Ohio State didn’t need long to separate from Maryland on Saturday night. After absorbing an early turnover and a brief pushback from the Terrapins, the No. 1 Buckeyes took control with a barrage of big plays and never let go, rolling to a 45-16 win in Columbus.
Julian Sayin was the engine. The Ohio State quarterback carved up Maryland for 203 first-half yards and four touchdown passes, helping the Buckeyes build a 31-10 lead by halftime. From there, the ground game and defense finished the job, with Bo Jackson running for 107 yards and two second-half scores as Ohio State steadily pulled away.
The first Ohio State touchdown came quickly after Phillip Bell’s strong punt return flipped the field. Sayin hit Jeremiah Smith on a drag route, and Smith did the rest, racing 33 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead. That score was Smith’s 37th career touchdown reception, putting him two shy of Braylon Edwards’ Big Ten record.
Maryland had a chance to swing the momentum in the first quarter when Sayin was strip-sacked and the Terrapins took over deep in Ohio State territory. The Buckeyes limited the damage to a 39-yard Sean O’Haire field goal, then answered in a hurry. Just 52 seconds later, Sayin found Nate Roberts streaking down the seam for a 68-yard touchdown, stretching the margin to 14-3 by the end of the opening quarter.
The Terrapins made one more push early in the second. Malik Washington finished a drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, trimming the deficit to 14-10 with 11:23 left before halftime. But that was as close as Maryland would get.
Ohio State responded with three straight scoring drives. Smith turned a screen into a 40-yard touchdown for his second score, Connor Hawkins added a 40-yard field goal, and the Buckeyes kept the pressure on after Maryland’s failed fake punt near midfield.
The biggest play in that stretch was Sayin’s 46-yard completion to freshman receiver Chris Henry Jr., which set up a 1-yard touchdown pass to Mason Williams with 24 seconds left in the half. That made it 31-10 at the break.
Sayin’s first-half line told the story: 9 of 14 passing, 203 yards, four touchdowns.
Maryland did get one jolt early in the third quarter when Daniel Wingate intercepted Sayin and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown. But the Terrapins’ two-point try failed, leaving Ohio State in front 31-16.
Any hint of a comeback disappeared soon after. On fourth-and-1 midway through the third quarter, Ohio State gave the ball to Jackson, and he blasted through the line before sprinting 25 yards for a touchdown to push the lead back to 38-16. From there, the Buckeyes’ defense slammed the door.
Jackson added the final touchdown with 4:52 remaining, powering in from 2 yards out to finish the night’s scoring at 45-16. Ohio State outscored Maryland 14-0 after Wingate’s pick-six and kept the Terrapins off the board over the final 24 minutes.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Have A Cheaper Way To Watch Todays Game
For Ohio State fans trying to follow todays game without leaning on cable, the options are more crowded than ever, but also a little more manageable if price is the main concern. The latest rundown of college football streaming services points viewers toward a handful of familiar platforms, including DIRECTV MySports, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Fox One, each offering a different mix of live channels, trial periods and monthly costs.
What makes this weeks viewing puzzle interesting is that the cheapest route is not always the most obvious one, especially when channel access can vary by service. For Buckeyes fans, the real challenge is matching the broadcast with a package that actually carries it, which is why the best value option may depend less on name recognition and more on which platform gives the easiest path to the game without forcing viewers into a pricier bundle. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Star Just Reignited The Debate Ohio State Fans Love
Jake Butt briefly reopened one of the most familiar arguments in college football when he suggested in an interview that Michigans 2023 national championship carries an asterisk because of how the sign-stealing scandal has colored public perception. The former Wolverines tight end later took to social media to clarify that he believes those championships were real and earned, but the initial remark was enough to stir up a debate Ohio State fans never seem to tire of revisiting.
For Buckeyes followers, the timing only adds another layer to a rivalry that already lives on edge, especially with Michigan now trying to steady itself through coaching changes and uneven play since Jim Harbaughs departure. Even as Butt walked back the sharper edge of his comment, the larger issue remains unresolved: how much the scandal has damaged the way outsiders view a title that the program still claims as legitimate. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman RBs Shrinking Role Now Carries A Bigger Concern
Legend Beys role in Ohio States backfield has already been sliding, and the freshman running back has not appeared in the last two games after seeing only limited action earlier in the season. For a program that keeps a close eye on the development and availability of every scholarship player, a young runner disappearing from the rotation is notable on its own, especially when the Buckeyes are trying to sort out depth behind the established options.
The bigger concern is what has been happening away from the field. Bey was reportedly cited for speeding and allegedly evicted from his apartment for nonpayment of rent, adding another layer of uncertainty around a player whose playing time has already been shrinking. It is still unclear whether those off-field matters are tied to his reduced role, and the coaching staff has not confirmed any connection, leaving the situation open as one more item to monitor around the Buckeyes. [Read more 🡒]