Ryan Day Now Knows Quarterback Ohio State Will Play vs. Ball State in Week 1

The Ohio State Buckeyes are under two weeks away from kicking off their season against the Ball State Cardinals in Columbus.

And there seems to be some clarity regarding the Cardinals' signal-caller who will suit up against the No. 1 preseason-ranked Buckeyes.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Cardinals reportedly have their starting quarterback, Keldric Luster.

Sources: Ball State has named Keldric Luster the starting quarterback, and he’ll open the season at No. 1 Ohio State. He’s a transfer from both Texas State and SMU. pic.twitter.com/VXdpG0frYe
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 23, 2026

"Ball State has named Keldric Luster the starting quarterback, and he’ll open the season at No. 1 Ohio State. He’s a transfer from both Texas State and SMU," Thamel tweeted, citing sources close to the situation.

The 5-10, 248-pound Luster has an extensive background in college football, but not much of a sample size to show for it. He spent his first two seasons with the SMU Mustangs, appearing in only two games in 2023 as a reserve and seeing limited action in 2024 across five games.

Luster had an incompletion in his only pass attempt in a 38-10 opening-round College Football Playoff loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions before hitting the transfer portal shortly thereafter.

Last season, a common theme for Luster continued: little tape. In his lone season with the Texas State Bobcats, a year in which they finished 7-6 with a bowl victory over the Rice Owls, 41-10, Jan. 2, Luster was on a non-factor.

Luster, a junior, threw only three passes the entire season, completing one over a two-game span in which the Bobcats won both games against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (52-27, Aug. 30) and the Nicholls Colonels (35-3, Sept. 20).

In the victory against the Colonels, Luster's only pass went for a 14-yard gain, but he couldn't find the end zone. In three seasons thus far, Luster has only completed four passes and has taken one sack with zero touchdowns in a career that will see him transfer to his third school in four seasons.

How Ball State's Decision Impacts Ohio State

Luster's lack of film might be good news for Ohio State, as it'll have bigger fish to fry the following week when it travels to Austin to play the No. 5-ranked Texas Longhorns Saturday, Sept. 12. The Longhorns are seeking revenge from last season, as is quarterback Arch Manning. Ohio State won last year's Week 1 clash, 14-7, and has won back-to-back games in the series.

Ohio State-Ball State is set for Saturday, Sept. 5, airing on Big Ten Network beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. The game will be part of a loaded Week 1 slate across the sport, as the season begins with Week 0 action this Saturday.

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