Maryland’s trip to Ohio State comes with plenty of football questions, but maybe none bigger than what happens next for Mike Locksley.
Michael Howes of the Baltimore Sun said the feeling around the program is pretty stark right now: “The answer is it should be. It definitely should be.”
That was his read on whether Saturday could be Locksley’s final game at Maryland, though he also noted that nothing is certain yet because athletic director Jim Smith’s thinking isn’t known. Reports have said Maryland wants to wait until the bye week before making any decisions, which would mean Locksley could still be on the sideline for one more game after Ohio State, against Rutgers at home.
Even so, Howes said a lot of Terps fans are already ready for change.
The other concern in College Park is quarterback Malik Washington, whose second season has gone sideways fast after a promising freshman year. He set the Maryland record for passing yards as a freshman, which created real optimism heading into this season.
But the last two games have been rough: six interceptions, including three pick-sixes. Howes pointed to the UCLA game, where Washington threw interceptions on back-to-back drives in the third quarter, as the kind of sequence that left fans stunned.
In his view, the issue is a mix of defenses throwing more complicated looks at him, opponents now having a full season of tape, and too much offensive responsibility resting on his shoulders.
On the other side of the ball, Maryland still has enough edge pressure to matter if it can clean up the mistakes behind it. Howes said the Terrapins’ best defensive trait is simple: they get after the quarterback.
Sidney Stewart is the name he circled first, especially after coming within a sack of tying the Big Ten freshman sacks record Joey Bosa set at Ohio State. He also mentioned Zion Elee, while cautioning that Elee has not played to his billing, especially since non-conference play ended.
Last week, Elee was limited to fewer than 20 snaps and picked up both a personal foul and an unsportsmanlike conduct on the same drive. Nasir Taylor is another edge player to watch, and DD Holmes adds depth when healthy.
Still, the biggest issue for Maryland’s defense, according to Howes, is tackling. Too many misses have allowed opponents to extend drives and break long touchdown runs. He pointed back to the Virginia Tech loss as the clearest example, saying the defense was too soft and not finishing plays.
As for Saturday, Howes isn’t expecting much drama on the scoreboard. His pick: Ohio State 56, Maryland 10. And on the coaching front, he believes Locksley will survive through Rutgers as well, calling that homecoming game in College Park a likely next checkpoint before change comes afterward.
Howes also had a little personal spotlight to revisit. He’s the “Hey Michael” from James Franklin’s recent press conference, and he said the moment caught him completely off guard.
He initially thought something was wrong with his audio on Zoom, then realized Franklin was addressing him directly. After the press conference, Howes said he texted a friend because he felt the clip might take off.
Once it started circulating and Barstool accounts picked it up, he knew exactly where it was headed.
In Other News...
Former Ohio State Coach Brian Hartline Just Took A Brutal First Step Back
Brian Hartlines first months at South Florida had gone smoothly enough, with the former Ohio State offensive coordinator off to a 4-1 start before a stumble at UTSA snapped the momentum. The trip also came with a side note that got plenty of attention, after Hartline made comments about the noise inside the opponents stadium and then had those remarks revisited in a very public way once the game was over.
From Ohio States perspective, Hartlines next chapter is still part of the larger coaching tree story, but the Buckeyes have their own issues to sort out as the schedule rolls on. The offense has had trouble getting the rushing game where it needs to be, and while Hartline is now trying to settle in as a head coach, his rough first step back served as another reminder that the margins get small fast once conference and nonconference tests start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Elite Passing Game Is Hiding A Bigger Running Back Issue
Ohio States passing game has been humming along at a level few teams in the country can match, but the ground game is carrying a very different kind of conversation. The Buckeyes sit 81st in rushing yards per attempt, a ranking that stands out for a team with this much offensive firepower and one that has had to lean on a rotating backfield rather than finding a clear weekly answer.
The workload has bounced among Ja'Kobi Jackson, Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, with true freshman Legend Bey also part of the early mix. Beys limited role has drawn attention because of questions around why his touches have thinned out, and while there has been speculation about professionalism concerns, nothing has been officially confirmed. For a team built to pressure defenses in every way, the bigger issue may be less about who is getting the carries and more about whether Ohio State has settled on the right one. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Got More Fuel In The Rankings Debate
Ohio States win over Iowa did more than just keep the Buckeyes rolling, it gave them another boost in ESPNs Football Power Index, where they now sit No. 1. FPI is built as a formula-driven projection system, one that measures how a team is expected to perform against an average opponent rather than simply rewarding rsum points or name recognition.
For a program that always lives in the center of the rankings conversation, that matters because Ohio States place in the public debate is never just about one poll. The AP Poll and Coaches Poll still carry their own influence, but the Buckeyes latest rise adds another layer to the argument over which system best captures how good a team really is. [Read more 🡒]