No. 5 Ohio State should be strong favourites when Maryland visits Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at 4:15 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes are a 34.5-point favourite, and the matchup looks like a test of whether Ohio State can keep its momentum rolling after a 31-14 win over Iowa.
There is a clear contrast in form entering Maryland Vs Ohio State. Ohio State is 4-1 after its latest victory, while Maryland is 2-3 and arrives having lost three straight, including a 48-23 defeat at Nebraska. The numbers also point in opposite directions: Ohio State has allowed just 63 points through five games, while Maryland has conceded 151.
Why Ohio State carry the edge
The Buckeyes have been far more settled on both sides of the ball. They are giving up only 12.6 points per game through five games, which gives them a strong platform even before the offence is considered.
Sayin has also been central to Ohio State’s early-season profile. The quarterback completed 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns at Iowa, helping Ohio State move to 4-1 and reinforcing why the attack looks difficult to slow when it is operating cleanly.
Ohio State’s wider passing production has also been sharp. Sayin has 1,530 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception, while the Buckeyes have averaged 357.0 passing yards per game, second nationally. That kind of efficiency is a major reason the spread is so large heading into this one.
Maryland need a response
For Maryland, the challenge is obvious. The Terrapins have been outscored and outplayed during their three-game skid, and the defensive figures are a particular concern at 30.2 points allowed per game. Against a top-five opponent in Columbus, that is not a comfortable profile.
Maryland still have players capable of creating moments, including Smith, who has posted 823 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns on 44 catches, and Washington, who has 461 receiving yards, 42 catches and four touchdowns. Those numbers show there is skill in the attack, but the Terrapins will need far more than flashes if they are to trouble the Buckeyes.
Maryland Vs Ohio State is scheduled to kick off at 4:15 p.m. ET, and the gap between the teams suggests Ohio State will be expected to control the game early. For Maryland, the immediate task is to compete physically, avoid the kind of mistakes that have marked the losing streak, and keep the game within reach for as long as possible.
For Ohio State, the standard is simpler. Anything other than a convincing performance at home would leave questions, even with the favourite’s tag. The Buckeyes have the record, the defence and the passing game to justify the expectation. Now they have to prove it again in Columbus.
