Ohio State Buckeyes: 7 things to know about Maryland

1. The Terrapins have won two in a row.

Maryland (2-1) enters the weekend a game back of Ohio State and Indiana in the Big Ten East race after soundly defeating Penn State 35-19 last week.

After going 3-9 in their first season under Mike Locksley, not much was expected of the Terps this season.

However, the addition of Alabama transfer quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and five-star freshman receiver Rakim Jarrett has energized the program.

Jarett is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week after catching five passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns against the Nittany Lions.

Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua, was the No. 5 pro-style quarterback prospect in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Taulia is third in the Big Ten in passer efficiency and has thrown for 770 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions.

2. Maryland ranks among Big Ten elite in terms of talent

Maryland ranks 32nd in the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, which rates players on the current roster.

That is sixth in the Big Ten, trailing No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Nebraska and No. 5 Wisconsin.

The Terps entered the season projected at No. 87 nationally in SP+ but are up to 68th this week in the advanced metric with the No. 69 offense and No. 66 defense.

3. Ohio State has never lost to Maryland.

The Buckeyes are 6-0 against the Terrapins and only one game has been close — a 52-51 overtime squeaker in 2018.

The other games were all decided by at least 21 points, and Ohio State’s 58.3 points per game are the most for the Buckeyes in any series played at least five times.

Last season, Ohio State won 73-14 at Ohio Stadium.

4. The 2018 game left its mark on the Ohio State record book.

The last time Ohio State traveled to Maryland, the Terps were an off-target two-point conversion pass from upsetting the Buckeyes and derailing their current run of three straight Big Ten championships a week before Ohio State clinched a trip to the conference championship game by beating Michigan.

That day Maryland broke the record for yards per attempt by an Ohio State opponent, averaging 8.63, and the Terps' 7.1 yards per rush ranks fifth.

Anthony McFarland’s 298 rushing yards were the second-most Ohio State has ever allowed (trailing 313 yards by Tim Biakabutuka of Michigan in 1995).

5. The Maryland coaching staff has some ties to Ohio State and the Dayton area.

Jon Hoke is back for his second season as defensive coordinator for the Terps.

The older brother of former Michigan coach Brady Hoke began his coaching career at Dayton in 1982 mentoring defensive backs before moving on to Bowling Green, San Diego State, Kent State, Missouri and Florida. He then spent 13 seasons in the NFL, first with the Houston Texans and then the Chicago Bears, before a year at South Carolina as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. Both Hoke brothers graduated from Fairmont East and Ball State.

Co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Joker Phillips was a quality control coach at Ohio State in 2016 and has done two stints as a coach at Cincinnati while senior analyst Ron Zook is a former Ohio State defensive backs coach.

Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and special teams coordinator/safeties coach Matt Barnes both formerly coached at Maryland.

6. Maryland has three players from Ohio.

Redshirt freshman running back Jordan Castleberry is from Lakewood St. Edward while junior long snapper James Rosenberry attended Olentangy High School north of Columbus and reserve defensive lineman Anthony Booker Jr. is a redshirt freshman from Cincinnati Winton Woods.

7. Ohio State has three players from Maryland.

Sophomore defensive lineman Taron Vincent attended IMG Academy in Florida, but his hometown is Baltimore.

Redshirt freshman safety Bryson Shaw is from Eldersburg and attended the Bullis School.

True freshman linebacker Mitchell Melton is from Silver Spring who attended Good Counsel High School. His father, Jeff, is a Cedarville High School graduate, and he told Rivals his sister attends Wittenberg.

SATURDAY’S GAME

Ohio State at Maryland, 3:30 p.m., BTN, 1410