There are two ways you can look at Ohio State's 52-51 overtime escape at Maryland.
If you're thinking national championship or bust, then this is a game that gave you ulcers. The Buckeyes entered as two-touchdown favorites and took their first lead of the game in overtime.
If you've already conceded that this is not a team that's winning the natty, then perhaps you can see it as one heck of a football game with your team coming out on top in a thriller.
Maybe there's some middle ground, too. At any rate, here are 22 GIFs that tell the story of this win, which moved the Buckeyes to 10–1 on the year heading into “The Game.”
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Maryland freshman running back Anthony McFarland ate against Ohio State. Here he is going 81 yards on the second play of the game to put the Terps up 7-0. McFarland would finish the afternoon with 298 yards on 21 carries – the second-most yards ever surrendered to a running back by a Buckeye defense (14 short of Tim Biakabutuka's 313 in 1995).
Maryland executed a pooch kickoff following McFarland's touchdown… and recovered it!
Let's check in on Big Nut.
Five minutes later, McFarland was at it again. Here, he breaks a Brendon White tackle and goes 75 yards to put Maryland up 14-3 just 5:44 into the game.
The Terrapins would drive into Ohio State territory to start the 2nd quarter, but a missed 49-yard field goal prevented it from being 20-3 in favor of the home team. On Ohio State's first play after taking over, Dwayne Haskins found Terry McLaurin for this 68-yard run and catch to make it 17-10, Terps.
McLaurin would finish with four receptions for 118 yards and this touchdown.
The teams would trade touchdowns in the second, before Maryland running back Javon Leake coughed the ball up on his own 25. We're still not sure how Tuf Borland did not come up with this, but the Buckeyes would force a punt five plays later.
Down 24-17, the Buckeyes took over with 1:22 to play in the 1st half. Haskins quickly led the team 86 yards, setting up this J.K. Dobbins run – which he fumbled with Maryland recovering in the end zone for touchback.
It would be the one mistake for Dobbins on the day as he finished with 37 carries for 203 yards (both career highs) and a touchdown.
Ohio State would get the ball to start the 2nd half, but disaster hit on the Buckeyes' second play when a tipped pass led to a Maryland pick-six to make it 31-17, Terrapins.
Haskins regrouped and answered, leading his team on an 8-play, 73-yard drive capped by this 2-yard keeper to make it 31-24, Maryland. Haskins would finish the day with three rushing touchdowns.
Early in the 4th quarter, Haskins found K.J. Hill to tie it up at 31. Haskins was well on his way to finishing with 405 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Midway through the 4th quarter, Ohio State forced a 4th-and-8. The punt block was on, but Maryland had something for that when Wade Lees found Taivon Jacobs for 15 yards to the OSU 31. Did you know the defensive coordinator is responsible for calling punt coverage?
Three plays later, Tyrrell Pigrome found Jeshaun Jones for a 27-yard touchdown. The play was originally called out of bounds short of the end zone, but was overturned, making it 38-31, Terps.
Haskins would have another answer. Here he is finding Johnnie Dixon for a beautiful, 35-yard pass and catch. Dixon would finish the day with six catches for 102 yards.
Haskins would cap the 75-yard drive with this forced keeper on a bad snap. Clutch, hands here as it's now tied at 38 with under four minutes to play.
Maryland would drive right down the field, setting up a 3rd-and-goal from the Ohio State seven. Pressure forced Pigrome to throw this one away, but the referees called pass interference on a ball that was thrown 15-feet high, and clearly not catchable.
But wait—Maryland gets even luckier when Anthony McFarland puts the ball on the turf three plays later, but it's recovered in the end zone by a teammate to put Maryland up 45-38 with about 90 seconds to play.
Enter Demario McCall. Seeing action on offense due to Mike Weber's injury, and on special teams, because of some problems on returns, McCall took the ensuing kickoff back 42 yards to put Ohio State in business at midfield.
Haskins and Ohio State had 92 seconds to tie it up, but got it done in 52 when he found Ben Victor for this 3-yard touchdown reception. It would be one of just two catches for Victor, and it was a big one, eventually sending the game into overtime.
Ohio State got the ball first in overtime, but the Terps stiffened, forcing a 4th-and-1. Would Haskins run it? Would it go to Dobbins? Nope! Ryan Day dialed up a play for tight end Rashod Berry.
Two plays later, Haskins kept it again to give Ohio State a 52-45 lead.
According to Ohio State, Haskins became the first player with at least 400 passing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns in a game since Patrick Mahomes did it for Texas Tech against Kansas State in 2016.
Oh, and he also broke Ohio State's single season marks for passing yards and touchdowns. Not bad.
Maryland needed all of two plays to answer the touchdown. Then, Terps coach Matt Canada dialed up a two-point conversion for the win.
Watch closely as the Terrapins executed a shovel-option play here. They had a guy wide open, but then again, Maryland had a tackle downfield blocking. The penalty wasn't called and Pigrome's pass missed the mark.
Dwayne Haskins can look. He's now 10–1 as a starter.
