Ohio State 2026 opponent breakdown: Week 6, Maryland

The Buckeyes will host the Terps between road games at Iowa and Indiana.

Maryland quarterback Malik Washington started every game as a true freshman in 2025. (Maryland athletics)

COLUMBUS — It’s Turtle Time. Again.

Ohio State will play for a turtle statue against Illinois this fall, and follow it up with a game against an actual turtle team, Maryland, a few weeks later.

Now that we think of it, it’s kind of strange that Ohio State plays for a trophy turtle against another Big Ten team, and it’s not Maryland. Anyway, our week-by-week look at the Buckeyes’ 2026 opponents continues today with a look at the Terrapins. Let’s get to it.

Previous schedule breakdowns

Week 1: Ball State

Week 2: Texas

Week 3: Kent State

Week 4: Illinois

Week 5: Iowa

Maryland Terrapins

Ohio State opponent No. 6

Oct. 10, time TBA, at Ohio Stadium

2025 record

4-8, 1-8, 16th in the Big Ten

2025 stats

• 75 out of 136 teams in final SP+ ratings (No. 91 offense, No. 56 defense)

• 68 in FEI ratings (No. 98 offense, No. 40 defense)

• 89 in adjusted EPA/play (No. 104 offense, No. 57 defense)

• Scored 23.5 ppg (No. 95), allowed 26.5 ppg (76)

History vs. Buckeyes

Ohio State and Maryland had never played before the Terrapins joined the Big Ten in 2014. Since then, the teams have met nine times, with the Buckeyes winning all nine.

OSU’s 9-0 record has come mostly in convincing fashion. The only game that wasn’t a multi-score win for the Buckeyes was a 52-51 overtime win at Maryland in 2018, a game that ended when Terps quarterback Tyrell Pigrome’s pass to a wide-open receiver on a two-point attempt that would’ve won the game instead missed its target. The teams combined for 1,223 yards that day. Dwayne Haskins threw three touchdowns and rushed for three.

Since then, Ryan Day is 4-0 against Maryland as head coach, winning by an average score of 54.8-19.5.

This will be the first meeting between Ohio State and Maryland since 2023.