How to watch Ohio State football vs. Ball State FREE STREAM today

The Ohio State Buckeyes open the season against the Ball State Cardinals today. Find out how to watch for free.(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.By Robert Fenbers, cleveland.comCOLUMBUS, Ohio - Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and top-ranked Ohio State football open the season against the Ball State Cardinals today – Saturday, Sept. 5 – at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. How to watch Ohio State vs. Ball State today What: Ohio State vs. Ball StateWhen: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026Time: 12:30 p.m. EasternWhere: Ohio Stadium | Columbus, OhioChannel: Big Ten NetworkStreaming options: DIRECTV (free trial and $35 off your first month), FuboTV (free trial and $25 off your first month) and SlingTVHow do I watch Ohio State vs. Ball State for free?This matchup will broadcast live on Big Ten Network at 12:30 p.m. Eastern and also stream on the ESPN app. You can take advantage of free trials from DIRECTV and FuboTV, which also offer large discounts on your first month. You can watch this game on Sling TV with multiple packages, starting at $19.99 with Sling Select paired with the $11.99 sports add-on. Sling Select also includes FS1 and features local channels in select markets. Buy tickets to Ohio State vs. Ball State now for as low as $41The Buckeyes are back after being bounced by the Miami Hurricanes, 24-14, at the Cotton Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff last season. Ohio State went 12-1 and defeated rival Michigan for the first time in four years. OSU earned the No. 2 seed in the CFP. Superstars Sayin and Smith return as Heisman contenders, joining 50 new players between the transfer portal and 2026 recruiting class. The Buckeyes also welcome new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Cortez Hankton with the unenviable task of replacing legendary receivers coach Brian Hartline. Names to watch are five-star freshman receiver Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd, who have dazzled during camp. Legend Bay will run double duty as running back and starting kickoff returner. Jay Timmons is expected to start at nickel. Expect heavy rotations from Ohio State as it empties the treasure trove of talent onto the inferior MAC foe. Ohio State has not lost a season-opener since it lost to Miami in 1999. Watch Ohio State vs. Ball State for free with DIRECTV The Cardinals are coming off a 4-8 season under first-year head coach Mike Uremovich. They are also welcoming in 50 new players. Junior quarterback Keldric Luster will make his first collegiate start. He spent time at SMU and Texas State, but this will be a cataclysmic step up in competition. Diante Griffin, a defensive back, is the grandson of Ohio State legend Archie Griffin. He transferred to Ball State after spending four years as a preferred walk on with the Buckeyes. Today’s game marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Buckeyes have won 21 of their last 22 games against first-time opponents. Watch Ohio State vs. Ball State for free with FuboTVWhat is the weather forecast for Ohio State vs. Ball State?According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Who is announcing Ohio State vs. Ball State? Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Jake Butt (analyst) will be the announcers while Brooke Fletcher reports from the sideline.What are the latest odds for Ohio State vs Ball State? Spread: OSU: (-50.5), BSU.: (+50.5)Moneyline: N/APoint total: 56.5Odds courtesy of DraftKingsMiami vs. Stanford FREE STREAM: How to watch todayHow to watch OHSAA football Week 3 on NFHS Network today | Big Walnut, Anderson, moreColorado vs. Georgia Tech FREE STREAM: How to watch Deion Sanders todayHow to watch Cavs games on DAZN for 2026-27 NBA seasonWhere to watch Nevada vs. Curacao Little League World Series Championship for free todayRobert Fenbers, who has been a freelance journalist since 2015, is the sports commerce reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Robert focuses on local and national sporting event ticket sales and how...