Ohio State rolled to a 45-16 victory over Maryland, improving to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play, but the tape left clear markers of progress and areas that demand attention before the Buckeyes face Indiana next week.
Running game, passing punch and complementary football
The Buckeyes displayed a more balanced attack. Ohio State rushed for more than 200 yards for the second consecutive game, with Bo Jackson carrying 23 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson broke a 25-yard scoring run in the third quarter and capped the game with a 2-yard touchdown late in the fourth, bookending a dominant ground effort that helped control the clock.
On the surface, the passing game delivered as well: Sayin connected with Nate Roberts on a gorgeous 68-yard touchdown bomb and the offense generated several big passing plays, though it also yielded a costly turnover when linebacker Daniel Wingate intercepted a Sayin pass and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. Jeremiah Smith turned just four catches into 93 yards and two long touchdown plays, showing boom-or-bust explosiveness that keeps defenses honest and opens running lanes for sustained drives — including a 16-play, clock-bleeding series that consumed nearly 10 minutes in the fourth quarter.
Defense, discipline and depth questions heading into Indiana
The defense backed up a stronger performance from the previous week, holding Maryland to 146 yards and allowing only one long drive that resulted in a score. Containing a mobile quarterback emerged as a noted accomplishment on the day, and Maryland’s 52-yard interception return for a touchdown stood out as one of the few blemishes on an otherwise tight defensive outing.
Still, Ohio State's discipline remains a worry. The Buckeyes committed eight penalties for 65 yards, several of which extended opponent possessions or erased positive plays. Coach Day was visibly upset about those mental mistakes, a concern amplified by the fact that many new players were involved because of injuries and depth issues across the roster.
Special teams showed signs of improvement after being called out earlier in the week, but they remain an area to monitor as the season progresses.
Yahoo! News projects that Ohio State will need to be even better if it hopes to win the Big Ten and contend for a national title, and noted the importance of sustaining this defensive effort and shoring up discipline against tougher opponents. With the starting offensive line still not fully healthy, the Buckeyes showed encouraging development — but the combination of penalties, depth turnover and lingering special-teams questions leaves meaningful work on the to-do list before next week’s matchup with Indiana.
