34.5-point favorite Ohio State rides Jeremiah Smith's record pace into Saturday meeting with Maryland

Ohio State returns to action Saturday against Maryland at 4:15 p.m. ET on BTN, and the Buckeyes enter as 34.5-point favorites following a dominant defensive performance in their 31-14 win at Iowa on Saturday. The Terrapins arrive at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, having dropped three straight to Virginia Tech, UCLA and Nebraska after opening the season with wins over Hampton and UConn.

Maryland's numbers offer little reason for optimism. The Terrapins are averaging 30.4 points per game while allowing 30.2, rank 80th nationally in total offense and have converted just 35 percent of their third downs. The low point came in a 54-3 loss to UCLA, a 51-point defeat. Quarterback Malik Washington has thrown seven touchdowns against six interceptions, with Iverson Howard and Dejuan Williams splitting carries in the backfield and Chris Durr Jr. leading the receivers with 42 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns. Five-star Maryland commit Zion Elee, with two sacks, has been one of the few defensive bright spots.

Smith's historic pace

The Buckeyes' confidence starts with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who leads the nation in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns through five games with 44 catches for 823 yards and nine scores. He strung together consecutive 200-yard performances, catching 12 passes for a career-high 217 yards and four touchdowns against Illinois before adding 11 catches for 206 yards and two scores against Iowa. His performance against Iowa pushed him past Ohio State's career records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the former Atlanta Falcons head coach who arrived in Columbus before the 2026 season, deserves more credit for that production.

I think he deserves a lot of credit because it's one thing to have a guy like that. He's like, 'I don't care what defenses do. We are getting our guy the ball.'

— Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN analyst, on Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith

Herbstreit added that Smith is "starting to get into the discussion of not just best to ever play at Ohio State … maybe one of the best to play college football." Quarterback Julian Sayin has done his part, completing 20 of 27 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa to earn Manning Star of the Week honors while Smith took Big Ten Player of the Week. Ohio State outgained the Hawkeyes 484-238 and held the ball for more than 38 minutes without a turnover in that win.

Ohio State's only loss this season came 24-23 at Texas on Sept. 12, but PFN's College Football Playoff meter still gives the Buckeyes a 68 percent chance of reaching the playoff, the second-highest mark in the nation behind only Notre Dame's 82.9 percent. Left guard Luke Montgomery, named to PFF's Big Ten Team of the Week after the Iowa win despite dismissing the outlet's grades, said the focus remains internal. Borrowing a phrase from head coach Ryan Day, Montgomery called the Iowa version of the team "Buckeye 5.0" and said the next one has to be "Buckeye 6.0."