Ohio State didn’t just play a game on Saturday, they made a statement, absolutely obliterating Ball State with a 56-3 final score. By halftime, they were already up 28-3, showing everyone watching that this team is for real, right now, in early September 2026. Coach Ryan Day even had the luxury of pulling his best players in the second half because the game was so far out of reach. That’s how dominant they were.
The Jeremiah Smith Show Just Started
Leading the charge in that absolute rout? Wideout Jeremiah Smith, who delivered two jaw-dropping touchdown receptions in the first half alone. Seriously, these weren’t just any scores. His first one? He flat-out beat his defender one-on-one down the field, making it look easy. Then, for the second one, he pulled off a beautiful toe-tap at the back of the end zone, a move that should be on every highlight reel. You know what he did after that second score? He hit the Heisman pose. Yeah, already. By the time the half ended, Smith had racked up eight receptions for 151 yards and those two massive touchdowns. If that isn’t an early Heisman statement, I don’t know what is.
Sayin’s Command and This Dangerous Duo
But let’s be real, you can’t have a receiver putting up numbers like that without an equally electric quarterback. Julian Sayin was slinging it, throwing both of those touchdowns to Smith and having a monster game himself. He finished with 320 yards through the air and a staggering four total touchdowns, bagging three passing TDs and even running one in himself. This Sayin-to-Smith connection? Folks, it’s not hyperbole to say this quarterback-wide receiver duo is arguably the best in the entire country right now. If they keep performing like this, week in and week out, both of these guys will absolutely have legit Heisman Trophy cases on their hands. We’re talking about two players who could be finalists, and it’s only early September!
This Ball State game was essentially a high-stakes warm-up for the Buckeyes. Now, the real test comes next Saturday when they pack their bags and head to Austin for an epic showdown. They’re facing the Texas Longhorns, and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. If you want to see if this duo can truly live up to the Heisman hype, you better tune in. This is where we find out if that early dominance translates against top competition.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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