Maryland went to Columbus hoping to survive a showdown of top wideouts. Instead, No. 5 Ohio State turned the afternoon into a showcase of just how far apart these two teams are right now, rolling to a 45-16 win that left the Terps at 0-40 against ranked Big Ten opponents since joining the conference in 2014.
Chris Durr Jr. entered the day second in the country in receptions, but the spotlight didn’t treat him kindly. He managed only two catches for 13 yards in the first half and finished with 15 receiving yards.
Jeremiah Smith, on the other hand, didn’t need a heavy workload to tilt the game. The Buckeyes threw to him only five times, yet his first two catches both went for touchdowns, and Ohio State never looked back.
The first strike from Smith came after Julian Sayin waited more than six minutes to find him. Sayin hit him on a crossing route a yard beyond the line, and Smith did the rest, racing past four Maryland defenders for a 33-yard score. The second was even more punishing: Smith caught the ball behind the line of scrimmage, shook multiple defenders near the boundary and won the sprint to the end zone.
By then, Ohio State had already started piling on explosive plays. Two snaps after Maryland had trimmed the deficit to four, Nate Roberts leaked through the middle of the defense, Sayin hit him in stride, and the tight end went 68 yards untouched. Chris Henry Jr. added a 48-yard catch that pushed the Buckeyes to a 24-10 lead.
Maryland’s lone offensive touchdown drive needed some help from Ohio State to get rolling. A roughing-the-passer call on a third-down incompletion extended the possession, and an offsides penalty moved the Terps deeper into Buckeyes territory. DeJuan Williams was stopped for a five-yard loss on first and goal, but consecutive flags for defensive delay of game and offsides set up Malik Washington to keep it himself and score on an option read up the middle.
Washington did some damage with his legs, but the passing game never settled in front of a loud crowd of 100,000 and steady rain. He finished with a career-low 64 passing yards, going 12 of 25 and repeatedly missing receivers short or long while struggling to work through his reads.
Maryland’s other points came from its defense. Late in the first quarter, freshman defensive end Zion Elee hit Sayin on third down and forced a fumble that Maryland recovered at the Ohio State 32.
Seven plays later, the Terps only got a field goal out of it. In the second half, Trey Reddick got pressure on Sayin, Daniel Wingate picked off the errant throw and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown.
The two-point try fell apart when Washington’s throw came behind the receiver.
Ohio State closed the game by leaning away from the pass and hammering away on the ground. The Buckeyes chewed up the clock and finished Maryland off with two second-half touchdowns from Bo Jackson.
There were a few other bright spots for the Terps, though not nearly enough to change the outcome. DeJuan Williams had a feast-or-famine day, ripping off two 13-yard runs but averaging just 1.6 yards per carry on his other touches.
Maryland also avoided a sack on Washington, and for the first time in three games he did not turn the ball over. The Terps were also cleaner than Ohio State in one small area, committing six penalties to the Buckeyes’ eight, and they moved the chains on third down three times, which was more than in their previous two games combined.
But the bigger picture was grim. Maryland gave up 200 rushing yards for the third straight game, and Ohio State also averaged more than 18 yards per completion through the air. The Terps have now allowed 182 points over their four losses, and with Rutgers next, a quick fix does not look likely.
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Ohio State Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Might Think
Maryland fans watching from the side may take comfort in the fact that Ohio State still has a little lineup uncertainty heading into its next Big Ten test. Ryan Day said the Buckeyes are expecting a good portion of the five starters it held out against Maryland to return for Indiana, a useful development as the schedule tightens and the opponent gets more demanding. Curt Cignetti, meanwhile, has already framed Indianas preparation around the challenge of matching Ohio States pace and physicality, with the Hoosiers getting ready for a game that will say plenty about where they stand.
Jeremiah Smith remains the matchup everyone circles first for Ohio State, but Indianas defensive readiness is part of what makes this feel more than a routine checkpoint. The Hoosiers are aiming to keep their own momentum rolling and have no intention of being intimidated by the setting or the stakes, which is why this game carries the feel of a bigger test than some around Columbus might want to admit. If Ohio State is indeed closer to full strength, this should still be one of the conference games that reveals the most about both teams. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Fans Got An Encouraging First Look At Buzz Williams' Team
Marylands first public look at Buzz Williams team offered plenty for fans to like in an 85-70 exhibition win over Georgia Tech at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The Terps played with noticeable energy on the defensive end and on the glass, and the early returns suggested a roster that can lean on more depth than last seasons group. Payne was especially active, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Kaden House added 14 points off the bench to give Maryland a useful boost beyond its starters.
The encouraging start also came with a reminder that exhibitions are as much about evaluation as results, especially with incoming pieces and the 2026 class still part of the bigger picture for this program. Maryland looked capable of defending and rebounding at a higher level, but the evening did not come without concern, as one of the Terps rotation pieces had to leave early with a leg issue that will bear watching as the schedule gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland May Have Found The Two Things That Change Everything
Pharrel Paynes return gave Maryland a jolt it has been missing for months, and the big man wasted little time making his presence felt in game action after the leg injury that ended his season in December. In just 20 minutes, he delivered 16 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists, while freshman Kaden House added 14 points and flashed the kind of defensive upside that can matter as the schedule tightens.
The bigger development, though, may have been the tone on that end of the floor. Maryland looked more aggressive, forcing 13 steals and turning those takeaways into 22 points off turnovers, a sign the Terps may finally have found some much-needed disruption. Still, the second half showed there is plenty to clean up, with the defense slipping enough to keep the performance from feeling like a full breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]