Ohio State’s defense finally looked like the kind of unit the Buckeyes expect to have, and Maryland got the full force of it Saturday.
The final score shows 16 points allowed, but that number doesn’t tell the real story. Ohio State’s offense handed the Terrapins 10 of those points with a pick-six and a strip-sack, which means the defense itself spent most of the afternoon choking off anything Maryland tried to build. The Buckeyes allowed only 146 total yards, and 75 of those came on one long touchdown drive late in the first half.
That kind of day matters after the uneven opening stretch this defense has endured. Big plays against Ball State and Kent State, the Texas meltdown, and the 200-yard rushing game allowed to Illinois all left questions hanging over this group. The defense is not bad, but it had not yet looked like a unit ready to carry its weight against stronger opponents.
The last two weeks have started to change that.
Against Iowa, Ohio State mostly controlled the Hawkeyes until the backup quarterback entered late. Against Maryland, the Buckeyes tightened the screws even more and completely shut the door on the Terrapins. Maryland quarterback Malik Washington brought some dual-threat ability to the table, but Ohio State handled that challenge and kept the game from ever turning into anything more.
The Buckeyes didn’t record a sack, but they did finish with three tackles for loss. Qua Russaw led that group and continues to start making an impact.
What stood out most was the way Ohio State is beginning to define itself. This isn’t the 2025 or 2024 defense, and nobody is pretending otherwise.
But it is starting to look like a bend-don’t-break group: one that may give up yards and completions, yet still finds ways to keep points off the board. That kind of identity won’t steal the spotlight, but it can absolutely help win games.
For Ohio State, that was the best sign of all. The defense delivered a positive day and kept building on the progress it has shown week by week.
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Indiana, though, gives Ohio State little margin for error. Day pointed to the Hoosiers recent success and made clear they are not the kind of opponent to take lightly, especially with lineup questions still hanging over his own side. The Buckeyes should be closer to full strength, but this matchup still comes with one obvious layer of uncertainty: exactly how quickly those returning starters can settle back in and how much of the rotation changes with them. [Read more 🡒]