Maryland went into Columbus with a chance to upset the fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, but come away with a 37-17 loss as the Terps fall to 5-1 (1-1).
Maryland was the first team to score and nearly took a lead into the locker room, looking like the dominant team for much of the first half, but miscues and lack of execution through the second half gave Ohio State a chance to solidify a comfortable win as they added to their lead in the fourth quarter.
In a game where Maryland had multiple opportunities to pull away and capitalize, we break down our instant reactions from Maryland’s road loss at Ohio State.
Ohio State would open the game with the ball, but Maryland’s defense forced a three-and-out to set the tone early. Except the Buckeyes’ fourth-down call would be what gave the Terps juice early as the Buckeyes tried to catch the Terps off-guard, calling a fake punt with a direct snap to LB Cody Simon before the Terps sniffed out the play to bring him down at the line of scrimmage.
Maryland took over at the OSU 30 and Taulia Tagovailoa would take advantage, opening a perfect 3-for-3 before hitting WR Kaden Prather for a one-handed, 15-yard TD for the game’s first score.
The Terps saw their second drive end on a 4th-and-1 attempt with Billy Edwards Jr. replacing Taulia for a QB sneak, but the lack of a true blocking TE loomed large as Ohio State edge JT Tuimoloau blew up the play. Maryland would answer on the third drive, though, as a 12-play drive took them inside the OSU 5 after Taulia connected with Jeshaun Jones for his first catch of the day. Maryland couldn’t punch it in, settling for a 21-yard field goal to give them an early 10-0 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
After scoring on two of their first three possessions, it was clear that Maryland was the more dominant team through the opening 20 minutes, outgaining the Buckeyes 140-28 in total offense, as Maryland’s defense forced four consecutive punts following the turnover on down.
The Buckeyes were able to find more success on their second drive, driving into Maryland territory for the first time on the day before Kellan Wyatt recorded a third-down sack to force a punt. On the next series, it would be Donnell Brown who generated the second-third down sack for Maryland’s defense as the Buckeyes had just 55 yards with four minutes left in the half.
Maryland would come away with three sacks and five TFLs on the day, a big reason why the Buckeyes finished 1-for-7 on third down.
Taulia Tagovailoa’s first critical mistake, though, would be the play that gave the Buckeyes juice and on the scoreboard.
Facing a gradually quieting Buckeye crowd, Taulia Tagovailoa’s first mistake is what gave Ohio State juice. Maryland began their fourth drive at their own 14, but on third down, Buckeye safety Josh Proctor jumped a pass intended for Tyrese Chambers and returned it 23 yards for a pick-six, giving the Buckeyes their first score.
Head coach Mike Locksley noted postgame that Taulia and Tyrese had a miscommunication on whether Chambers would turn inside or outside on his route, leading to the interception.
After both teams traded punts in the closing minutes of the first half, a 27-yard punt return from Jeshaun Jones gave Maryland great field position with a Buckeye penalty pushing the Terps into opposing territory. The Terps would squander the scoring chance, though, but the Buckeyes would respond as QB Kyle McCord connecting with WR Marvin Harrison for 78 yards on a pair of throws to make his presence felt for the first time on the day.
Maryland’s redzone defense held the Buckeyes to a field goal attempt, tying the game at ten, to give Maryland one last possession before halftime.
That ended in a poor execution by Taulia Tagovailoa and a missed scoring opportunity.
In the final seconds of the second quarter, Maryland drove into the redzone and had their drive extended thanks to a roughing the passer penalty. Taulia had his second mental mistake of the day with 12 seconds remaining and no timeouts left after finding Antwain Littleton over the middle for a four-yard gain as the clock expired, squandering a chance to punch in a last-second field goal to retake the lead. It was the type of inexcusable mental lapse that Maryland can’t afford on the road, let alone from your fourth-year starting quarterback.
Facing 3rd-and-10 midway through the third quarter, Taulia did well evading pressure but threw right into the Ohio State defense as Lathan Ransom came down with the Buckeyes’ second interception of the day, setting the OSU offense up at the MD 38.
PICKED OFF
The @OhioStateFB defense with ANOTHER big play 🔒🌰 pic.twitter.com/clcdb0mI61
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 7, 2023
Maryland was able to hold Ohio State to a field goal, but a quick three-and-out gave the Buckeyes the ball right back, and an eight-play drive would help put the game away.
After McCord found TE Cade Stover for a 44-yard TD, giving Ohio State a 27-17 lead, Taulia and the offense couldn’t find their footing and saw a four-play drive end on fourth down after RB Antwain Littleton was stuffed in the backfield.
Backed up inside their own 35, Maryland’s decision to go for it on fourth down was perplexing though hinged on the defense’s chances to hold the Buckeyes in the redzone once again. Yet three plays later, McCord found Harrison Jr. for a 17-yard touchdown as Ohio State doubled up on Maryland with just over eight minutes remaining. Head coach Mike Locksley’s bold fourth down call proved to a missed conversion that dug the Terps too deep as the Buckeyes drained out the clock.
Maryland began the second half with the ball and just like its opening possession of the first half, the offense found the endzone but this time on the ground.
Maryland turned a nine-play, 75-yard drive into six after Taulia Tagovailoa tucked it for a nine-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the day. Roman Hemby kicked off the drive with a 17-yard rush, his longest run of the day, as the Buckeyes just tripped him up. Tagovailoa connected with Felton and Jones for chunk plays through the air, giving Maryland their fourth redzone trip of the day.
TAULIA DOES IT ALL BY HIMSELF 😤@TerpsFootball strikes first in the second half 🐢#sponsoredby @Wendys pic.twitter.com/P8cXEfi2gV
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 7, 2023
That proved to be the final score for Maryland, though, as Ohio State scored 27 unanswered points to secure a comfortable win in the fourth quarter.
As the Buckeyes were able to put together scoring drives on their final six possessions, Maryland’s offense was largely stagnant as they finished with just 31 yards of total offense on five drives. While the Terps were able to stretch the field with Kaden Prather the beneficiary, who nearly came down with a second TD in the first quarter, Maryland wasn’t able to find the second-half success with just 52 passing yards in the second half, including just three in the fourth quarter.
While the Buckeyes were held to under two yards per carry, Maryland’s running backs didn’t fare much better as the unit averaged 3.6 yards per carry after leaning on the ground game to build momentum in the first half.
Cornerback Tarheeb Still was dressed but didn’t play in Saturday’s loss with junior Corey Coley stepping in as the second starting cornerback, while Jaishawn Barham was able to give it a go and logged one tackle.
Maryland saw two more key players leave the game in the second half, as right guard Corey Bullock went down on the opening series of the half, shifting Gottlieb Ayedze to right guard with Andre Roye stepping in at right tackle. The bad news didn’t end there as safety Dante Trader Jr. appeared to suffer a lower leg injury while in pursuit of Ohio State TE Cade Stover on his 44-yard touchdown before being helped off the field.
Terps versus Terps. We’ve heard it for five years. When Maryland watches the film, they’ll realize the missed points that could’ve drastically changed the outlook of Saturday’s game.
For the first 20 minutes, Maryland’s efficiency was on point before Ohio State dug their heels in. Sure, Ohio State posted 320 passing yards in the win even though 20% of that production came on just two plays. Maryland limited Ohio State to one touchdown on four redzone trips.
There were still plenty of positive takeaways against a top-five team, coming off a bye, while on the road. But Saturday’s loss was a chance for Maryland to get over the hump to take down one of the Big Ten elites. Luckily, they’ll get two more chances with both games set in November inside SECU Stadium, but the miscues loom coming out of Ohio Stadium.
Passing: Taulia Tagovailoa, 21-of-41, 196 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing: Antwain Littleton: 11 carries, 38 yards
Receiving: Jeshaun Jones: 5 catches, 59 yards; Corey Dyches: 5 catches, 41 yards
Defense: Beau Brade: 8 tackles, 5 solo, 1 TFL, 2 PBUs
Next: Maryland returns home to host Illinois next Saturday, Oct. 14 for a 3:30 PM kickoff.