Ohio State could be down two pieces on defense when it faces Maryland in Week 6, with linebacker Christian Alliegro and nickel Jay Timmons both listed as questionable ahead of Thursday night’s report.
Timmons has been one of the Buckeyes’ early-season bright spots. Through Ohio State’s first five games, the freshman has posted six solo tackles, four pass breakups, three assisted tackles and a forced fumble that he recovered.
Alliegro’s first stretch in Scarlet and Gray was uneven, but he’s found his footing lately. His best outing came in Ohio State’s 31-14 win over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium last weekend, when he played 46 snaps, the most of any linebacker on the roster.
Even with a couple of mixed showings from the defense this season, the unit’s overall production has stayed strong. Ohio State is giving up 12.6 points, 4.2 yards per play and 267.0 total yards per game during its 4-1 start.
The biggest point total it has allowed came against Texas, which scored 23. Those numbers are also helped by the fact that the Buckeyes have already faced Ball State and Kent State.
If Alliegro or Timmons can’t go, it would be a setback for continuity more than anything else. Maryland, though, looks like a manageable test. Ohio State is a massive favorite, laying about five touchdowns at most sportsbooks, and the Terps don’t figure to ask much of the Buckeyes on Saturday.
Even with those injury questions, the matchup would not shift much. Jeremiah Smith would probably need to suit up for Maryland to have any real shot at making this interesting, and with Smith in Scarlet and Gray and tearing through opposing pass defenses, the expectation remains the same.
The injury picture isn’t limited to the defense. Ohio State has been dealing with offensive line issues for weeks, and right tackle Phillip Daniels has not played since the Texas game.
Ryan Day said this week there is a chance Daniels could return against Maryland.
"Hopefully, we can get him going with some scout work throughout the middle of the week and get him available for this game. And then once he is available, we'll figure out like, how many snaps he can take and then how we would rotate that in the game, but we're anxious to get Phil back," Day said.
Day also said he has liked what he’s seen from Gabe VanSickle while Daniels has been out. Austin Siereveld moved over from guard to replace Daniels on the right side, and Day didn’t sound opposed to keeping a healthy Daniels involved rather than leaving him on the bench. If anything, he appeared open to a more regular rotation along the line.
In Other News...
Former Ohio State Coach Brian Hartline Just Took A Brutal First Step Back
Brian Hartlines first few weeks at South Florida looked like a smooth landing after his exit from Ohio State, with the former Buckeyes offensive coordinator opening his new job at 4-1. Then came the trip to UTSA, where a pregame comment about the crowd noise at the Alamodome came back around fast after the Roadrunners handed South Florida a loss.
UTSA made sure Hartlines words lingered even longer by playing a clip of his remarks after the game, turning a routine road defeat into an especially rough lesson. Back in Columbus, Ohio State is dealing with its own issues as the offense tries to get its rushing game on track, another reminder that both programs have plenty to sort through as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Star Just Reignited The Debate Ohio State Fans Love
A former Michigan tight end has thrown fresh fuel on one of the sports oldest arguments, and Buckeye fans hardly needed an invitation. Jake Butts recent interview comments about the Wolverines 2023 national championship, framed around the public perception of the sign-stealing scandal, landed in a rivalry where every word gets magnified and every achievement is already under a microscope. For Ohio State followers, it was the kind of offhand remark that immediately circles back into the broader debate over how that title is remembered.
Butt later tried to clean up the message on social media, saying he believes Michigans championships were genuine and earned, but the back-and-forth only underscored how sticky the subject remains. With Jim Harbaugh gone, the Wolverines have also had to navigate coaching changes and recent performance struggles, which keeps the programs reputation very much in play. For Ohio State fans, the issue is less about one former players wording and more about the fact that the argument still hangs over the rivalry at all. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Brings Coaching Drama And A Defense Ohio State Can Exploit
Maryland arrives with more than the usual Big Ten-game uncertainty hanging over it, because Mike Locksleys future has become part of the conversation in College Park. Michael Howes of the Baltimore Sun reported that the athletic director may wait until after the bye week to decide on the head coach, adding another layer to a season already defined by uneven play and growing pressure. For Ohio State, that kind of backdrop matters less for the headlines than for the way it can spill onto the field.
The bigger football concern is Marylands defense, which still has a few notable pieces up front but has been hurt by missed tackles and general inconsistency. Howes also pointed to the downturn in quarterback Malik Washingtons performance, leaving the Terrapins with questions on both sides of the ball and a shorter margin for error against a team like Ohio State. If the Buckeyes are looking for a game in which to press an opponent already dealing with strain, this is the sort of matchup that can expose it. [Read more 🡒]