Mike Locksley has had Maryland on an upward trajectory since taking over the program in 2019.
The Terrapins were 3-9 in his first season, gradually improving to an 8-5 mark in 2022, a campaign that included competitive losses to conference powers Michigan (34-27) and Ohio State (43-30).
Now Locksley’s group is 5-0, just missed out on cracking the AP Top 25 this week, and appears to be better than ever heading into Saturday’s “Big Noon Kickoff” showdown against the No. 4 Buckeyes. Heading into the big matchup, Locksley is simply trying to keep his players focused on the task at hand.
HOW TO WATCH ‘BIG NOON KICKOFF’ THIS SATURDAY
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- 10 a.m.-Noon ET: “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show on FOX
- Noon ET: Maryland at Ohio State on FOX and the FOX Sports app
“It’s faceless and nameless opponents. We don’t adjust how we prepare,” Locksley said this week. “As I told our coaches, we didn’t need to play the fight song in the locker room this week. This isn’t one of those weeks where gimmicks are going to get the job done.”
Is this the year Maryland takes the next step and joins the Big Ten elite? Or will Ohio State reassert its dominance over a league that has been ruled by the Wolverines for two years running?
“Our players need to understand that this is why you come to Maryland, to compete against the best, and here’s an opportunity,” Locksley said Tuesday. “What a gauge it’ll be for our program to see what happens as we go up there and compete.”
Are Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terrapins ready for the next level?
Read below to learn everything you need to know about Ohio State vs. Maryland. Then return for “Big Noon Kickoff” from Columbus on Saturday morning, followed by the game itself. I’ll be providing live in-game analysis throughout!
Maryland (5-0) at No. 4 Ohio State (4-0)
PREGAME READING
Ohio State’s quest for toughness: How Ryan Day changed his approach: The Buckeyes have tried to inject more grit into their short-yardage game in recent years, but the data suggests the results have been mixed. Michael Cohen dives deep into the numbers.
Is Ohio State ripe for an upset?: Ohio State has struggled offensively this season. Can the Terps take advantage? Bryan Fischer has the story.
What we’re watching in Maryland vs. Ohio State, and the rest of Week 6: Can Maryland bump off the Buckeyes? Can Oklahoma earn revenge against Texas in the Red River Showdown? Our experts share the storylines they’re most interested in during Saturday’s action. Read more.
Ryan Day’s rant had the intended effect on Ohio State. Will it lead to wins?: There are different ways to get your supporters fired up. The best one is to win, but the second best is to talk big then go out and try to back it up. Read more from Martin Rogers.
Are Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama on upset alert?
PREGAME NUMBERS TO KNOW
8-0: The Buckeyes’ all-time record against Maryland.
33-0: Head coach Ryan Day’s record vs. unranked opponents. Day is 34-2 vs. unranked Big Ten opponents.
36: Ohio State’s defense is tied for tops in the nation (with Air Force) in fewest plays allowed over 10 yards with 36.
18: Maryland is 5-0 and has won each game by 18-plus points.
454.8: The Terrapins rank first in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards per game.
100%: Maryland is perfect on fourth-down conversions this season. The Terrapins have attempted at least one in all five games this season – the only FBS team to do so.
[More numbers to know in Week 6 games]
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And more reading around the sport …
Week 6 wagering: Chris “The Bear” Fallica shares predictions for his favorite Week 6 matchups. Read more.
Deion Sanders is leading what could be a banner year for Black coaches: No Black coach has won a major national coach of the year award. This could be the year that finally changes. Read the story from RJ Young.
Big Ten Football schedule: Toughest slate, protected rivalries, and how it will work: The Big Ten unveiled its new scheduling model for 2024 and beyond. Find out what to expect when USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington join the league. Michael Cohen breaks it down.
Is Texas back? Longhorns’ rise is no longer a laughing matter: If Quinn Ewers, Steve Sarkisian and Texas can beat Oklahoma on Saturday, the Longhorns will have a clear path to the CFP. Laken Litman has the story.
On the other side, the game is a huge opportunity for Oklahoma: Sooners can avenge 2022 embarrassment and show they’re national title contenders with a win over Longhorns on Saturday. RJ Young previews the matchup.
Bryan Fischer is a college football writer for FOX Sports. He has been covering college athletics for nearly two decades at outlets such as NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and NFL.com among others. Follow him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
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