Ohio State didn’t need a masterpiece to handle Maryland on Saturday. It needed Jeremiah Smith, a little help from the supporting cast, and enough steadiness on defense to keep the Terrapins from making it interesting.
That formula delivered a 45-16 Buckeyes win inside the Horseshoe, with Smith once again playing the role of the game’s most reliable difference-maker. Ohio State spread things around more than usual and made a point of not leaning on Smith every snap or every drive, but when the Buckeyes needed the biggest plays, the ball found No. 4.
Two of the game’s defining moments came on throws that didn’t even travel anywhere near the downfield variety. The first Smith touchdown came on a pass three yards past the line of scrimmage. He caught the shallow cross, turned upfield and outran everyone to the end zone.
A few drives later, Julian Sayin hit Smith on a bubble screen three yards behind the line of scrimmage, and Smith did the rest, turning the corner and racing untouched to pay dirt again.
The rest of Ohio State’s passing game was uneven. Sayin dealt with pressure throughout the afternoon, and the Buckeyes’ other wide receivers combined for just three catches for 68 yards. Chris Henry Jr. accounted for 46 of those yards on one reception.
Still, there were a couple of other bright spots for the offense. Nate Roberts hauled in a 68-yard touchdown catch right up the middle of the field, giving Ohio State another explosive play to go with Smith’s scoring burst.
Overall, though, the offense never looked dominant against a Maryland team that didn’t offer much resistance. Smith was the safety valve, the bailout option, and the player who could flip the game in a single touch.
The defense was solid without being spectacular. Ohio State allowed just 10 points, and Maryland’s lone touchdown drive covered 75 yards on 11 plays in the first half. For the most part, the Buckeyes kept the Terrapins under control and held them to fewer than 150 total yards.
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Now comes the game Ohio State has had circled for some time, the one that will tell a lot about how real this Indiana run is. The Hoosiers head into that matchup still unbeaten, still carrying the pressure that comes with being the champs, and still looking like a team that can survive ugly stretches and win anyway. For the Buckeyes, it is the kind of showdown that brings the stakes up fast, especially with Indiana arriving in Columbus with momentum and no blemishes. [Read more 🡒]