This was a game where Ohio State never had a lead until overtime, ultimately winning by one point. Also consider:
- Three separate times the Buckeyes trailed by two touchdowns.
- Battled back to tie the game with less than four minutes to play.
- Surrendered the lead with under two minutes to go.
- Roared right back one minute and one second later, to tie the game and set-up overtime.
Sounds like an instant classic permanently etched into the minds of Buckeyes’ fans forever. Has to be 2017 against Penn State, right? Or the following year in State College? The big 1989 comeback against Minnesota? Wait, there was no overtime back then.
Congratulations if you’ve figured out this was three years ago at Maryland, a defenseless, 52-51 overtime victory, clinched only by the Terrapins failed two-point conversion attempt in the first frame of the extra session.
That was the afternoon that Anthony McFarland’s name flew from OSU fans’ mouths with the same spit and rage previously reserved for Tim Biakabutuka. The Maryland running back ran for 298 yards on just 21 carries, including first quarter touchdown jaunts of 81 and 75 yards.
The Buckeyes allowed 535 yards of offense to go with the 51 points. It was a feeling very similar to the Oregon game last month, even though the Ducks only scored 35 points, it was enough to pull the upset, something Maryland couldn’t do.
When these two teams meet on Saturday, nearly three years later, the possibility exists for another high-scoring shootout. Maryland arrives for Homecoming with a 4-1 record, losing only last week to undefeated, and third-ranked Iowa.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (younger brother of Alabama’s national championship winning quarterback Tua) has been outstanding (outside of last week). The Terps also have weapons in running back Tayon Fleet-Davis and wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, although Big Ten-leading receiver Dontay Demus is out for the season with an injury.
Which Maryland offense will show up, though? The one that averaged 37.25 points and 519.25 yards a game in the first four (with only one interception), or the one that scored just 14 points and 271 yards (with six interceptions) in the blowout loss to the Hawkeyes?
One big key to this game for the Buckeyes’ defense will be limiting Maryland closer to the goal line. The Terrapins are 104th in the country in red-zone offense, converting just 75% of the time. If OSU can avoid giving up big plays, and force Maryland to attempt field goals instead of scoring touchdowns, that would go a long way towards an Ohio State victory.
On the other side of the ball, C.J. Stroud returned after resting against Akron, and looked very strong in the Rutgers win. The Buckeyes are averaging over 555 yards of offense a game, which leads all of Football Bowl Subdivision. Their 45 points a game is tops in the Big Ten, and fourth in the nation. In Ryan Day’s 30 games as OSU head coach, the Bucks have topped 500 yards of offense 22 times.
Saturday also marks the halfway point of the season, which will be split evenly by a bye week. Ohio State will gladly take the rest, and opportunity to work on itself, with much tougher tests remaining:
- Indiana (2-3) always plays OSU to its capacity
- No. 4 Penn State (5-0) could be ranked in top five (huge game at No. 3 Iowa Saturday)
- Nebraska (3-3) is rapidly improving
- Purdue (3-2) as long as we’re talking about 2018, don’t look up THAT GAME
- No. 11 Michigan State (5-0) former OSU assistant Mel Tucker quick turnaround job in year two
- No. 9 Michigan (5-0) it’s THE GAME
As mentioned, this is Homecoming at Ohio State, the 99th time it has been held. The Buckeyes are 73-19-5 all-time in those games.
Join Andy Baskin and former Buckeye running back Antonio Pittman immediately following the game (around 3:30 p.m.) on for The Postgame Show on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App.