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A grade card on Ohio State's 45-16 win over Maryland:
OFFENSE: B-
It wasn't one of quarterback Julian Sayin's best games, at least not in the turnovers department.
Sayin completed 13 of 21 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns, all of them in the first half. His interception was returned 52 yards for a touchdown and his first fumble led to a Maryland field goal. He fumbled a second time later in the game but was able recover it.
The offensive line protected him somewhat better than it did against Iowa when was sacked twice by the Terrapins after being sacked twice that many times by the Hawkeyes a week earlier. But he's still being hit too often. It wasn't just the line. Isaiah West missed a block on a blitzing linebacker on the pick six.
Jeremiah Smith had what would be considered a quiet game for him-- 4 catches for 79 yards, two touchdowns and another one-handed catch. His touchdown catches of 40 yards and 33 yards both started out as short passes on which he accelerated away from the Maryland defenders. Sayin's other two touchdown passes went to tight ends Nate Roberts and Mason Williams.
Bo Jackson rushed for 107 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns, one of which met all the requirements for being labeled an explosive run. This was the first time Jackson has gone over 100 yards in a game this season after doing it six times last season as a freshman. Ja'Kobi Jackson ran for 76 yards on 14 carries.
Legend Bey got 13 yards on four carries and returned two kickoffs for 29 yards and 17 yards. OSU had a total of 207 yards rushing. Starting receivers Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin and starting offensive linemen Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels did not play because of injuries.
DEFENSE: B
Ohio State held Maryland to 146 yards of total offense and one offensive touchdown. The Terrapins did not have an offensive play longer than 13 yards.
Their quarterback Malik Washington completed 12 of 25 passes for 64 yards and no touchdowns. Receiver Chris Durr, who came into the game with 42 catches this season, was limited to 4 catches for 15 yards.
Ohio State was called for eight penalties, the majority of which were called on the defense. Seven of them came in the first half. Two of them were called on Beau Atkinson.
Jaylen McClain led OSU with eight tackles. The Buckeyes did not have a sack. Maryland was 3 for 12 in third down situations.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
There was no field goal drama or anguish when Connor Hawkins hit his only attempt. One of the weirder moments of the day was when OSU was called for a false start on an extra point kick and penalized five yards.
Freshman Phillip Bell had a punt return of 31 yards.
OVERALL: B
Ohio State had a scoring drive of 9 minutes, 59 seconds in the fourth quarter a week after keeping the ball for 9 ½ minutes in the final quarter against Iowa. Beating Indiana this Saturday probably is going to require fewer penalties and fewer mistakes than beating Maryland did.