The 2026 college football season kicks off at the end of August with eight FBS games in Week 0. The season begins in earnest the following week with a full slate of games, so it’s just over three months until college football returns.
Ohio State opens the season against Ball State on Sept. 5, a perceived tune-up game before a Week 2 trip to Texas, which could again be a matchup between two of the top-ranked teams heading into the year. The Buckeyes were expected to be heavy favorites against the Cardinals, and that assumption is correct.
This week, DraftKings released opening odds for Week 1 of the college football season. The Scarlet and Gray open as 49.5-point favorites over Ball State.
Under first-year head coach Mike Uremovich, the Cardinals went 4-8 last season, finishing 3-5 in conference play and 10th in the Mid-American Conference.
Ball State will need to replace veteran quarterback Kiael Kelly, who graduated after the 2025 season. Over five years, Kelly ran for nearly 1,500 yards, threw for more than 2,100 yards and totaled 27 touchdowns, including one receiving. The Cardinals will need new production behind center this fall.
On offense, returners include running back TJ Horton, tight end Tate Hoover and receivers Donovan Hamilton, Elisha Durham, Eli Hohlt, Isaiah Thacker and Jamarion McDougle.
On defense, key returning names include DJ Fields and Will Yates in the secondary, with Ameir Glenn, Austin Stief and Spencer Vaka back on the defensive line. Returning outside linebackers include Layton Starks and Justin Thomas.
Yates and Fields are two of the more locked-in starters on the squad — both entered the transfer portal in the offseason before deciding to return to Muncie.
The Cardinals added 26 players to the roster via the transfer portal this offseason, highlighted by three-star defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert from Louisville. The Buckeyes will see a familiar face to start the new season, as cornerback Dianté Griffin transferred to Ball State after four years with the Scarlet and Gray.
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Despite both programs having existed for over 100 years and being located in the Midwest, the early September matchup will mark the first game between Ohio State and Ball State.
In addition to being heavy favorites in the opener, DraftKings has the Buckeyes as the early favorite to win the 2026 national championship at +650 and the Big Ten at +180.
