For the second time in five years, Ohio State will play its final road game of the regular season at Maryland one week before hosting Michigan in its annual rivalry game.
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MARYLAND TERRAPINS |
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6-4 (3-4 B1G) ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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3:30 P.M. – SATURDAY, NOV. 19 MARYLAND STADIUM COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND |
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ABC WatchESPN |
While anticipation for The Game is as high as it’s ever been as the Buckeyes and Wolverines move closer to a potential top-three matchup in Columbus next week, what happened in College Park four years ago – or at least what nearly happened – is reason enough for the Buckeyes to make sure they don’t look past this week’s game.
In Ohio State’s 2018 meeting with Maryland – the last time the Buckeyes played the Terrapins at their place, as the 2020 game at what is now known as SECU Stadium was canceled due to COVID-19 – Ohio State needed overtime to beat Maryland. The Buckeyes gave a whopping 51 points and were an unsuccessful Maryland two-point conversion away from being upset.
Ryan Day has talked to his team about that game this week as a reminder of the importance of staying focused on the task at hand. They’ll quickly turn their attention to The Game once this week’s game ends, but the Buckeyes need to take care of business at Maryland first to ensure they remain on track to achieve their goals.
“We're working the game at the end of the year every day out of the year. So that's not something that is out of the ordinary, to know that that's always in the back of our minds. But that's like that every week,” Day said. “So our focus right now is on Maryland, going down there at 3:30 and playing really good football, and then going from there.”
The Headlines
Second-best offense OSU has faced, but…
Outside of Penn State, the only team that’s scored more than 21 points against Ohio State this year, Maryland’s offense has been better throughout the season as a whole than any of the other Big Ten opponents the Buckeyes have faced so far. Penn State and Toledo are the only teams Ohio State has played that have averaged more points and yards per game than Maryland this season, and Penn State is the only team the Buckeyes have played that has averaged more passing yards per game.
Maryland scored at least 27 points in all of its first eight games while averaging 454.4 yards of offense. In its last two games, however, Maryland scored just 10 points on 189 yards of offense against Wisconsin and zero points on 134 total yards against Penn State.
The Terrapins’ passing struggles have been particularly notable in their last two games, which have also been Taulia Tagovailoa’s first two games back after he missed the Terrapins’ most recent win over Northwestern with an MCL sprain. Tagovailoa completed only 10 of 23 passing attempts for 77 yards against Wisconsin and 11 of 22 attempts for 74 yards against Penn State.
If Maryland’s offense can return to form this week, it will be a test for an Ohio State defense that hasn’t faced much top competition. If the Terrapins’ offense instead continues to struggle as it has the last two weeks, Saturday’s game could quickly become a blowout.
Terrapins still chasing first win vs. Buckeyes
While the 2018 shootout between Ohio State and Maryland was undoubtedly the most memorable game between the two schools since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, it’s the only time the Terrapins have come even close to beating the Buckeyes.
In seven total meetings between the Buckeyes and Terps, Ohio State has outscored Maryland 416-151, good for an average margin of victory of 37.9 points. While the first two meetings in the series were decided by margins of 28 and 21 points, Ohio State has won four of the last five games by at least 48 points, with 2018 being the only exception. Ohio State has never scored fewer than 49 points in any game against Maryland.
With Ohio State entering this matchup as a 27.5-point favorite, it would be a big surprise if the Terrapins get their first win over the Buckeyes this year. Maryland coach Mike Locksley, however, expects his team to play like it has nothing to lose – knowing Ohio State can’t say the same.
“I'm confident that our team will show up. They showed up yesterday with the right mindset,” Locksley said Tuesday. “As I told our team, there's nothing more dangerous than a desperate man that has nothing to lose. And that's kind of where we are. They've got everything to lose. They’ve got a big game after ours.”
Last game before The Game
Although it’s best for the Buckeyes not to be looking ahead to next week during their trip to Maryland, that’s going to be easier said than done. After all, no result this week will allow Ohio State to achieve any of its major goals – beating Michigan, winning the Big Ten championship and winning a national title – but all three of those goals will be on the line when the Buckeyes host their northern rivals next week.
“We have an opportunity to go 11-0 this weekend and still not have reached one of our goals yet,” Day said. “That’s sobering, but it's the facts.”
Given that, Ohio State’s objective for this week should be to start fast and take care of business as quickly as possible. Saturday will be the Buckeyes’ final opportunity before The Game to work through issues in game action – such as their recent struggles running the ball in short-yardage situations – but a looming physical battle with Michigan is also a reason for Ohio State to look to get its starters out of the game early if it can put the game away.
With an unbeaten record and only two regular-season games left to play, Ohio State doesn’t need to chase style points against Maryland. Theoretically, the Buckeyes probably could even lose to Maryland and still have all their goals on the table – next week’s Ohio State/Michigan game will decide the winner of the Big Ten East no matter what happens this week – but that’s certainly not a chance Ohio State wants to take.
“We have to focus on Maryland because if we don't take care of Maryland, then that’s pretty much, that's our season I feel like,” Vincent said. “Each game matters to get into the Big Ten championship, so I feel like we have to take care of Maryland and take care of the team up north next week.”
Keep An Eye on These Guys
QB Taulia Tagovailoa
Despite his aforementioned injury and recent struggles, Tagovailoa still has a strong case for being a better quarterback than any quarterback Ohio State has faced yet this season.
Even with his poor play in Maryland’s last two games, Tagovailoa still has more passing yards per game (239.1) and a better passer rating (144.8) than any starting quarterback of Ohio State’s first 10 opponents. He’s had 11 300-yard passing games since 2020 and also has the athleticism to make plays with his legs, though he only has 51 net rushing yards this season.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles says the Buckeyes “better be prepared” for Tagovailoa to make plays based on what he’s done over the totality of the season.
“The quarterback is a really good scrambler and playmaker,” Knowles said. “Maybe a little banged-up, maybe that's just why they've struggled a little bit, but I think everything flows through him and he's dangerous.”
Day, who recruited Tagovailoa as a high school quarterback, also holds the Maryland signal-caller in high regard.
“He's a great young man and really talented,” Day said. “He can anticipate, he's got a strong arm, he can extend plays with his feet. He's done that in the past. He's played a lot of football in the Big Ten and won some big games.”
WR Rakim Jarrett
Maryland’s passing offense poses a step up in competition for Ohio State’s defense not only because of its quarterback but also because of its talented group of receivers, which is led by Jarrett.
The only five-star recruit on Maryland’s roster, Jarrett hasn’t been quite as productive this year as he was a season ago but still leads the Terrapins with 37 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns. A two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention, Jarrett is an explosive athlete who has shown big-play ability throughout his college career, including a 43-yard touchdown against Ohio State in 2021.
Altogether, Maryland’s receiving corps is one of the Big Ten’s most talented pass-catcher groups outside of Ohio State. Florida transfer Jacob Copeland was also a highly touted recruit, fifth-year seniors Jeshaun Jones and Dontay Demus have been making plays for the Terrapins since 2018 and tight ends Corey Dyches and CJ Dippre also have both been weapons in the passing game.
“They have skilled guys at wide receiver and the tight end position,” Knowles said. “So in a spread attack, they're dangerous.”
S Beau Brade
Brade has been Maryland’s most productive defender this season. He leads the Terrapins with 67 total tackles and is tied for team leads with two interceptions and two forced fumbles apiece and has played the most snaps (662) of any Maryland defender this season, per Pro Football Focus.
Beau Brade comes up with a MASSIVE interception.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) October 22, 2022
Terps take over with under three minutes to play. pic.twitter.com/lDJIS0k5H6
A first-year starter in the Terrapins’ secondary, Brade has been strong in coverage on the back end of Maryland’s defense, leading the way for the Terrapins to allow just 6.32 yards per passing attempt – a mark that ranks 22nd in the FBS. Going into this week’s game, Maryland’s defense has allowed fewer points and yards per game than in any previous season since it joined the Big Ten, and Brade’s emergence as a stalwart safety has played a big part in the Terrapins’ defensive improvement.
Game Week Talk
“We're going to have to do some things where we can try to affect this quarterback, because when they’ve struggled, it’s because people have gotten to the quarterback and affected him.”– Mike Locksley on defending C.J. Stroud and Ohio State’s offense
Almost no one has had success bringing pressure against Stroud this season, as Ohio State has allowed only seven total sacks in 10 games. Locksley believes doing so could be the recipe to slowing down the Buckeyes, but he knows that won’t be easy, describing Stroud as a “special player.”
“I think we've seen teams that kind of play like them. So I think we're pretty prepared for it.”– Steele Chambers on Maryland’s offense
While Chambers says Maryland’s offense “presents a pretty big challenge” and noted that the Terrapins “try to get you out of your gaps,” the Buckeyes’ starting Will linebacker thinks his defense will be able to have the same kind of success it’s had throughout the season.
“As crazy as that day was, the fans were great there (at Northwestern). What a great turnout in Chicago. So we’ll hopefully have the same type of presence there in College Park.”– Ryan Day on Ohio State fan support on the road
Saturday’s final road game of the regular season will be just Ohio State’s fourth road game of the year, but there have been plenty of Buckeye supporters in attendance when the Buckeyes have played away from home, particularly at their most recent road game against Northwestern despite inclement weather. Day is grateful for that support and expects to see it continue in Maryland on Saturday.
| Ohio State | Pos | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | ||
| C.J. STROUD | QB | TAULIA TAGOVAILOA |
| TREVEYON HENDERSON | RB | ROMAN HEMBY |
| MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WR | DONTAY DEMUS JR. |
| JULIAN FLEMING | WR | JESHAUN JONES |
| EMEKA EGBUKA | WR | RAKIM JARRETT |
| CADE STOVER | TE | CJ DIPPRE |
| PARIS JOHNSON JR. | LT | JAELYN DUNCAN |
| DONOVAN JACKSON | LG | JOHARI BRANCH |
| LUKE WYPLER | C | COLTIN DEERY |
| MATT JONES | RG | SPENCER ANDERSON |
| DAWAND JONES | RT | DELMAR GLAZE |
| DEFENSE | ||
| ZACH HARRISON | DE | GREG CHINA-ROSE |
| TARON VINCENT | DT | MOSIAH NASILI-KITE |
| TY HAMILTON | DT | AMI FINAU |
| J.T. TUIMOLOAU | DE/JACK | DURELL NCHAMI |
| STEELE CHAMBERS | WLB | JAISHAWN BARHAM |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | MLB | RUBEN HYPPOLITE II |
| TANNER MCCALISTER | NB | TARHEEB STILL |
| DENZEL BURKE | CB | DEONTE BANKS |
| CAMERON BROWN | CB | JAKORIAN BENNETT |
| RONNIE HICKMAN | S | BEAU BRADE |
| LATHAN RANSOM | S | DANTE TRADER JR. |
Get Smart
- Maryland’s roster features two players from Ohio: Defensive tackle Anthony Booker Jr. and linebacker Andrew Booker. The two brothers are from Winton Woods High School, where they played with Ohio State running back Miyan Williams.
- Ohio State’s roster includes two players from Maryland: Starting defensive tackle Taron Vincent and defensive end Mitchell Melton, who is out for the season. Rotational defensive tackle Tyleik Williams also grew up less than an hour away from SECU Stadium in Manassas, Virginia.
- Ohio State defensive line graduate assistant Cam Spence played at Maryland in 2017 and 2018 and served as a student assistant coach for the Terrapins in 2019 and 2020.
- Maryland is just 6-26 in games playing during the month of November since it joined the Big Ten in 2014. Ohio State is 30-3 in the month in November since 2014.
- Maryland has never won a Big Ten game against a ranked opponent. Ohio State has won its last 28 games against unranked opponents since its 2018 loss to Purdue.
- Saturday’s game will be Ohio State’s fifth game on ABC this season. It will be the Buckeyes’ sixth straight game on a national broadcast network and ninth of the season overall.
How It Plays Out
Line: Ohio State -27.5, O/U 63
There are two main factors to consider when weighing how Saturday’s game will play out: Will the Buckeyes be as focused as they need to be to play their best football and will Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland’s offense get back on track?
If Ohio State is prepared to play its A-game and Maryland’s offense continues to struggle, Saturday’s game could continue the trend of blowout wins for the Buckeyes over the Terps. While Maryland’s defense has improved from past years, Ohio State has scored more than 40 points in all but two of its games this season, including games against better defenses like Iowa, Penn State and Wisconsin.
Should the Buckeyes get caught looking ahead to Michigan and play sloppy, however, Maryland could make things interesting. The Terrapins are more capable of exposing vulnerabilities in Ohio State’s pass defense than just about anyone the Buckeyes have played this year, even though they’ve been a clearly wounded unit in their last couple of games.
There are reasons to believe Ohio State won’t blow out Maryland quite as easily as it has many opponents this season. The Buckeyes have been more dominant at home (where they’ve won their last six games by at least 31 points) than they’ve been on the road (where they’ve won by an average of only 18.67 points). But we still expect the Buckeyes to win by a significant margin in their final road game of the regular season to take an 11-0 record into next week’s rivalry game.
| Eleven Warriors Staff Prediction | ||||
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45 | 17 |
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