QUARTERBACKS
Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud remains one of the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy. He followed his first game at Ohio State without a touchdown pass two weeks ago at Northwestern with five of them in a 56-14 rout of Indiana last week.
Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa has passed for 2,152 yards and 18 touchdowns after throwing for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. He has thrown for only 77 yards and 74 yards in the Terrapins’ last two games.
Advantage: Ohio State
RUNNING BACKS
The health of its running backs has become a concern for No. 2 Ohio State (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten). Miyan Williams suffered a leg injury against Indiana and TreVeyon Henderson has missed three games and parts of two others. Freshman Dallan Hayden has had two games of more than 100 yards but both were in low-pressure situations against Indiana and Toledo.
Roman Hemby (815 yards, 7 touchdowns) is the leading rusher for Maryland (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten). He also has caught 27 passes.
Advantage: Ohio State
RECEIVERS
Marvin Harrison Jr. has caught 14 touchdown passes in OSU’s last 11 games, dating back to the Rose Bowl. Tight end Cade Stover has five touchdown catches.
Maryland has depth at the receiving positions. Nine players have caught touchdown passes but no one has more than three. Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett has 37 catches for 406 yards and 3 touchdowns, all team highs.
Advantage: Ohio State
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Josh Fryar got good reviews for his work filling in for Dawand Jones at right tackle against Indiana in his first start. Jones is expected to return this week. OSU’s 340 yards rushing against IU was a season high.
Maryland has a long history of struggling to be competitive with the top Big Ten teams at this position. It thought it saw some improvement early this season but has struggled lately, including allowing 7 sacks in a 30-0 loss to Penn State last week and five in a 23-10 loss to Wisconsin two weeks ago.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Other than one 44-yard run, OSU’s defensive line did what was expected when it held Indiana 104 yards on its other 39 running plays. End Jack Sawyer had a big game with 1.5 sacks.
End Durell Nchami is Maryland’s most productive defensive lineman with 3 sacks and 6 tackles for losses. Nose tackle Ami Finau was honorable mention All-Big Ten last season.
Advantage: Ohio State
LINEBACKERS
Ohio State’s Tommy Eichenberg consistently makes plays that would have some linebackers celebrating and drawing attention to themselves. He just moves on to the next play.
Jaishawn Barham leads Maryland’s linebackers with 3 sacks and 4.5 tackles for losses.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Possibly no one has enjoyed more success in Jim Knowles’ defense than safety Lathan Ransom, whose season is even more remarkable because he suffered a broken leg in the Rose Bowl. Ransom had 9 tackles, a blocked punt and 1.5 sacks against Indiana.
Safeties Beau Brade and Donte Trader are Maryland’s two top tacklers and both of them have two interceptions.
Advantage: Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles is 9 of 11 on field goals. Punter Jesse Mirco averages 45.9 yards per punt.
Maryland kicker Chad Ryland is 11 of 15 on field goals. Punter Colton Spangler averages 45.8 yards per punt.
Advantage: Ohio State
