Ohio State returned from Kinnick Stadium with more than another conference victory. The Buckeyes left Iowa City looking like a team beginning to understand how its pieces fit together.

Julian Sayin was poised, Jeremiah Smith was historically brilliant, the running backs created 160 yards against one of the nation’s most respected defenses, and Ohio State held Iowa to 238 total yards in a 31–14 win. It was not a flawless afternoon—nine penalties and another sack allowed are still part of the evaluation—but it was the most complete road performance of the young season and the kind of result that carries weight beyond one Saturday.

Now comes a different challenge.

No. 5 Ohio State returns to Ohio Stadium for Homecoming against a Maryland team that has lost three straight and surrendered 102 points over the past two weeks. The Buckeyes are favored by nearly five touchdowns, so the primary question is not whether they possess more talent. It is whether they can keep building while resisting the natural temptation to look toward next week’s trip to Indiana.

Maryland is vulnerable, but it is not without weapons. Quarterback Malik Washington leads a high-volume passing game, and Chris Durr Jr. gives the Terrapins one of the most productive receivers Ohio State has faced. Their connection can punish a defense that loses focus, misses tackles or allows the game to become looser than it should. On the other side, Maryland’s defense has to solve the most explosive passing attack in the Big Ten while trying to recover from consecutive difficult performances.

This is the type of game a championship contender should control. It is also an opportunity for Ohio State to make progress in the areas that will matter when the schedule becomes much less forgiving.

Game Information

Ohio State is 9–0 all-time against Maryland and 5–0 in Columbus. The schools have not met since the Buckeyes earned a 37–17 victory in 2023.

Ohio State Preview

There is no reasonable way to begin with anyone other than Jeremiah Smith. He caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns at Iowa, giving him 23 receptions, 423 yards and six scores over the past two games. In Iowa City, Smith became Ohio State’s career leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns after already breaking the program’s receiving-yardage record earlier this season. With 207 catches, 3,381 yards and 36 touchdowns, he now owns all three major career receiving records.

That is extraordinary production from a junior, and it would be foolish to overcomplicate the offense simply to prove it can function without him. When Smith has a favorable matchup, Ohio State should continue giving him the ball. The deeper question is what happens when a defense commits enough resources to make that difficult—or when the Buckeyes reach the portion of the schedule where every opponent has the personnel to challenge the routes around him.

Sayin is playing well enough to find those answers. Through five games, he has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 1,530 yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception. Against Iowa, he went 20-of-27 for 324 yards and three scores. His command was especially evident late in the first half, when Ohio State drove 84 yards in 1:36 for a touchdown that changed the shape of the game.

Maryland allows only 198.4 passing yards per game and has held eight consecutive road opponents below 250 through the air. Those numbers deserve respect, although they coexist with a defense that has allowed 30.2 points per game. The Terrapins’ likely response is to keep defenders over the top of Smith, rally to short completions and make Ohio State assemble longer drives. Maryland has also allowed no more than seven first-quarter points in 21 consecutive games, so a measured opening should not automatically be confused with a slow one.

The availability report adds another layer. Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin are questionable, leaving the Buckeyes with the possibility of playing without two starting receivers. McCuin caught four passes for 80 yards and the opening touchdown at Iowa. If either veteran is limited or unavailable, Chris Henry Jr., Isaiah West and the tight ends will have an opportunity to show that the passing game retains its shape when the rotation changes.

The same applies to the offensive line. Starting right tackle Phillip Daniels is questionable. Ohio State has allowed nine sacks this season, a number that remains one of the few obvious blemishes on an offense averaging 514.4 yards and 42.2 points per game. Maryland has enough athleticism to test a new combination if Daniels cannot play, and Saturday should be treated as valuable preparation rather than an inconvenience. Protection communication, clean exchanges against pressure and avoiding free runners matter more than the final passing total.

The encouraging development is that Ohio State did not ask Sayin and Smith to do everything at Iowa. Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson combined for 142 yards on 30 carries, and the Buckeyes finished with 160 rushing yards against a defense that entered the day built to dictate the terms of a game. It was not an afternoon defined by one long run. Ohio State remained patient, found enough four- and five-yard gains to stay out of trouble, and finished its final touchdown drive with Ja’Kobi Jackson in the fourth quarter.

That is the version of the run game Ohio State needs. Maryland is allowing 136.6 rushing yards per game, so this is another opportunity to create repeatable production, particularly in short yardage and the red zone. Ohio State has scored touchdowns on 19 of 27 red-zone trips. Improving that rate—and doing it through an offense capable of running when the defense expects a run—would be a meaningful step.

Ohio State’s defense arrives home with numbers worthy of a top-five team. The Buckeyes are allowing 12.6 points, 267 total yards and 99 rushing yards per game. Opponents have completed only 53.9 percent of their passes, and Ohio State has allowed just two passing touchdowns through five games.

The Iowa performance may have been the unit’s best of the season. Ohio State limited the Hawkeyes to 39 rushing yards, held them without an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter and created two takeaways. Kenyatta Jackson Jr.’s strip sack on the opening possession gave the offense a short field, while Jaylen McClain’s third-quarter interception helped prevent any thought of a comeback.

Maryland will test the defense differently. The Terrapins average a nation-leading 71.8 offensive plays per game and have completed 40 more passes than their opponents. Washington leads the Big Ten with 24.8 completions per game and has attempted at least 30 passes in eight consecutive contests. That volume demands patience from a defense. Maryland will complete some throws; Ohio State’s job is to prevent routine completions from becoming an efficient afternoon.

That begins with Durr. He has at least six catches in every game this season, and his 8.4 receptions per game rank second nationally—behind only Smith. Durr produced seven catches for a career-high 149 yards at Nebraska, including a 65-yard touchdown. Ohio State cannot allow him a similar start. Maryland scored 13 first-quarter points and gained 207 yards in the opening period at Nebraska before the game turned decisively after halftime.

The return of nickelback Jay Timmons should help. Timmons has been cleared after missing the Iowa game, although safety Leroy Roker III is out and defensive end Khary Wilder and linebacker Braxton Rembert are questionable. Whether Ohio State uses Timmons, Phillip Bell, Davison Igbinosun or additional safety help in Durr’s direction, the objective should remain the same: contest the easy throws, tackle immediately and make Maryland repeat the process down the field.

The defensive front also has an opportunity. Maryland has allowed only six sacks, but Washington threw four interceptions and Maryland committed five turnovers in its 54–3 loss to UCLA. Pressure does not always have to produce a sack. If Ohio State can affect Washington while keeping rush lanes controlled, hurried decisions and tipped passes can create the game-changing plays that separate a comfortable win from a long afternoon.

Maryland Preview

Maryland’s 2–3 record does not fully describe its offense. The Terrapins average 424 yards per game, including 277.2 through the air, and scored 126 points across their first three contests. They opened with wins over Hampton and UConn before losing 35–26 to Virginia Tech, 54–3 to UCLA and 48–23 at Nebraska.

That sequence reveals both the appeal and the problem. Washington can move the football, Durr can win at multiple levels, and tight end Dorian Fleming has caught a pass in 14 consecutive games. Yet Maryland converts only about 35.7 percent of its third downs and has struggled to sustain its best stretches against stronger competition. Washington has thrown for 1,288 yards, but his seven touchdown passes are accompanied by six interceptions.

The Nebraska game captured the contradiction. Washington threw for 177 yards in the first quarter and 254 overall. Maryland led 13–0 and Durr appeared capable of changing the game on every target. The Terrapins were then outscored 48–10 over the final three quarters.

The return of DeJuan Williams gave the running game needed explosiveness. After missing three games, he rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries at Nebraska, including a 56-yard gain. Williams is listed as questionable this week, while Harry Dalton III is out. If Williams plays, Ohio State has to respect his burst and avoid becoming so focused on Durr that it loses leverage against the run.

Maryland’s best path is to start well, use pace to prevent Ohio State from substituting freely and create manageable third downs. A couple of early scoring drives could keep the Terrapins engaged. Falling behind and forcing Washington into predictable passing situations would expose the weakness that UCLA turned into four interceptions.

Maryland allows 335 yards per game, a respectable total that becomes less reassuring beside its 30.2 points allowed. The Terrapins have surrendered 102 points in their past two outings. Opponents have found scoring opportunities through turnovers, short fields and the defense’s difficulty maintaining its standard as games progress.

The challenge Saturday is obvious. Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 357 passing yards per game and averages 7.5 yards per offensive play. Maryland has to prevent Smith from turning ordinary coverage into explosive touchdowns while also accounting for a running game that looked more dependable at Iowa.

Expect the Terrapins to prioritize depth in the secondary, keep Smith in front of them and ask Ohio State to remain patient. That makes tackling critical. A five-yard completion cannot become 20, and a well-defended run cannot end with the pile moving six yards downfield. The longer Maryland can make each possession, the more chances it creates for a penalty, protection mistake or third-down stop.

Freshman edge defender Zion Elee is one of the young players worth monitoring. Maryland needs pressure without relying on repeated all-out blitzes, because leaving its secondary isolated against Smith and Sayin is not a sustainable answer. If Elee and the front can win individual matchups—especially if Ohio State changes right tackles—the Terrapins can create enough disruption to slow the early pace.

Special teams may also be part of Maryland’s upset formula. Bryce McFerson averages 44.6 yards per punt and placed two of five inside the 20 at Nebraska. Maryland is unlikely to consistently drive the length of the field against Ohio State, so flipping position and forcing the Buckeyes to work from deep territory would at least shorten the game.

Buckeye Spotlight: Ja’Kobi Jackson

Ja’Kobi Jackson has quietly become one of Ohio State’s most reliable finishers. His seven-yard touchdown at Iowa gave him a rushing score in each of the Buckeyes’ first five games, and his 72 yards led the team in its most encouraging rushing performance of the season.

The spotlight is not about declaring a competition between Jackson and Bo Jackson. Ohio State is better when it can use both. Bo brings burst and the ability to create an explosive play; Ja’Kobi has provided steady, physical carries and a dependable presence near the goal line. Together, they allow Arthur Smith to vary personnel and workload without changing the offense’s expectations.

What I want to see Saturday is efficiency. Can Ja’Kobi turn a properly blocked run into six yards instead of four? Can he finish another red-zone possession? Can he help Ohio State close the first half or bleed the clock in the fourth without the offense becoming predictable?

Maryland’s recent defensive struggles create an opportunity for a larger statistical afternoon, but the quality of the carries matters more than reaching a round number. If Jackson scores for a sixth consecutive game and Ohio State controls the line without overworking either back, the Buckeyes will leave Homecoming with another piece of their offensive identity in place.

Spotlight prediction: Ja’Kobi Jackson rushes for 85 yards and two touchdowns as Ohio State clears 180 yards on the ground.

Terrapin Spotlight: Chris Durr Jr.

Maryland’s offense runs through Malik Washington’s arm, but Chris Durr Jr. is the player who changes the dimensions of the field. He enters Saturday with 42 receptions for 461 yards, ranking second nationally at 8.4 catches per game. He has caught at least six passes in all five games and produced 149 yards at Nebraska.

Durr is more than a volume target. His 65-yard score last week showed what happens when a defense loses leverage, and his consistency makes him a natural answer when Washington needs to settle the offense. Maryland will move him, find favorable cushions and give him opportunities to create after the catch.

Ohio State does not necessarily have to erase him from the box score. Against an offense that throws this often, that may be unrealistic. The Buckeyes need to control the value of his catches. Seven receptions for 70 yards is manageable. Seven for 149 with a long touchdown gives Maryland the kind of explosive production it needs to threaten a favorite.

This is a useful test for Ohio State’s secondary before the schedule brings more dangerous passing attacks. Locate Durr, communicate through motion and formations, and make him earn every yard after contact.

Three Keys to the Game

1. Make Maryland’s Passing Volume Inefficient

Washington will throw often, and Durr will probably collect catches. Ohio State should judge success by yards per attempt, explosive plays and turnovers rather than the raw completion total. Force Maryland to snap the ball repeatedly, rally to short throws and trust that pressure will eventually create a negative play.

2. Keep the Run Game Moving Forward

The 160 rushing yards at Iowa represented progress because they came against a quality defense and helped Ohio State control the ball for more than 38 minutes. The Buckeyes should build on that performance with consistent early-down gains and decisive short-yardage execution. Another balanced afternoon would mean more than a handful of spectacular throws against an overmatched secondary.

3. Protect the Offensive Structure Through Injuries

With Inniss, McCuin and Daniels questionable, Ohio State may need different combinations at receiver and right tackle. The offense cannot allow those changes to produce repeated communication mistakes, protection breakdowns or wasted possessions. This is a chance for Henry, West, Carter Lowe and other young players to demonstrate that the standard travels through the depth chart.

What I’ll Be Watching

Does Ohio State diversify the passing game?

Smith should remain the featured player, but the distribution around him matters. If Maryland surrounds him with coverage, Sayin needs to identify the benefit elsewhere. The development of Henry and West becomes particularly relevant if Inniss or McCuin cannot go.

Can the Buckeyes clean up the penalties?

Ohio State committed nine penalties for 49 yards at Iowa. The yardage was not devastating, but penalties can erase the kind of modest rushing gains and manageable third downs the offense is trying to build. A cleaner Homecoming performance should be part of the week’s objective.

How does the right-tackle rotation hold up?

Daniels’ status makes this one of the afternoon’s most practical evaluations. Maryland will test the edge, and Ohio State needs to know which combination it can trust before traveling to Indiana.

Can the defense finish after a fast Maryland start?

The Terrapins have allowed seven or fewer first-quarter points in 21 straight games and scored 13 in the opening quarter at Nebraska. Maryland could make the opening feel competitive. Ohio State must avoid frustration, adjust and apply pressure over four quarters.

When does Ryan Day turn to the younger players?

If the Buckeyes create separation, the second half becomes meaningful developmental time. The goal is not merely emptying the bench. It is giving the next group enough surrounding experience to run the actual offense and defense, then evaluating whether execution remains recognizable.

Water Cooler

The Jeremiah Smith Triple Crown Is Already Complete

Ohio State has produced an extraordinary line of receivers, yet no one before Smith had owned the program’s career records for receptions, yards and touchdowns at the same time. He enters Homecoming with 207 catches, 3,381 yards and 36 receiving touchdowns—and he has reached those totals midway through his junior season.

Smith also recorded his 15th career 100-yard game at Iowa, tying Marvin Harrison Jr. for the most in program history. One more would give him that record alone. With seven catches Saturday, he would move into a tie for 10th on the Big Ten’s career receptions list.

The larger point is not simply that Smith is chasing records. He is already redefining what the record book looks like.

Maryland Has Been Competitive Early—and Vulnerable Late

The Terps’ 21-game streak of allowing seven or fewer points in the first quarter is one of the most interesting numbers in this matchup. Maryland has generally arrived prepared and avoided immediate knockouts. Against Nebraska, it took a 13–0 lead and outgained the Cornhuskers 207–38 in the first quarter.

Nebraska won the remaining three quarters 48–10.

That history should shape expectations Saturday. Ohio State does not need to force a 21-point opening quarter to prove it is in control. It needs to remain patient, make Maryland defend the entire field and trust its depth to change the game as the possessions accumulate.

A Series Defined by Ohio State Offense

Ohio State is 9–0 against Maryland and has scored at least 37 points in every meeting. The Buckeyes average 55.1 points in the series. The closest call came in 2018, when Ohio State escaped College Park with a 52–51 overtime victory after Maryland’s potential winning two-point pass fell incomplete.

That game remains a useful warning against assuming the uniform decides the afternoon. Maryland has not beaten Ohio State, but it has shown that a confident quarterback and an explosive offense can make the Buckeyes uncomfortable when defensive discipline disappears.

The Postseason Context

The Texas loss removed Ohio State’s margin for a second careless afternoon, but the Buckeyes still control their path. They are 2–0 in the Big Ten and have responded with three consecutive wins. Maryland begins a demanding stretch that includes road trips to Indiana and USC and a home game with Oregon after the open date.

The playoff implications this week are straightforward: win, stay healthy and continue becoming a more complete team. Style points are less important than progress, but a top-five team should still separate decisively from a 2–3 opponent at home.

Buckeye50 Prediction

Maryland has enough passing talent to create an uncomfortable sequence or two. Washington’s willingness to throw, Durr’s ability after the catch and the Terrapins’ history of starting games well make an early score plausible. I would not be surprised if Maryland moves the ball between the 20s during the opening half.

Sustaining it is a different matter.

Ohio State’s defense has allowed only two passing touchdowns all season and should be able to pressure Washington into mistakes once Maryland becomes one-dimensional. On offense, Sayin and Smith present an answer the Terrapins have not shown they can contain, while the improved running game should become more influential as the afternoon progresses.

The questionable status of multiple offensive starters may create a few uneven possessions, and Maryland’s first-quarter defense could keep the margin modest early. By halftime, Ohio State’s depth and efficiency should take over. I expect Ja’Kobi Jackson to finish drives, Sayin to distribute the ball beyond Smith and the defense to generate multiple takeaways.

The ideal result is not merely another comfortable score. It is an offense that protects Sayin despite potential lineup changes, a running game that carries its Iowa progress home, and a defense that handles a high-volume passing attack without surrendering the explosive play. Accomplish those things, and the Buckeyes will head to Indiana looking more prepared for the demanding middle of their season.

Final Score: Ohio State 48, Maryland 13