Cage the Terrapins: Ohio State – Maryland Preview

Entering Big Ten play, Buckeye Nation expected to use the words “crushed,” “trounced,” or “routed” when predicting how Ohio State would fare against the Indiana Hoosiers. Few expected to use “survived.” A relentless Indiana club came within a last second Hail Mary of tying the Buckeyes in Bloomington last week. Conference play is truly upon us, and Ohio State will celebrate its traditional homecoming with a Big Ten home game. So why is Maryland listed as the opponent?

When Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, they were coming off a 7-6 and 6-7 season, respectively. My biggest fear was that instead of adding a prestigious program like Nebraska in 2011, we added another Indiana and Purdue. So far, new kids have failed to truly impress. Historically, Maryland played good-but-not-great ACC football. The school claims a national championship in 1953 and 11 conference titles, most recently in 2001. Of late the team has struggled to play at a high level; their last bowl win came against East Carolina in the 2010 Military Bowl.

The Buckeyes and Terrapins held their inaugural matchup last season. Ohio State roughed up Maryland in College Park, 52-24. While Buckeye Nation could not appreciate its significance at the time, the game may have quietly marked a huge moment in the Buckeyes’ championship season. In the fourth quarter, Cardale Jones entered the game as quarterback. He completed only one pass for negative three yards and rushed for 50 yards on six carries including a beautiful hurdle. While he did not have a hand in the game-deciding score, the experience he gained under center paid off in the postseason.

Ohio State Program of the Week: 11/13/1915. Ohio State vs. Oberlin in Columbus.

There is so much to dissect with this game program. I suspect that if we were transported to Ohio Field that day, we would hardly recognize the game being played. Maybe it’s the Judge Dredd shoulder pad/baseball pants combo. Maybe it’s the high heeled cleats. I found the program informative; who knew that before brats and popcorn established themselves as standard stadium fare, wafers and toasted English muffins delighted patrons at the old ball yard? The “H” shaped uprights serve as a marker in time indicating the days of leather helmets and true amateurism. Note the the background players’ lids lack a facemask. Ah, simpler times.

Through five games, Maryland is 2-3 (0-1 Big Ten). The past two opponents showed no mercy; West Virginia spanked Maryland, 45-6 in Morgantown, and Michigan whitewashed the Terps, 28-0 in College Park. The school’s offensive struggles correlate strongly with junior quarterback Caleb Rowe’s numbers. Rowe started the last three games and completed 40-of-91 passes (44 percent), 428 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His passes are often intended for someone named “Jacobs.” Brothers Levern and Taivon Jacobs are the only fraternal receiving tandem in FBS football. So far the Jacobses have a combined 210 yards and three touchdowns.

Maryland’s most potent player is cornerback/kick returner William Likely. The junior has 603 kick and punt return yards along with two scores. In the season opener against Richmond, Likely set a Big Ten record with 233 punt return yards. Defensively, Likely makes his presence felt to the tune of 26 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Are Ohio State’s coaches planning around Likely? I would say it’s…likely. Urban Meyer called him “the best punt returner in America…a guy that we have to get on the ground.”

Defensively, the Terrapins’ game plan revolves around pressuring the quarterback. On the year, Maryland has recorded 19 sacks, second only to Penn State in the Big Ten. Yannick Ngakoue has 6.5 sacks on the season, which ranks fifth nationally. Senior cornerback Sean Davis aims to be around the ball as much as possible Saturday. In 2015, Davis has forced four fumbles and picked off two passes. He hits hard and has a knack for knocking the ball loose. I expect he looks forward to colliding with Jalin Marshall whenever possible.

Ohio State’s tailback should carry around a sign reading, “In case of emergency, spring Ezekiel Elliott.” The junior from St. Louis dominated Indiana last week rushing for 274 yards and three touchdowns. The nation took notice: the Maxwell Football Club, Walter Camp, Football Writer’s Association of America, and the Big Ten all named him offensive player of the week. Elliott currently rides a streak of 10 straight games with over 100 yards rushing. The Buckeyes’ offensive plan figures to prominently feature No. 15 against Maryland.

While the Buckeyes showed more consistency offensively, the team also lost a playmaker. Senior receiver Corey Smith suffered a broken leg against the Hoosiers and is finished for the year. A fifth-year senior transfer from East Mississippi Community College, Smith recorded five receptions for 62 yards on the season. Head coach Urban Meyer indicated that Smith will apply for another year of eligibility, but the response from the NCAA will take some time. When asked about the receiving corps, Meyer cited his “next man up” philosophy.

“So I see a group that’s getting better,” said Meyer. “I see a group that’s not where we want to be. And the timing between the quarterback and receivers is not where it needs to be right now.” Meyer also mentioned sophomore James Clark, freshman Terry McLaurin, and freshman Parris Campbell as young players who could potentially see more playing time with Smith out.

Ohio State has not lost a Homecoming game since 2008, my first year on campus. I still remember freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor fumbling in the fourth quarter and Penn State kneeling out a 13-6 victory. I sat in the north end zone, behind the flag pole, a few sections removed from the visiting team’s corner. As we solemnly made our way out of the Horseshoe, the Nittany Lions faithful taunted us with their fight song and alma mater. Losing at home is difficult. Losing the homecoming game burns a little deeper. Losing a prime time nationally televised game to a bitter rival and being stuck in the stairwell surrounded by their complete joy while you simultaneously feel awful…let’s just say I don’t recommend it.

The Buckeyes raised blood pressure in Bloomington last week. A tepid Terrapin team should be just what the doctor ordered. Urban Meyer knows what to expect: “We will get Maryland’s best shot,” the coach said. “That’s the way it is.” Even with their strongest effort, however, Maryland does not have the talent to upset the number one team in the nation. Expect the Buckeyes to move to 2-0 in conference play with their 19th straight win.