ohio State rolls, set for 'monster game' at Texas

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  Jake TrotterSep 5, 2026, 05:33 PM ET

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  Jake Trotter is a senior writer at ESPN. Trotter covers college football. He also writes about other college sports, including men's and women's basketball. Trotter resides in the Cleveland area with his wife and three kids and is a fan of his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder. He covered the Cleveland Browns and NFL for ESPN for five years, moving back to college football in 2024. Previously, Trotter worked for the Middletown (Ohio) Journal, Austin American-Statesman and Oklahoman newspapers before joining ESPN in 2011. He's a 2004 graduate of Washington and Lee University. You can reach out to Trotter at jake.trotter@espn.com and follow him on X at @Jake_Trotter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ryan Day gave his top-ranked Buckeyes just 15 minutes to celebrate their season-opening win over Ball State.

"The minute we (left) 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 tune-up, 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."