Ryan Day dropped a strong message about the Texas game ahead for Ohio State after Buckeyes’ first win
The Ohio State Buckeyes are well aware a tough matchup with the Texas Longhorns on the road awaits them. Ryan Day commented on the trip to Austin that awaits Ohio State in Week 2.
The Ohio State Buckeyes opened the 2026 season with a commanding 56-3 victory over Ball State, racking up 671 total yards while holding the Cardinals to just 165. Ohio State scored 14 points in every quarter throughout the blowout, finding success both on the ground and through the air with 434 passing yards spread across three quarterbacks.
The Buckeyes rotated plenty of depth in a game that was always expected to be lopsided, and the performance offered a revealing look at what Ohio State’s roster could look like throughout the 2026 season. Players like Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, Bo Jackson, Devin McCuin, and even freshman Legend Bey headlined a deep rotation that flashed on both sides of the ball.
Ohio State’s attention shifts to Texas after beating Ball State
The Ball State opener was always going to serve as a tune-up for what lies ahead. Ohio State now prepares for a Week 2 trip to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns in primetime, a significant early-season test for coach Ryan Day’s squad.
After the game, Day shared his thoughts on the Longhorns.
“They have, you know, really good talent across the board,” Day stated. “So going down there is something that we’ve obviously been working towards all summer and looking forward to. They have a great program and a great team, so it’s going to be a great environment. But this is what we’re going to have to do this year.
“When you look at our schedule, we’re going to have to be able to go on the road and win games like this. So our preseason, our off season was all designed around this. So you know, it’s here. Time to go prepare for these guys.”
Day is correct. Ohio State’s schedule is a gauntlet in 2026. Beyond the trip to Austin, the Buckeyes will also travel to Indiana, USC, and Iowa, which remains an underrated tough place to play. Combine those road tests with home games against Oregon and Michigan, and this is one of the most demanding slates in the country.
The Buckeyes are going to have to win tough games, and as a result, they should be battle-tested by the time the postseason arrives. Next week’s matchup against Texas will be a different story entirely.
Ohio State is going to have to weather some punches if it wants to leave Austin with a win. The stars will definitely be out in Austin.
