No. 1 Ohio State heads into its 2026 opener vs. Ball State Saturday in Ohio Stadium bearing great expectations for the huge games to come, not the least of which is the trip to Texas next week.

Ryan Day understands how folks might be looking down the road, but he has challenged his team to stick to what's in front on that path, even if it is a 50-point underdog.

Day says success for him, besides a win, would be to see his team play a "clean" game in terms of penalties, mistakes, turnovers and the like.

He had other things to say, too, especially with regards to former OSU national championship coach Jim Tressel, whose name will go up on the stadium ring of honor, and former OSU national championship RB Maurice Clarett, who will ring the bell in the southeast tower pregame signifying a call to action.

Hut-Hut. HUT!!

Jim Tressel joins Tim to talk about the ceremony coming Sept. 5 that will unveil the coach's name up on the Ohio Stadium ring of honor, right where it belongs.

Matt Wilhelm goes in depth on the significance of it since he was a player at Ohio State when Tressel was named to replace John Cooper.

Wilhelm, former Ohio State All-America linebacker and Super Bowl winner with Green Bay, speaks of the resounding lift Tressel brought to the program that led to the 2002 BCS national championship upset win over Miami, and the legacy from Tressel's 10-year era that resonates to this day among his former players and OSU fans.

Rise and sing Carmen Ohio!

No. 1 Ohio State is a week away from is 2026 opener vs. Ball State, and the team's identity is rounding into form.

You can tell that by the seven elected captains, just the seventh time in program history there has seven or more.

Dillon Davis of DelGazette.com joins Tim to talk about those developments, zooming in on three of them in superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith, two-time captain and Block O jersey recipient receiver Brandon Inniss, and two-time captain right guard - yep - Austin Siereveld.

Good insight on the team is offered by all three, and that comes after Dillon offers his five must-deliver players on the team and Tim either agrees or disagrees.

For goodness sake, it's call conversation, not acclamation.

Check out some of the stuff that's going to give parts of Ohio Stadium a new look this season, not the least of which is the new cushy, vibrant artificial turf, one of several brands approved by the NFLPA.

Ohio State executive associate athletic director gives you a visual and audio tour, pointing out, among other things, where former coach Jim Tressel's name is going to go in the ring of honor, a ceremony coming Sept.5 in the opener vs. Ball State.

OSU Senior Director of Premium Seating Lauren Windle gives you a tour of one of the soon-to-be-completed field suites at the south end of the field with a synopsis of what those provide the buyers in terms of unique perspective and location, etc.

Before that, though, there's an extended interview with transfer Mason Williams, who is part of a tight room looking simply to reload.

The Mogadore, Ohio, native, by way of Ohio University, is jacked about the project.

The season ... it's coming!

Ryan Day has views on what's going on off the field and in the courts regarding college football at the moment.

At his latest press conference, he expressed those, but mainly he talked about the present state of his team, ranked No. 1 in both the major preseason polls, including how things are coming along on the offensive line and also about the seven captains he named over the weekend, headlined by Block O jersey recipient, Brandon Inniss.

Plus, an interview with two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, who was named the person of the year by the Columbus Agonis Club last week, and a talk with former Ohio State player Tom Battista, who was on the Woody Hayes teams in the late 60s-70s.

He has written a book about those experiences and more.

Enjoy!

It's no secret that top-ranked Ohio State has had to reload the defense this season after losing seven to eight starters, depending upon how they took the field from last year.

But that's life in college football, and one of the rising talents, linebacker Riley Pettijohn, and returning starting cornerback Jermaine Mathews, talk about the progress of the unit this preseason.

Dillon Davis doubles down with Tim again to hash it out and more.

Did someone say "poached eggs"?

Ohio State’s offense is changing under new coordinator Arthur Smith, and we’re finally getting some clues about what the Buckeyes could look like in 2026. Running back Isiah West and veteran tight end Bennett Christian reveal hints about the offensive tweaks taking shape during preseason camp.

On this Wednesday edition of The Tim May Show, Tim breaks down what West and Christian had to say about Smith’s system, how Ohio State could use its backs and tight ends differently, and what it all means for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team.

West also opens up about his relationship with fellow running back Bo Jackson — and says anyone who thinks they already know what the 1,000-yard freshman star can do might be in for a surprise.

How much has Jackson improved? How different will Arthur Smith’s Ohio State offense really look? And what should Buckeyes fans expect when the season begins?

Ohio State is officially preseason No. 1 in both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll, putting Ryan Day’s Buckeyes in a position they haven’t occupied in the AP preseason rankings since the defending national champions entered 2015 at No. 1. Tim May and Sporting News college football writer Bill Bender break down what the ranking really means — and why that loaded 2015 Ohio State team provides a fascinating warning.

Plus, Bender joins Tim to debate The Sporting News’ all-time Top 20 college football teams, including where some of the sport’s greatest championship teams belong.

Then there’s suddenly intrigue behind starting quarterback Julian Sayin. Ryan Day says freshman Luke Fahey is pushing Tavien St. Clair in the competition to become Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback. Is this a legitimate battle, and what does it say about Fahey’s development?

It’s a loaded edition of The Tim May Show covering Ohio State’s No. 1 ranking, Ryan Day, Julian Sayin, Luke Fahey, Tavien St. Clair and the biggest storylines surrounding the Buckeyes.