Maryland heads into one of the toughest road tests in college football trying to snap a three-game skid, and the setting does not do the Terps any favors. Week 6 takes them to Ohio Stadium, where No. 5 Ohio State awaits for a 4:15 kickoff on the Big Ten Network.
The Buckeyes have every reason to feel confident in this matchup, and Jeremiah Smith sits at the center of it. The Heisman candidate has been almost impossible to contain, with only a stretch against Texas really slowing him down. Maryland does have a top receiver of its own in Chris Durr Jr., but the Terps are walking into an air battle they’re not built to win against a team chasing a CFP bye.
That challenge gets even steeper because Maryland’s secondary is banged up. Jamare Glasker and Jayden Shipps are both doubtful, while Amari Jackson is questionable.
There’s also a possibility the Terps turn to Dontay Joyner for his season debut after he was briefly removed from the roster for harassment charges. It’s a desperate move from a coach with a scorching-hot seat, and one that may not change much against this Ohio State offense.
Julian Sayin and Smith have become the kind of connection that seems to produce headlines every week, and Maryland’s defense has little room for error trying to slow it down. The Buckeyes’ offense can hurt opponents in chunks, while the Terps have only flashed that kind of explosiveness. That difference is a big part of why Ohio State enters with clear advantages across the board.
The bigger separator, though, is on defense. Ohio State’s front seven has been overpowering all season, especially when passing situations force opponents into obvious downs and distances. That’s exactly where Maryland tends to stall, and it’s hard to see the Terps consistently staying ahead of the chains in Columbus.
Still, there is a path to making things at least somewhat uncomfortable early. Maryland needs to avoid giveaways, stay out of an early hole, and let Malik Washington operate cleanly. A turnover-free day from Washington could help the Terps string together enough drives to keep the game from getting away from them immediately.
If Maryland is going to have any chance of hanging around, the ground game has to matter. DeJuan Williams gave the Terps a boost last weekend in his return, rushing for 78 yards on 10 carries and scoring once. He’ll need to be fed again if Maryland wants to stay on schedule and avoid the long-yardage situations Ohio State loves to create.
Washington also has to sharpen up his decision-making and protect the ball if Maryland is going to keep pace. Tight end Dorian Fleming and wide receiver Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding need more involvement as well. Defensively, the Terps have to do everything they can to limit explosive plays, bracket and double Smith, and generate pressure up front from a line that has 14 sacks this season.
Even with that, the projection is still clear: Maryland can make a brief push and maybe keep it respectable for a stretch, but Ohio State’s talent and defensive steadiness should take over as the game goes on. The Buckeyes are the safer pick to pull away and keep the all-time series in their favor.
In Other News...
Maryland Faces A Brutal Mike Locksley Test In Columbus
Maryland heads into Columbus with the kind of challenge that tells you exactly where a program stands. Mike Locksleys team, sitting at 2-3, is trying to find some offensive rhythm behind quarterback Malik Washington and receiver Chris Durr Jr. while also leaning on a pass rush that has been one of the more encouraging parts of the roster. Facing No. 5 Ohio State is a demanding assignment on its own, but it also brings a familiar edge for a Terps program that has spent this season searching for a steadier identity.
The Buckeyes bring their own issues into the matchup, even with Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith giving them plenty of firepower. Maryland has enough disruption up front to make this interesting if it can keep the game from getting away early, and that makes Locksleys group worth watching beyond the records on paper. It is the sort of Big Ten test that can expose flaws quickly, but it can also reveal whether the Terps have enough backbone to make a top-ranked opponent work for every clean snap. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands Buzz Williams Debut Puts Two Big Terps Questions On Display
Marylands new season begins with a first look at what Buzz Williams is trying to build, and the exhibition against Georgia Tech should tell the Terps plenty about where the roster stands in late October. The opener is less about the scoreboard than the feel of the group, with a handful of players set to reveal how quickly they can settle into Williams system and what kind of rotation this team might have once the real games start.
Pharrel Paynes return from last Decembers leg injury is one of the biggest things worth watching, since Maryland needs to know whether he looks ready to handle a regular workload again. On the perimeter, freshman Baba Oladotun and point guard D.J. Wagner also loom large as early signs of whether the Terps have enough shot creation and balance to improve on last seasons assist issues, making this first exhibition more revealing than most. [Read more 🡒]