Bryan Fisher
College football writer
Mike Locksley has led Maryland on an upward trajectory since taking over the program in 2019.
The Terrapins had a 3-9 record in his first season and gradually improved to an 8-5 record in 2022, a season that included competitive losses to conference powers Michigan (34-27) and Ohio State (43-30). included.
Now Locksley’s group is 5-0, narrowly missed cracking the AP Top 25 this week and looks better than ever heading into Saturday’s Big Noon Kickoff showdown against No. 4 seed The Buckeyes goes.
Is this the year Maryland takes the next step and joins the Big Ten’s elite? Or will Ohio State reassert its dominance over a league that has been ruled by the Wolverines for two years in a row?
“Our players need to understand that this is why they come to Maryland, to compete with the best, and here is an opportunity,” Locksley said Tuesday. “What a benchmark it will be for our program to see what happens when we go up there and compete.”
Check out all the action from Big Noon Kickoff in Columbus, including live in-game analysis!
Maryland at No. 4 Ohio State
11:03 3Q: TOUCHDOWN TERPS!
The first drive of the game was a touchdown for the Terps, and the first drive of the second half was the same when Taulia Tagovailoa broke a few ankles off a keeper on the way to the end zone. It was a very methodical march to seven points for Maryland, taking nearly four minutes of rest to go 75 yards, with several runs involving Tagovailoa’s passes outside of the markers. The Buckeyes’ defense seemed particularly suspect in the middle, as both the linebackers and safeties made a few poor first steps that led to some decent gains.
Halftime notes
We made it to the break for Big Noon Saturday at the Horseshoe, and it’s safe to say that as much as Maryland dominated the first quarter, the home side regained control of the momentum with a much-improved second quarter, keeping things tied at 10 – 10.
A few other thoughts on today’s Terps-Bucks battle for Big Ten East supremacy:
– Ohio State’s offensive struggles continue to be a topic of conversation on Ryan Day’s squad. Losing TreVeyon Henderson doesn’t explain how quickly you can get 1.1 yards per carry, and that has forced this group to be overly one-dimensional. The lack of pressure from the offensive line has also led to QB Kyle McCord allowing three sacks and having virtually no time to throw.
– One bright spot for OSU is that Marvin Harrison Jr. is looking good despite a nagging ankle injury. He gained 109 yards on six catches in the first two quarters and was targeted on 10 of the team’s 15 pass attempts. He made some great diving grabs and had the only big play for the Scarlet and Gray with a 58-yarder. Considering he struggles in a bracket on most plays, his ability to still lead underscores why he is the best wideout in the country.
– Taulia Tagovailoa is just 12 of 26 for 140 yards but is encouraged by a good start throwing the ball, including finding Kaden Prather in the back of the end zone for the only offensive touchdown of the day. However, the signal caller seemed to get a little tight as the game went on, forcing a few throws off the mark – including the one that Josh Proctor undercut to bring back for a pick-six. The ground game is slowly over for the Terps, so it will depend on their veteran QB to get the team over the line in enemy territory.
– Difficult end to the half by Maryland, which ran out the clock after mismanaging its final drive and coming up completely empty-handed despite being within FG range. Mike Locksley has clearly put his group in position to take home a win, but we may have to keep an eye on those potential three points if things stay close until the end.
1:32 2Q: EVERYTHING TIED!
It appears OSU remembered having the best receiver in college football as Kyle McCord targeted Marvin Harrison Jr. six straight times and the offense finally made some progress on the field. While the Buckeyes stalled in the red zone with an interesting screen call on third down, they still managed to tie the Terps with the field goal and keep all the momentum.
4:15 2Q: Terps have slowed down on offense
Now it’s Maryland’s offense that applied a little too much pressure and didn’t play quite as crisply. After a good start, Tagovailoa is down to just one on his last five passes with a big sack and a delay of game penalty.
6:00 2F: Buckeyes are shut down
Ryan Day is not a happy camper. Its offense is averaging just 1.8 yards per carry on the ground and Kyle McCord is completing less than 50% of his passes. He threw to Marvin Harrison Jr. just in front of the bats, which resulted in a punt. The Buckeyes are lucky this is only a three-point game, but their defense can’t save them for four quarters…
9:41 2Q: TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES!
The best offense is a good defense? A suspect throw from Tagovailoa was behind his receiver, allowing Josh Proctor to score a pick-six that gave OSU some much-needed momentum after the slow start. The defensive back’s first interception of the season couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, as Maryland’s lead was cut to 10-7.
Josh Proctor intercepts Taulia Tagovailoa for the pick-six!
11:03 2Q: More punts for Ohio State
Another punt comes for OSU, which averages just 2.3 yards per play. Kyle McCord is 4 of 10 so far in the first half, and as much as we’ve talked about the pressure, the second is doing a great job forcing guys to try and beat them deep in tight coverage. The cameras caught Ryan Day yelling at his offensive scrum, and he’s not alone in the Horseshoe today.
12:56 2Q: Terps extend lead!
Mike Locksley must be disappointed that he is currently only 10 points ahead despite clearly outscoring the Buckeyes. Taulia Tagovailoa missed a player in the end zone and failed to push it upfield to the goalie as it was stuffed on third down. Still, this was an impressive performance against an Ohio State University team that seems to be sleepwalking on both sides of the ball.
End of 1Q: Terps almost got another one
Officials often get thrown off the bus, but to their credit they noticed this slight loss of control from Kaden Prather in the end zone. Talk about some eagle eyes.
3:03 1F: Ohio State fails to advance
Ohio State’s offensive line issues continue to be a primary focus of the issues Ryan Day will have to deal with. So far, the Buckeyes have averaged just 1.6 yards per carry and it feels like Kyle McCord has been hit or pressured on each of his seven dropbacks.
4:53 1F: Buckeyes get defensive
JT Tuimoloau became a one-man force on fourth down, giving the Buckeyes a much-needed defensive stop in their own territory. With a great jump right off the edge, he blasted past a blocker and eventually beat Billy Edwards Jr. just in front of the post. It’s not often that players put two guys together when they need a yard, but the former five-star standout from the edge showed once again why he’s a game-changer.
9:05 1Q: McCord’s early troubles
Shaky start for Kyle McCord, who looks a bit rusty after this week’s break. The OSU starter is just one of five early in the game and has thrown several passes deep into the turf. His footwork is perfectly fine and he really lets the pressure influence his decision–do it early.
9:54 1Q: Drone alert!
Before an important third and 10, the referees stopped the game because a drone was flying over the field. You don’t see that every day…
12:41 1F: TOUCHDOWN MARYLAND!
What a catch from Kaden Prather, who one-handed Taulia Tagovailoa’s pass for a touchdown and an impressive opening drive for Mike Locksley’s team. What’s crucial for this game going forward is that OSU’s front seven didn’t and certainly didn’t get much pressure, allowing Tagovailoa to throw all day and complete his first three passes. After a lackluster start to Big Noon Saturday for them in the “Shoe,” the home team is under pressure to respond.
Kaden Prather makes a one-handed 15-yard TD catch!
14:13 1F: Terps stand tall
Great start in hostile territory for the Terps to force a three-pointer on Ohio State’s opening series, followed by Maryland stuffing the fake punt. The Buckeyes lacked execution in both phases.
SCENE BEFORE THE GAME
Buckeyes RB TreVeyon Henderson will not play in today’s matchup.
Ingram is having a nice day again.
Bling Bling, Coach shows off this ring!
Former Buckeyes Nick Mangold and Malcolm Jenkins joined in the pregame fun.
Malcom Jenkins and Nick Mangold on their favorite Ohio State moments, careers and more | Big start to lunch
It’s a homecoming for Coach Meyer.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day shares his thoughts before the game.
Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day Talks Success, Expectations, Maryland and More | Big start to lunch
What had happened was….
Urban Meyer starts “Big Noon Kickoff” with an “OH-IO” chant and Brady Quinn wears an Ohio State jersey after losing the bet
Who will win it?
The guy from Alabama took care of it, right? …OH-IO!
READ BEFORE THE GAME
Who are the top three teams in the Big Ten?
Who are the best teams in the Big Ten? with Michigan and Ohio State | Big start to lunch
Ohio State’s Pursuit of Toughness: How Ryan Day Changed His Approach: The Buckeyes have tried to add grit to their short-yardage game in recent years, but data suggests the results have been mixed. Michael Cohen dives deep into the numbers.
Is Ohio State ripe for an upset?: Ohio State has struggled offensively this season. Can the Terps take advantage of this? Bryan Fischer has the story.
What we see in Maryland vs. Ohio State and the rest of Week 6: Can Maryland beat the Buckeyes? Can Oklahoma get revenge against Texas in the Red River Showdown? Our experts share the storylines that interest them most during Saturday’s action. Read more.
Ryan Day’s rant had the intended effect on Ohio State. Will it lead to victories?: There are several ways to engage your supporters. The best thing is to win, but the second best thing is to talk big and then go out and try to back it up. Read more from Martin Rogers.
Are Ohio State, Georgia and Alabama on alert?
AUDITION NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
8-0: The Buckeyes’ all-time record against Maryland.
33-0: Head coach Ryan Day’s record against unranked opponents. Entering the day, the team is 34-2 against unranked Big Ten opponents.
36: Ohio State’s defense is tied for the top in the country (tied with Air Force) in fewest plays over 10 yards allowed with 36.
18: Maryland is 5-0 and has won every game by more than 18 points.
454.8: The Terrapins rank first in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards per game.
100%: Maryland is perfect on fourth-down conversions this season. The Terrapins have made at least one attempt in all five games this season – the only FBS team to do so.
[More numbers to know in Week 6 games]
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Deion Sanders is leading what could be a record year for Black coaches: No black coach has won a major national coach of the year award. This could be the year that finally changes. Read RJ Young’s story.
Big Ten Football Schedule: Toughest Roster, Protected Rivalries and How It Will Work: The Big Ten unveiled its new planning model for 2024 and beyond. Find out what to expect when USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington join the league. Michael Cohen explains.
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Here’s Chris “The Bear” Fallica’s opinion…
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Is Texas football back? | Big start to lunch
A conversation with Dillon Gabriel in front of the #RRR.
On the other hand, the game is a great opportunity for Oklahoma: Former players can avenge the embarrassment of 2022 and show they are national title contenders by defeating the Longhorns on Saturday. RJ Young previews the matchup.
Bryan Fischer is a college football writer for FOX Sports. He has covered college athletics for nearly two decades at outlets such as NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Including Sports and NFL.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
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