Maryland Comes to the Shoe for Afternoon Kickoff

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State returns home Saturday afternoon looking to keep its Big Ten momentum rolling, but before the Buckeyes turn their attention toward a difficult stretch later in October, they first have to deal with a Maryland team coming to Columbus with little to lose.

No. 5 Ohio State welcomes Maryland to Ohio Stadium for a 4:15 p.m. kickoff Saturday on Big Ten Network. The Buckeyes enter the matchup 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while the Terrapins arrive at 2-3 and still searching for their first Big Ten victory at 0-2.

On paper, Ohio State is the overwhelming favorite. But Maryland head coach Mike Locksley understands that his team’s best opportunity is to survive the early storm, limit Ohio State’s explosive plays and find a way to make the Buckeyes uncomfortable deep into the afternoon.

Locksley said this week that Maryland’s objective against a team of Ohio State’s caliber is to get the game into the fourth quarter and give itself an opportunity. That could be easier said than done against an Ohio State offense averaging more than 500 yards per game.

Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, and this has been one of the more one-sided series in the conference. Ohio State is a perfect 9-0 all-time against Maryland, including 5-0 in Columbus. The Buckeyes have scored at least 60 points against the Terrapins four times, although Maryland has occasionally made things interesting — most notably a wild 52-51 Ohio State victory in College Park in 2018.

Saturday marks Maryland’s first meeting with Ohio State since Oct. 7, 2023, which was also the Terrapins’ last visit to the Horseshoe. That afternoon was considerably more competitive than the final score indicated.

Maryland actually led Ohio State 10-0 during the first half and later held a 17-10 advantage in the third quarter before the Buckeyes took control. Ohio State scored the game’s final 27 points and pulled away for a 37-17 victory. Three years later, Maryland returns to Columbus looking for something the program has never accomplished: beating Ohio State.

Every defensive game plan against Ohio State begins with No. 4. The problem is that knowing Jeremiah Smith is coming and actually stopping him are two entirely different things.

Smith enters Saturday coming off another spectacular performance, catching 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s 31-14 road victory over Iowa. It was his second consecutive 200-yard receiving game. Over the past two weeks alone, Smith has produced 23 receptions for 423 yards and six touchdowns.

The junior also made Ohio State history at Iowa. Smith’s 36th career touchdown reception moved him past Chris Olave for the most in school history, while he also continued climbing — and rewriting — the Buckeyes’ career receiving record book.

Naturally, the Heisman Trophy conversation has followed him everywhere. Smith isn’t pretending he doesn’t know about it. Following the Iowa victory, he acknowledged wanting Heisman voters to recognize him as one of the country’s best players. But his larger message was equally important: individual recognition isn’t what drives him.

Smith described himself as never satisfied and emphasized that he’s always worried about the team. His comments following the Iowa win centered on winning, improving and what Ohio State can still accomplish together.

That’s significant for a player who already owns numerous school records. The Heisman would be historic. A national championship is the mission.

For Smith and Ohio State, everything between now and the College Football Playoff is about putting the Buckeyes in position to finish what they couldn’t finish last season.

While Smith will receive most of the national attention Saturday, Maryland has an outstanding receiver Ohio State cannot overlook. Chris Durr Jr. has emerged as the Terrapins’ most dangerous offensive weapon. Through five games, Durr has 42 receptions for 461 yards and four touchdowns, and his 8.4 receptions per game rank second nationally behind Smith’s 8.8. He has caught at least six passes in every game this season. That creates one of Saturday’s most interesting individual matchups.

Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez possesses elite talent, but Ryan Day acknowledged this week that the sophomore needs to take another step. Sanchez has been called for two pass-interference penalties in each of Ohio State’s past two games, and Maryland has enough talent at receiver to test him repeatedly.

Durr isn’t alone. Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding and Kaleb Webb provide quarterback Malik Washington with additional options, giving Maryland a receiving corps capable of creating problems if Washington has time in the pocket.

Everything offensively starts with Malik Washington. The sophomore quarterback has completed approximately 63 percent of his passes for 1,288 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. The six interceptions are important: Maryland cannot afford to give Ohio State short fields or additional possessions.

Chris Durr Jr. is Maryland’s primary difference-maker and likely Washington’s best chance of attacking the Ohio State secondary.

The running back combination of Iverson Howard and DeJuan Williams also deserves attention. Howard leads Maryland with 211 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Williams has provided explosive-play ability, averaging nearly 15 yards per carry on limited opportunities through five games.

Defensively, keep an eye on highly regarded young edge defender Zion Elee. The freshman has already flashed his pass-rushing potential with two sacks and represents one of the building blocks of Maryland’s defense.

Smith is obviously No. 1 on the list, but Julian Sayin continues to develop into the engine of one of college football’s most dangerous passing attacks. Ohio State enters Saturday averaging approximately 357 passing yards per game, second nationally, and more than 514 total yards per game. Smith’s presence creates opportunities everywhere else. Maryland can devote additional defenders toward No. 4, but doing so leaves Sayin favorable matchups elsewhere.

Defensively, Devin Sanchez becomes particularly interesting because Maryland’s passing game may target him aggressively. Linebacker Christian Alliegro is another Buckeye to watch as Ohio State attempts to prevent Maryland from establishing enough of a running game to keep Washington out of obvious passing situations.

Maryland’s first priority has to be eliminating explosive plays. Locksley talked this week about essentially surrounding Ohio State’s playmakers, keeping everything in front of the defense and getting multiple defenders to the football. Against Smith, allowing one missed tackle or one busted coverage can turn into six points almost instantly.

The Terrapins also need to create turnovers. Maryland probably isn’t going to win a clean, possession-for-possession offensive shootout with Ohio State. Washington and the offense must protect the football while the defense finds a way to steal one or two possessions.

Finally, Maryland needs to shorten the game. Sustained drives, a productive running game and third-down conversions would keep Sayin and Smith standing on the sideline. Maryland enters Saturday converting only about 36 percent of its third downs, a number that must improve considerably if the Terrapins want to hang around.

For Ohio State, the message should be simple: don’t look ahead. The Buckeyes have much bigger games waiting later on the schedule, but Maryland is still a Big Ten opponent with enough skill-position talent to punish a team that isn’t completely focused.

Ohio State should attack Maryland vertically while continuing to establish balance on the ground. The Terrapins have been respectable against opposing passing attacks — allowing fewer than 250 passing yards in eight consecutive road games — but they haven’t faced anything quite like the Sayin-Smith combination.

Defensively, Ohio State must make Washington uncomfortable and force him into mistakes. His six interceptions through five games suggest opportunities will be there if the Buckeyes can generate pressure and force Maryland into obvious passing situations.

And after some uneven moments this season, Ohio State would also benefit from putting Maryland away early instead of allowing the Terrapins to gain confidence.

Maryland’s three-game losing streak has changed the direction of its season. The Terrapins are coming off a 48-23 loss at Nebraska, and Locksley openly acknowledged this week that the past three weeks haven’t met the program’s standard. That can make a team dangerous.

Nobody outside Maryland’s locker room expects the Terrapins to walk into Ohio Stadium and win. Ohio State is a massive favorite, owns a perfect record in the series and possesses one of the most explosive offenses in America. But that also means Maryland can play freely.

For Ohio State, Saturday is another step toward something much larger.

The Buckeyes responded to their early-season loss at Texas and have now opened Big Ten play with consecutive victories, including last week’s impressive road win over Iowa. Maryland represents an opportunity to keep building before the schedule intensifies.

And in the middle of it all stands Jeremiah Smith. The records are falling. The Heisman conversation is getting louder. Every week seems to bring another breathtaking performance. But Smith’s ultimate mission hasn’t changed. Individual awards can come later. First comes Maryland. Then comes the pursuit of a championship.