Saturday, September 5, 2026. Kickoff 12:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Ohio State opens the season as the AP’s No. 1 team, at home in front of 100,000-plus against Ball State. It is a formality on paper, and the Buckeyes will treat it as a tune-up.
| Kickoff | 12:30 p.m. ET · 11:30 a.m. CT · 10:30 a.m. MT · 9:30 a.m. PT |
| TV | Big Ten Network |
| Streaming | FOX Sports App, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream |
| Venue | Ohio Stadium, Columbus — capacity 102,780 |
The No. 1 Team Starts Here
Ohio State opened the AP Top 25 at No. 1 with 40 of 62 first-place votes, ahead of Oregon and Georgia. Not unanimous — five programs collected first-place votes — but a clear leader.
Being top-ranked in week one means every subsequent result is measured against an expectation of perfection. Our AP Top 25 has the full poll.
Ball State’s Assignment
A MAC program walking into Ohio Stadium with 100,000 people in it is one of the more daunting draws in the sport. Ball State’s realistic goals are financial and developmental — the payday funds the athletic department, and the experience is unlike anything else on their schedule.
How to Watch
Big Ten Network is cable-only, with no antenna option. Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream all carry it; Sling includes it on certain packages only. The FOX Sports App streams BTN for authenticated subscribers.
The 12:30 slot means it starts half an hour after the main noon window, so you can catch the openings of the ABC, FOX and ESPN games first.
The Bottom Line
Ball State at Ohio State kicks off 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, September 5 on Big Ten Network from Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes begin the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. BTN requires a cable or streaming subscription.