Ohio State: Buckeyes hosting explosive Maryland on Homecoming
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
Ohio State hoping to continue explosive-free defense against potent Terps
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles outlined what’s most important to him this season: win on third down, win on fourth down and eliminate explosives.
Bold, underline and highlight that last part.
Eliminate explosives.
Last year, Knowles had a tolerance for explosive plays — five a game was the allowance — and it came back to bite the Buckeyes down the stretch, especially against Michigan in the regular season finale and against Georgia in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal.
The Buckeyes rounded out 2022 having given up 18 plays of 40-plus yards from scrimmage. Only nine other teams in the country allowed more.
But with Knowles shifting away from his feast-or-famine tendencies that he needed at his previous stops, as well as the Buckeyes finding their groove in the second year of his system, Ohio State is cracking down on the big play.
In fact, the Buckeyes are one of three FBS teams that hasn’t allowed a play of 40 or more yards from scrimmage this season.
So far, so good for Knowles unit, which ranks second nationally in scoring defense.
“I mean, like Kobe said, ‘job’s not finished,'” Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom said this week. “Like we got a long season left. So I mean what we did in the four first four games, it’s really good. But I mean, like y’all seen, we was last year one of the best defenses for a lot of games.
“That don’t matter unless we do it the whole season. So that’s our mindset.”
Because of the way the Ohio State defense collapsed late last season, every game this time around is a referendum of sorts. Saturday will be no different.
The Buckeyes are hosting 5-0 Maryland for Homecoming Weekend, and they’re getting a potent Terrapins offense that is currently averaging the most yards (454.8) and second-most points (38.6) per game in the Big Ten.
Perhaps most notably, the Terps are explosive. As far as the Big Ten goes, they’re tied with who else but Ohio State for the most plays of 40-plus yards from scrimmage (seven).
Fourth-year Maryland starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa — who leads the league with 292.8 passing yards per game and 13 touchdowns in 2023 — is the architect of that potent offense.
“[Tagovailoa] has the ability to extend plays,” Knowles noted. “And when you get an extended play, the opportunity to make an explosive or give up an explosive, it goes up. He has that ability to extend it.”
Ohio State’s coverage and rush will have to work together to limit Maryland. Containing Tagovailoa is a top priority for the Buckeyes, especially their front four.
“It’s a big challenge to our defense to do that,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “It’s a challenge to our D-Line. We’re always trying to get a pass rush. We’re always trying to avoid big plays. That’ not new. But it is a challenge because that’s something they do very well.”
- Time: 12 p.m. E.T.
- TV Channel: FOX
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Weather: At kickoff 55º, 0% chance of rain, winds 10 mph
- The line: Ohio State is a 19.5-point favorite, per FanDuel.
- Over/under: 57.5 points
Ohio State leads the all-time series, 8-0. All eight of those matchups have come after Maryland left the ACC to join the Big Ten before the 2014 season. The Buckeyes have scored at least 40 points in each of those meetings, even eclipsing the 60-point mark four times in that span. But the Terps have given Ohio State a scare twice.
The upset slipped through their claws in 2018 when they failed a two-point conversion attempt in a 52-51 overtime thriller. Maryland running back Anthony McFarland Jr. racked up 298 yards on the ground in that game, and the late Dwayne Haskins Jr. starred at quarterback for the Buckeyes, amassing six total touchdowns (three passing, three rushing). Then, last season, the Terps staked themselves to a halftime lead. Ohio State responded in the second half to the tune of three touchdowns from then-true freshman running back Dallan Hayden. Except, Maryland didn’t go away and instead pulled within one score with less than 10 minutes to go. Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison sealed the deal with back-to-back sacks, the second of which forced a fumble that linebacker Steele Chambers recovered for a touchdown to clinch a 43-30 victory.
Both of those nail biters took place in College Park. The Horseshoe, however, has been a house of horrors for Maryland. During the Terps’ last two trips to Columbus, Ohio State has averaged a whopping 69.5 points per game.
Series fun fact
In two games against Ohio State, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has posted a completion percentage north of 70% and recorded a 4:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Ohio State vs. Maryland gambling notes, trends
- Ohio State is 1-2-1 against the spread this season, failing to cover against both Indiana and Youngstown State but covering against Western Kentucky and pushing at Notre Dame
- The Buckeyes have went over the total just once in their first four games
- Ohio State has failed to cover the 25-point spread in a 43-30 win over Maryland last season
- Ohio State is 2-0 against the spread at home against Maryland under Ryan Day. The Buckeyes have averaged 69.5 points per game in those two games.
- Maryland is 3-2 against the spread this season.
- Maryland has covered the spread in its last three games
- The total has gone over in three of the Terrapins’ five games played so far this season
- Ohio State is 1-4 against the spread in its last five Big Ten games
Bold predictions for Buckeyes against Maryland
The Lettermen Row staff expects Ohio State to take care of business in Week 6, even against an undefeated Maryland squad that has the look of AP Top 25 team right now. As always, the crew went deeper than their score picks to make Three Bold Predictions about what will happen in the Horseshoe.
Stick with Lettermen Row for wall-to-wall game-day coverage
Lettermen Row will be on site for comprehensive coverage of the latest Ohio State matchup, as the Buckeyes return to action against a Maryland program off to its best start since 2001. Follow along on , Instagram and YouTube for experienced coverage.
Buckeyes vs. Maryland: 0 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 49 days
