With five games in the books, Ohio State fans have started to form real opinions about this roster - and the two offensive transfers drawing the most trust are Ja’Kobi Jackson and Bo Jackson, with Brandon Inniss close behind in the discussion.
Jackson edged the vote in the weekly fan survey, but the margin was so small that it feels fair to call it a split decision. Both transfer backs have been reliable through the first part of the season, even if neither has come close to the explosive production Buckeye fans are used to from the likes of TreVeyon Henderson or J.K.
Dobbins. They’ve done the dirty work, handled their assignments, and answered when their number has been called.
Ja’Kobi has been seeing a little more of the workload lately. His physical, straight-ahead style has helped him move ahead of Bo Jackson, whose effort has been uneven at times. Still, getting bumped may have sharpened Bo’s edge, because both backs looked strong against Iowa.
The big plays haven’t really been there for either one, but that wasn’t the point in that game. What stood out was the consistency: 4-7 yards a pop, very few negative runs, and enough steady production to keep the offense on schedule.
That kind of work may not make headlines, but it matters. If the Buckeyes can keep getting that from the run game, it opens more space for the receivers.
Inniss, meanwhile, has been dependable without exactly blowing the doors off. He has flashed some ability to create chunk plays, but Jeremiah Smith commands the bulk of the targets, and that naturally limits everyone else. Even so, Inniss has shown enough route-running polish, strong hands, and speed to make you feel good about him if defenses ever find a way to slow Smith down.
As for the spread in Ohio State’s matchup with Maryland, fans clearly expect another comfortable Saturday. In the survey, 46% picked the Buckeyes to win by 31-40 points, while 19% went with Ohio State by 41 or more, 31% landed in the 21-30 range, and 4% chose a 11-20 point win. No one picked Maryland.
That lines up with the broader picture. Ohio State is a 34.5-point favorite heading into its home game against Maryland, and SP+ projects a 42-12 Buckeye win, which comes in a bit below the betting line. I picked Ohio State 52-10 in our predictions piece, which would put that forecast in the 41-plus camp.
The matchup history leans heavily toward Ohio State, too. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 48-15-3 and have taken the last two meetings.
They’ve also beaten Maryland every time since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten, going 9-0 in the series with five of those wins by at least 20 points. Ohio State has averaged more than 55 points per game against Maryland, and the only really tight one came in 2018, when the Buckeyes survived 52-51 in overtime.
The teams last met in 2023, when Maryland led 17-10 early in the third quarter before Ohio State closed with 27 straight points to win 37-17 in Columbus. Now the Buckeyes get the Terps at the Horseshoe for Homecoming, coming off a 31-14 road win over Iowa and trying to keep the perfect run against Maryland going.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Have A Cheaper Way To Watch Todays Game
With college football now split across a maze of broadcast windows and streaming packages, Ohio State fans looking to catch todays game have a few different paths to choose from. The latest rundown lays out the major services carrying games this season, including DIRECTV MySports, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Fox One, with an eye toward which one gives viewers the best mix of price and channel access.
For fans trying to keep costs down, the useful part is not just knowing where the game is, but which bundle is the least painful way in. The guide compares monthly pricing, trial offers and availability so viewers can sort through the clutter without overpaying, which matters more every week as college football moves deeper into the season and the viewing options keep multiplying. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman RBs Shrinking Role Now Carries A Bigger Concern
Legend Beys role has already thinned out for Ohio State, with the freshman running back not appearing in the last two games after seeing only limited work earlier in the season. For a Buckeyes backfield that leans on depth and reliability, any young player who slips out of the rotation quickly becomes a storyline worth watching, especially when the season is still in its early stretch.
Beys situation has taken on a more serious edge because of reports tying him to a speeding citation and an alleged eviction over unpaid rent. It remains unclear whether those off-field issues are connected to his reduced playing time, and the coaching staff has not confirmed any link, which leaves the situation unresolved even as the concern around it continues to grow. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Now Gets The Undefeated Indiana Showdown Everyone Feared
Indiana did not make things easy on itself at Nebraska, but the defending national champions did what winning teams do and found a way to stay perfect. Josh Hoover delivered the biggest throws of the night, hitting Nick Marsh for two fourth-quarter touchdowns after Nebraska had briefly threatened to spoil the evening with a late Anthony Colandrea scoring run. The result kept Indianas win streak rolling and preserved the unbeaten record that has made every week feel like a test.
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 🡒]