Ohio State opponent preview: Maryland
Earlier this fall, Ohio State’s November road trip to Maryland was seen as a potential trap game. The Terrapins started the year 4-1 and had played Michigan as close as anyone has this season.
Since, Maryland has lost three of five, with its two wins coming against Northwestern and Indiana — Big Ten bottom dwellers that came within one score of the Terrapins. The last two games, in particular, have been ugly. Maryland has combined for 10 points in losses to Wisconsin and at Penn State.
Health issues at the quarterback position, more specifically knee troubles for Taulia Tagovailoa, has been a significant factor in the Terrapins’ downturn. Regardless, they still have a lot to play for and a lot to prove against an Ohio State program that’s kicked their teeth in since Maryland moved from the ACC.
When is Ohio State playing Maryland?
Saturday, Nov. 19, 3:30 p.m.
Where is Ohio State playing Maryland?
SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland
Series history
Ohio State leads the all-time series, 7-0. The Buckeyes have scored at least 49 points against Maryland in each of the teams’ meetings, going over the 60-point mark four times. Under Day, Ohio State has topped the Terrapins, 73-14, in 2019 and, 66-17, in 2021. But Day was the offensive coordinator and play-caller for the 2018 showdown that saw Maryland nearly upset the Buckeyes in College Park. Ohio State, then No. 10, survived a 52-51 overtime thriller, thanks to a failed two-point conversion by the Terps. The late Dwayne Haskins accounted for six total touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) in the win, and Maryland running back Anthony McFarland Jr. racked up 298 yards on the ground.
Breaking down the 2022 Terrapins
Maryland’s 2022 Record: 6-4 (3-4 Big Ten)
Offense: Tagovailoa has struggled mightily since re-injuring his knee against Indiana. In his last two games, Tagovailoa has completed just 21-of-45 pass attempts for 151 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Not only has accuracy been an issue, but so has his pocket presence. Tagovailoa was sacked seven times against Penn State and five more the week before that at Wisconsin. When under pressure this season — 32.5% of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus — the redshirt junior has completed just 47.8% of his throws. He’s not getting much help from an offensive line that has played a big part in the Terps being tied for 104th with 2.9 sacks per game allowed. It’s a group that is hoping to get starting left guard Mason Lunsford back from concussion protocol. Of Maryland players with more than 100 snaps this year, Lunsford is third in PFF pass blocking grade (79.3).
At his best, Tagovailoa is one of the Big Ten’s finer quarterbacks. There’s a reason why he led the Terps to bowl eligibility for the second straight season — before that, the program’s last bowl appearance came in 2016. The 5-foot-11 Tagovailoa is third in the conference in completion percentage (68.3%) and tied for fourth in passing yards (2,152), plus he’s got a respectable 14:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He benefits from some nice weapons in the passing game. Maryland has six players with 20 or more receptions this season, perhaps most notably wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, who has at least eight more grabs (37) than anyone else on the Terrapins’ roster this year. Jacob Copeland came over from Florida and is averaging 15 yards on his 22 receptions. It’s important to note that Maryland has a pair of tight ends that Locksley likes to use: Corey Dyches (29 receptions, 386 receiving yards and three touchdowns) and C.J. Dippre (24 receptions, 264 receiving yards and two touchdowns). Dyches is only 6-foot-2, while Dippre is your more conventionally-sized tight end at 6-foot-5.
Tagovailoa also likes to throw to running back Roman Hemby. The redshirt freshman tailback has 27 catches to his name while leading the Terrapins with 815 yards and seven rushing scores on 134 carries (6.1 yards per rush). Maryland has a pretty balanced attack. It ranks fourth in the Big Ten in passing offense (241.5 yards per game) and seventh in the league in rushing offense (154.30 yards per game). The Terrapins are averaging 28.3 points per game, although that number took a significant hit the last two weeks, as they’ve combined for just 10 points in back-to-back losses.
Defense: Maryland’s change at defensive coordinator was much-needed this offseason. Locksley pivoted from Brian Stewart to Brian Williams after the Terrapins conceded 30.7 points per game last season. The unit has certainly taken a step in the right direction, but it’s still toward the bottom of the Big Ten in the major defensive categories. While the Terps have jumped from 13th to eighth in scoring defense, they are 10th in both passing defense (232.1 yards per game allowed) and rushing defense (148.9 yards per game allowed). Maryland is also 10th in opponent third-down conversion percentage (41.45%). And it’s, you guessed it, 10th in 30-plus-yard plays (17) allowed.
Maryland operates out of a 4-2-5 base formation with one standup edge rusher, which they call a “JACK.” That position is manned by redshirt senior Greg China-Rose. He’s got the most pressures (17) of any Terrapins player this season, but it’s close. Opposite of him is redshirt senior defensive end Durell Nchami, who has 16 pressures on the season, per PFF, as well as three sacks. China-Rose leads the team with four sacks. Pass rush isn’t a strong suit for Maryland, though. The Terrapins grade out 121st nationally in that department, according to PFF.
They are better, relatively, against the run. PFF has them 87th there, and they allow 4.01 yards per rush, which is tied for 66th in the country. The linebackers to know are Ahmad McCullough and Jaishawn Barham. The duo is tied for third on the team with 43 total tackles. It’s worthing noting that Barham has three sacks and a pass defended.
Maryland’s secondary is pretty interesting. The Terrapins have climbed three spots in the Big Ten pass defense ranks since last season — by the way, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud put up 406 yards and five touchdowns in the 2021 meeting. Here’s one for you: Maryland gave up 315 passing yards to Indiana yet only 220 to Michigan, granted the Wolverines are a run-heavy team, but it’s still a remarkable stat. Unpredictable is probably the best way to describe a back end that features a pair of corners (Jakorian Bennett and Deonte Banks) with reception percentages at or below 50%, per PFF. Tarheeb Still, the Terps’ primary nickel, has had a more difficult go of it this year, as he’s allowed 29 catches on 38 targets with an average of 11.1 yards per reception. Then there’s the safety tandem of Beau Brade and Dante Trader Jr. They are first and second, respectively, on the team in total tackles, and Brade is tops on the team in PFF coverage grade (84.8). Again, Maryland isn’t good defensively. But it isn’t 2021-level bad.
Special Teams: Chad Ryland is a reliable place kicker for the Terps. Although he missed a PAT this year, he’s been automatic inside 40 (4-of-4). He’s 4-of-5 on kicks between 40-49 yards, and he’s 3-of-6 on field goals of 50-plus yards with a long of 53. Maryland also has one of the best punters in the Big Ten. Colton Spangler is tied with Ohio State’s Jesse Mirco for second in the league in punt average (45.9 yards per boot), and he’s got eight more punts inside the 20-yard line (11) than touchbacks (three). Still leads the Big Ten in punt return average (8.7 yards per return), but his long is just 18 yards this season. As for kickoff returns, true freshman wideout Octavian Smith Jr. shoulders that role — he’s fifth in the conference with 22.4 yards per return.
Numbers to Know
7.9 — penalties per game averaged by Maryland this season, the 12th most in the country.
78.79% — red zone touchdown percentage Maryland has recorded this year. That clip is fourth in the nation. In 33 red zone trips this season, the Terps have scored 26 touchdowns and made four field goals.
6 — plays of 40-plus yards from scrimmage the Terps have posted in 2022, which is tied for 36th in the FBS.
ESPN FPI
The database gives Ohio State a 90.2% chance of beating Maryland in Week 12.
Outlook
Ohio State needs to win this game to get to The Game unblemished. That way, even if the Buckeyes lose to Michigan, they still have an outside shot at the College Football Playoff. But everything is easier said than done when you have a target on your back. No. 2 Ohio State has beaten up on the Terps, even more so since Ryan Day took over as Ohio State’s head coach, and a bowl-eligible Maryland program hasn’t forgotten about that, not to mention that it’s a group still in contention for its first eight-win season since 2010.
This Terps offense has some firepower. It will be a good tune-up for Ohio State’s defense, which has faced a slew of pedestrian Big Ten units. Where Maryland will most likely be overmatched, however, is the other side of the ball. Stroud and Co. could be in line for some hefty numbers again.
