Maryland Falls 45–16 at Ohio State as Big Plays Overwhelm Defensive Takeaways
Maryland could create defensive disruptions at Ohio State, but it could not turn enough of them into a competitive finish. The Terrapins lost 45–16 to the fifth-ranked Buckeyes on October 10th, dropping to 2–4 overall and 0–3 in the Big Ten.
Julian Sayin threw four touchdown passes, including two to Jeremiah Smith, as Ohio State improved to 5–1 and 3–0 in conference play. Maryland’s official recap credits linebacker Daniel Wingate with 10 tackles and a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown, the Terps’ first defensive score of the season.
The second-quarter separation
Malik Washington’s five-yard touchdown run brought Maryland within 14–10 with 11:23 remaining in the first half. The official scoring record shows an 11-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 6:40, giving the Terps a sustained response after an early deficit.
Ohio State answered with Smith’s 40-yard touchdown reception, then added a field goal and another touchdown before halftime. The Buckeyes led 31–10 at the break. A failed Maryland fake punt helped give Ohio State a short field for that final first-half scoring possession.
A defensive spark could not change the result
Wingate’s interception return cut the deficit to 31–16 in the third quarter. The conversion attempt failed, and Ohio State responded with Bo Jackson’s 25-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-one. The Buckeyes later used a 16-play, 72-yard possession lasting 9:59 to close the scoring.
The box score helps explain why the turnovers were insufficient: Ohio State finished with 24 first downs to Maryland’s 10 and outgained the Terps 207–82 on the ground. Washington passed for 64 yards. Maryland needed more sustained offense to complement the defense’s isolated impact plays.
Zion Elee and Sidney Stewart each forced a fumble, although a forced fumble is not automatically a takeaway. Maryland’s game account notes that the Terps forced multiple turnovers against a top-five opponent for the first time since 2017. Those moments offered resistance without erasing the gap on the scoreboard.
Maryland returns to College Park for Homecoming against Rutgers on October 17th at 12:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. That conference game becomes the next opportunity to translate defensive stops into a more complete performance. Follow PowerPage’s Maryland Terrapins coverage for the next developments.
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