Sophomore running back Bo Jackson (25) strides into the end zone on a 25-yard rushing touchdown. Ohio State beat Maryland 45-16 on Oct. 10, 2026. Credit: Liam Ahern | Managing Photo Editor

When it rains, it pours.?

Rain soaked Ohio Stadium Saturday and fans headed for the exits early, but the Buckeyes kept piling on the points.

Despite a few miscues, the Buckeyes turned a 31-10 halftime lead into a 45-16 win over Maryland, extending their winning streak over the Terrapins to 10 games.?

Ohio State had eight accepted penalties for 65 yards. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw four first-half touchdown passes, but also had an interception returned for a touchdown and a fumble that set up a Maryland field goal.?

“When we have eight penalties, that’s not the sign of a good team,” Day said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re getting that fixed and being more focused in that area and then obviously the turnovers can’t happen.”

Day said that fixing the miscues starts with the coaches.

“We’ve got to do a better job holding everybody accountable and making sure that doesn’t happen again,” he said.

In the first half, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith’s first two receptions resulted in a pair of touchdowns. Smith ran in a 33-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and caught a 40-yard touchdown reception, giving the Buckeyes a 21-10 lead.

In between Smith’s two touchdown receptions, Sayin connected with tight end Nate Roberts for a 68-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It marked the longest reception by an Ohio State tight end since Jake Stoneburner caught a 72-yard touchdown against Penn State on Oct. 27, 2012.?

At the end of the half, after Ohio State stopped a Maryland fake punt, it drove 44 yards and had tight end Mason Williams catch a one-yard touchdown reception to put the Buckeyes ahead 31-10 at halftime.

Ohio State played without receivers Devin McCuin and Brandon Inniss, which allowed the tight end group to shine.

“We can execute like that and showing other teams that we’re a threat, we’re not just going to be run-blocking tight ends, we’re a threat in the pass game,” Roberts said.

In the first half, the Buckeyes totaled 282 yards on offense compared to 87 from Maryland.

In the second half, the slick conditions meant Ohio State traded its execution in its passing game for a ground game.

On the second possession of the second half, Sayin was hit as he threw, and Terrapin linebacker Daniel Wingate intercepted the pass and returned it for a 52-yard touchdown.?

“I’ve got to be better in that area and try to improve and get better and it has to get fixed going into next week’s game,” Sayin said.?

Following the interception, over the next two offensive possessions, Ohio State scored two rushing touchdowns by Bo Jackson. He finished with 107 rushing yards, the most by a Buckeye running back this season.??

The Buckeyes held Maryland to 146 yards, their fewest against a Big Ten opponent since they allowed 144 yards to Wisconsin in a 34-0 win on Oct. 18, 2025. Maryland quarterback Malik Washington was held to 64 passing yards, the least of his career.

Ohio State will now face undefeated No. 7 Indiana in a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Championship game, which the Hoosiers won 13-10.

“Obviously a very good opponent; for us it’s just about how can we keep improving this week and how can we clean up the mistakes that happened this game and just keep getting better and keep improving because, obviously, [we have] a big matchup going into this week,” Sayin said.

This will be the third road game the Buckeyes will play against a ranked opponent, following their loss to Texas and win over Iowa.

“This is going to be a tough game, a tough environment, but we’ve played in two tough environments already, like Texas and Iowa, so we’re prepared and ready to go,” Roberts said.