Big Ten Opens Season With Statement Wins and a Replay Controversy

Week 1 of the Big Ten football season delivered a mix of runaway victories and one officiating flashpoint, with the conference’s replay booth facing questions after the closing moments of Michigan’s opener against Western Michigan.

Elsewhere, several ranked programs wasted little time asserting themselves.

Ohio State 56, Ball State 3

The preseason No. 1 Buckeyes looked every bit the part in their home opener. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns while adding a score on the ground, and receiver Jeremiah Smith hauled in eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State rolled up 671 total yards to Ball State’s 165, with Bo Jackson’s 65-yard touchdown run highlighting a 94-yard, four-play drive in the third quarter. The Buckeyes had three scoring drives of at least 90 yards. A tougher test awaits next week in Texas.

Oregon 34, Boise State 27

No. 2 Oregon survived a scare at home. Boise State led 17-7 late in the first half before the Ducks ripped off 17 unanswered points, with Dante Moore tossing two touchdowns in that span, including a 27-yarder to Jamari Johnson just before halftime. After Boise State tied it at 24, Moore’s 62-yard strike to Dakorien Moore — who broke a tackle en route to the end zone — proved to be the decisive score.

Indiana 52, North Texas 16

The defending champions showed no rust. New starting quarterback Josh Hoover threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns in his Indiana debut, even playing through a bloody nose. Notably, the Hoosiers won comfortably despite being out-gained 367-365.

USC 42, Fresno State 26

The final margin flattered Fresno State. USC led 35-3 entering the fourth quarter before surrendering 23 late points. Jayden Maiava passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score as the Trojans piled up 505 yards and converted 9-of-13 third downs.

Media Rights Context

Big Ten games are distributed across multiple national broadcast partners, including NBC, a unit of Comcast Corporation. Comcast shares traded at $26.49 recently, down about 0.64% from the prior close of $26.66, with a market capitalization near $94.4 billion. The company operates through segments including Media and Residential Connectivity & Platforms.

Source: original release

What to watch

• Ohio State’s road matchup at Texas next week.
• Any league ruling or clarification regarding the Michigan–Western Michigan replay review.
• Upcoming quarterly results from broadcast partners, including Comcast, that detail sports-related advertising and viewership trends.