{"id":52495,"date":"2023-10-06T10:00:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=52495"},"modified":"2023-10-05T17:43:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T21:43:17","slug":"ohio-state-defense-must-step-up-against-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2023\/10\/06\/ohio-state-defense-must-step-up-against-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio State Defense Must Step Up Against Maryland"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the few battles of undefeated teams,\u00a0<\/span>4-0 Ohio State hosts 5-0 Maryland<\/span><\/a>. This is a matchup of the two best offenses in the Big Ten as the Terps average 454.8 yards per game and the Buckeyes get 447.5 per. Conversely, the Buckeyes and their 298.5 passing yards per game lead the conference and Maryland’s 297.4 yards come in second. With all of this focus on the high-flying offenses, there is an Ohio State defensive unit that has to step up to stop\u00a0<\/span>Taulia Tagovailoa<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and that Maryland offense.<\/span><\/p>\n

For as star-studded as the Ohio State defensive line is, they have not produced at the level expected from OSU defensive lines. On the year, they’ve managed just three sacks from three different players. One of which,\u00a0<\/span>Hero Kanu<\/span><\/strong>, is a backup. With how good this Ohio State defensive unit is supposed to be, this is a vast underperformance and will need to step up against a very good Maryland team.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tuimoloau, Sawyer, and Company Must Step Up vs. Maryland<\/span><\/h2>\n

These Terrapins Aren’t Average Turtles<\/span><\/h3>\n

Maryland’s offense has, for the most part, been quite efficient. Tagovailoa leads the Big Ten with 1,464 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 111 completions. In five games, he’s only thrown three interceptions. While he is a fantastic thrower of the football, he has his offensive line to thank.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus far, the Maryland line:<\/span><\/p>\n