No. 1 Ohio State heads into its 2026 opener vs. Ball State Saturday in Ohio Stadium bearing great expectations for the huge games to come, not the least of which is the trip to Texas next week.

Ryan Day understands how folks might be looking down the road, but he has challenged his team to stick to what’s in front on that path, even if it is a 50-point underdog.

Day says success for him, besides a win, would be to see his team play a “clean” game in terms of penalties, mistakes, turnovers and the like.

He had other things to say, too, especially with regards to former OSU national championship coach Jim Tressel, whose name will go up on the stadium ring of honor, and former OSU national championship RB Maurice Clarett, who will ring the bell in the southeast tower pregame signifying a call to action.

Hut-Hut. HUT!!