Ohio State’s defense didn’t force a fumble, didn’t pick off a pass, didn’t sack the quarterback, and only got three tackles for a loss in their victory over Maryland. Don’t let that distract you from the fact that this was a magnificent, elite performance by the Silver Bullet defense of Ohio State and Matt Patricia. The Buckeye defense dominated Maryland. Ohio State clobbered the Terrapins in the two most important stats in any and every football game played.
The Buckeyes held Maryland to 146 total yards of offense and 16 points scored. That should actually be 10 points, given that the Maryland defense scored six themselves. The 146 total yards were the second fewest Ohio State has allowed this season (they allowed 134 to Kent State).
They allowed 100 fewer yards than their season average after six games (that is 246.8 yards per game). This defense is right up there with the elite Buckeye defenses from 2024 and 2025. Ohio State allowed 254.6 yards per game and 219.1 yards per game in those two seasons, respectively. They led college football with the fewest yards allowed in the nation in both of those seasons and are currently fifth in the nation right now.
OSU’s scoring defense is also playing at a high level. In 2024 and 2025, they were first in the nation both seasons with 12.9 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. This year, their 13.2 points per game are eighth in the nation.
Ohio State has had improved play on its defensive line in its last two games. Eddrick Houston had a big game; more on him in a minute. Qua Russaw has shown up big in these past two games for Ohio State. Russaw had five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and a sack against Iowa.
He was on target again against Maryland with three tackles, all of them solo, and another tackle for a loss. Houston and Russaw had good showings against Maryland, and the Buckeye defensive line is stout and getting things done by committee this year.
Defensive Play of the Game
Eddrick Houston was disruptive on the defensive line for the whole game. His best play was this one where he busted through the middle and got a tackle for a loss. Hopefully this is Houston’s breakout game. Houston has the potential to be as good as Kayden McDonald was last year, and Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams were in 2024. #96 had four tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
BIG EDDRICK HOUSTON pic.twitter.com/0tlHlbR1Ed
— wok (@wokdior) October 10, 2026
Defensive Players of the Game
If Houston had a breakout game, Jaylen McClain and Earl Little Jr. just keep being solid tackling machines. McClain had eight tackles, four of them solo, in the win over Maryland, and Little had four. Little leads Ohio State with 30 tackles, and McClain is right behind him with 28 this season.
McClain also led the team with two interceptions this season. McClain, Little, Mathews, Sanchez, and the rest of the secondary are shutting down opponents' passing attacks for the Buckeyes. Ohio State allows only 150.7 yards per game in the air, the eighth-best in college football.
Add us as a preferred source on Google