Maryland football (2-3) visits Ohio State (4-1) on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. ET, trying to stop a three-game losing streak against a program it has never beaten. For Terps fans in Baltimore and across the state, the game is less about an upset than about whether Mike Locksley’s team can show signs of life before a winnable home stretch begins against Rutgers.
Here is what to know before kickoff at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, from how to watch to the numbers behind a 34.5-point spread.
What time is Maryland vs. Ohio State, and what channel is it on?
Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 10, according to the University of Maryland athletics schedule. Sports Illustrated lists the broadcast on BTN, and FOX’s streaming service, FOX One, is also listing the game. Fans who would rather listen can follow the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
Plenty of Baltimore-area football fans will be juggling screens this weekend: the Ravens play the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday night, and our preview covers Lamar Jackson’s status for that game.
How did Maryland get to 2-3?
The Terps opened with two lopsided wins, then lost three straight, two of them by 25 points or more. The 54-3 home loss to UCLA on Sept. 26 was the low point.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | Hampton | W, 62-0 |
| Sept. 12 | at UConn | W, 38-14 |
| Sept. 19 | Virginia Tech | L, 35-26 |
| Sept. 26 | UCLA | L, 54-3 |
| Oct. 3 | at Nebraska | L, 48-23 |
| Oct. 10 | at Ohio State | 4:15 p.m. ET |
Ohio State enters at 4-1. Its only loss came against Texas in Week 2, and it won 31-14 at Iowa last week, according to Sports Illustrated.
Has Maryland ever beaten Ohio State?
No. Ohio State has won all nine previous meetings and has scored at least 37 points in every one of them, according to a Yahoo Sports preview. Since Ryan Day became Ohio State’s head coach in 2019, the Buckeyes have outscored Maryland 219-78 in four games.
The betting market expects more of the same. Sports Illustrated lists Ohio State as a 34.5-point favorite with an over/under of 56.5 points.
Which Maryland players should fans watch?
- QB Malik Washington: 1,288 passing yards and seven touchdown passes in five starts, with 250-plus yards in three of them. Turnovers have been a recurring problem.
- WR Chris Durr Jr.: 42 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns, including 149 yards at Nebraska. His 8.4 receptions per game rank second in the FBS.
- Running backs: Iverson Howard (211 yards, four TDs), DeJuan Williams (194 yards, three TDs; back last week after missing three games) and Harry Dalton III (113 yards, three TDs) share the load.
- Defense: Linebacker Carlton Smith leads the team with 34 tackles, Daniel Wingate has 31, defensive end Derrick LeBlanc is tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks and safety Messiah Delhomme has two interceptions.
Statistics are from the Yahoo Sports preview.
What is Maryland up against?
Ohio State’s defense ranks eighth nationally in scoring at 12.6 points allowed per game, and its passing offense ranks second at 357 yards per game, according to Yahoo Sports. The centerpiece is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is averaging 8.8 catches, 164.6 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game and is the betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy, according to Sports Illustrated.
That matchup puts heavy pressure on a Maryland defense that has allowed 137 points over its last three games.
What does this mean for Mike Locksley?
Locksley is in his eighth season in College Park. The three-game skid has fueled open questions about his future in coverage of the matchup, including Yahoo Sports’ preview, which suggested a blowout could add pressure on the program to act. The university has not announced any change, and Maryland athletics officials have made no public statement about Locksley’s status.
What comes next for the Terps?
The schedule eases somewhat after Columbus. Maryland hosts Rutgers on Oct. 17 and, after an open date, Illinois on Oct. 31. November brings a trip to Purdue (Nov. 7), Wisconsin at home (Nov. 14), a trip to USC (Nov. 21) and a home finale against Penn State (Nov. 28). Bowl eligibility requires six wins, so Maryland needs at least four more in its final seven games.
If you are staying local Saturday instead of watching, our guide to things to do in Baltimore this weekend has festivals and family events. Forecasters expect rain from Hurricane Isaias’ remnants to arrive later in the weekend, so check the forecast before heading out.
Featured image: Maryland Terrapins take the field before a home game in College Park in 2021. Photo: All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.