Ohio State Week 6 Preview: Chasing Greatness And Consistency Vs. Maryland
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Through five games, the Ohio State offense has been pretty good. From one player amassing more production than a handful of FBS programs to a run game that hasn’t quite taken off, the Buckeyes have just about everything going on. This week should provide a nice opportunity to work on the issues, plus a Heisman Trophy candidacy can continue to ride high.
Ohio State Week 6 Preview: Chasing Greatness And Consistency Vs. Maryland
One Triple Crown Down, One To Go
It’s established that Jeremiah Smith is the frontrunner to win the Heisman Trophy. Of course, it’s going to take an entire season’s worth of impressive performances to win as a wide receiver. DeVonta Smith put up 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns (through the CFP), and Travis Hunter…also played defense! For Smith to win, he’s going to have to be great to overcome the Ohio State tax.
Through 34 games, Smith owns the Ohio State records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns in a career. He’s far and away the greatest receiver in program history and will be in conversations with Archie Griffin, Orlando Pace, and a host of other legends as potentially the greatest Buckeye of all time. However, there are a handful of games left, starting with Maryland.
Based on how the Buckeyes have played of late and how Maryland has played, there’s a chance that Smith may only get two quarters to chip into the Big Ten career records. Currently, the Big Ten is led by Taylor Stubblefield (325 receptions), John Standeford (3,788 yards), and Braylon Edwards (39 receiving touchdowns). Smith is just 119 receptions, 408 yards, and four touchdowns away from the Big Ten triple crown. Normally, we’d say, “but he won’t hit that in this game,” but after that Illinois performance, anything is possible with this guy.
A Chance To Get Right
The Ohio State rushing offense has not been quite what the Buckeyes had envisioned heading into this year. Part of it is on the offensive line, part of it is the mentality that for every run, you take the ball away from Smith, but part of it is a lack of explosiveness in the running backs themselves. Comparison is the thief of joy, but Buckeye fans are nostalgic for the TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, J.K. Dobbins, Ezekiel Elliott kinds of runs where the backs can house it from anywhere. This year, Ohio State seems to be missing that.
None of Ohio State’s running backs have hit 100 yards in a game to this point. Ja’Kobi Jackson, not Bo Jackson, leads the way with six rushing touchdowns. The clamoring for a Legend Bey appearance is due in part to his recruiting profile, but also because of how “meh” the rushing attack has been. Ja’Kobi Jackson has arguably been the best running back to this point, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
Back to the Bey discussion, evidently, Bey’s lack of impact is not due to on-the-field issues either in practice or games. Rather, it’s just about accountability. Ryan Day hasn’t said anything specific – and we don’t want to spread rumors – but the Fringe has been talking that Bey has had issues being on time. Of course, rumors are just rumors; everyone is going to have their own story or explanation because we live in an uber-saturated media market, and you do whatever you can to stand out.
Maryland presents a great opportunity to get right, but more on that later.
A New Receiving Threat?
For as awesome as it is to watch a talent like Smith go off each and every week, Ohio State still needs someone to step up as a secondary option. To this point, Smith has 44 receptions, 823 yards, and nine touchdowns, all leading the FBS level. The next closest is Devin McCuin‘s 17 receptions, 245 yards, and two touchdowns. There are 15 different players with at least one reception, but only Smitha and McCuin have 150 yards to their names.
Someone else needs to step up.
This week, Day mentioned that LSU transfer Kyle Parker is good to go after dealing with an injury since the preseason. Could that be the secret sauce? Last year with the Tigers, he only caught 33 passes, but they went for 330 yards and four touchdowns. While nobody has seen what he can do in the scarlet and gray, he was the first to shed his Black Stripe in the spring, so that means something.
He only showed glimpses at LSU, but Cortez Hankton clearly knows him better than we do. He’s a YAC guy and, for good measure, his high school uniforms looked strikingly similar to Ohio State’s.
If Ohio State can get a slot YAC guy to force defenses to come up and respect the intermediate throws, it opens things back up for Smith to continue dominating over the top.
The Task At Hand
The Maryland defense isn’t going to be mentioned as one of the best in the Big Ten this year. While it has a good handful of guys with splash plays like sacks and tackles for loss, Maryland has struggled in Big Ten play against Nebraska and UCLA.
On the ground, the Terps allowed 475 yards over the last two weeks. Given, those two teams have stars at the running back position, but you’d like to think Ohio State’s running backs are better. Through the air, Big Ten play hasn’t been bad, but the secondary did allow Virginia Tech to amass 314 yards.
Maryland was run off the field by Nebraska and UCLA over the last two weeks. Ohio State should not have much issue dispatching the Terrapins again this year. At least Maryland is on the road this week, so it won’t have to hear “fire Mike Locksley” chants from the students again.
Bottom Line on Ohio State vs Maryland
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
History: Ohio State 9-0 Maryland
Last Matchup: Ohio State won, 37-17, in 2023
Last Maryland Win: N/A
Date and Time: 4:15 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Big Ten Network
Spread: Ohio State -34.5; O/U 56.5 (via FanDuel)
Prediction: The Buckeyes are now 4-1 ATS thus far, thanks to the line moving against Iowa. Giving 35 points to Ohio State may seem like a lot, but this one may be covered by half. UCLA put up 54. Ohio State doesn’t have to worry about style points or putting up a lot to be recognized and respected as the Bruins do, but it should be just as lopsided. Let’s say the Buckeyes win, 51-10
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