Ohio State absolutely demolished Ball State 56-3 to kick off the 2026 college football season, and if you watched, you know exactly why the No. 1 Buckeyes are so hyped. Juniors Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin were straight-up electric, looking like they didn’t even take an offseason break. These guys picked up right where they left off after leading the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff quarterfinals run last year, and honestly, they look even sharper now.
Smith Is Playing Like a Top-3 Pick
Let’s just talk about Jeremiah Smith for a minute. That dude is a PROBLEM for opposing defenses. He hauled in 8 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns against Ball State. He wasted no time, snagging a 48-yard score in the first quarter, and then he pulled off a sick toe-tap in the endzone to close out the first half, putting the Buckeyes up 28-3. This kid is on another level. And get this: ESPN’s Jordan Reid is already talking about him as high as No. 4 in the 2027 NFL draft, as the first non-quarterback off the board. CBS Sports’ Mike Renner goes even further, saying Smith could go top-three overall. Renner even dropped a bomb, saying Smith “likely would have been the first non-quarterback drafted in each of the past two years had he been able to declare.” Remember his breakout freshman season? He put up 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, career highs, on his fewest receptions. His draft stock hasn’t moved an inch since then, and if he keeps playing like this, he’s going to be a household name come draft day.
Sayin’s Got Something to Prove
Now, Julian Sayin, our signal-caller, had an incredible opener too. He was 21-of-25 for 320 yards, throwing three touchdown passes, and even added a 3-yard rushing score himself. The Buckeyes scored on four of their six first-half possessions, punting only twice. He was so dominant, they pulled him midway through the third quarter with a massive 42-3 lead. Sayin’s breakout year came last season, where he threw for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in his first season as the starter, stepping out of national championship-winning QB Will Howard’s shadow. He even finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. So you’d think he’s a shoe-in for Day 1 of the draft, right? Not according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Kiper isn’t confident in Sayin’s draft stock at all, leaving him off his projected Day 1 selections and putting him in the “maybe” category. That’s a gut punch, man! Sayin has a ton to prove this season if he wants to crack that first round.
They both proved why they’re so vital to the No. 1 team in the country with that win over Ball State, but come on, it was Ball State. The real test is coming next Saturday. These guys are heading on the road to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to face Arch Manning and the No. 5 Texas Longhorns. That’s where we’ll see if Sayin can silence the draft critics and if Smith can cement his status as a top-three lock. You gotta tune in, it’s gonna be a battle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply