Maryland Football: 5 Toughest Games in 2015
1. Oct. 10 @ Ohio State
Jan 24, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (left) and quarterback Cardale Jones (center) and Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (right) at the national championship celebration at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
This one pretty much goes without saying. The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off an impressive National Championship run and what’s scary is that they have the tools to make it happen for a second-year in a row.
The Buckeyes are absolutely loaded, especially at the quarterback position. They have three top-tier quarterbacks on their roster. Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and Cardale Jones have all enjoyed success in Columbus and could start on just about any other team in the country. Urban Meyer is faced with a great problem.
The running back position is also solidified with the return of Ezekiel Elliott, who’s coming off a monster season. Elliott rushed for 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He’ll likely contend for the Heisman Trophy this season. True freshman Mike Weber should also see a decent bit of carries after Curtis Samuel was converted to a wide receiver.
The Buckeyes lost two key receivers from a season ago, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be short on talent. They do bring back Michael Thomas, who led the team in receptions (54) last season, as well as speedsters Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall. The Buckeyes also brought in 4-star wide receiver K.J. Hill, who has some big-play ability.
Ohio State’s defense wasn’t the greatest last season, but it sure was stout. They bring back some key starters up front, including reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Joey Bosa, and Adolphus Washington. The linebacking unit is really strong too, featuring Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan, and Darron Lee. The Buckeyes also have two big-time freshmen coming in: 5-star outside linebacker Justin Hilliard and 4-star inside linebacker Nick Conner.
The secondary is led by star corner Eli Apple, who made 53 tackles and picked off three passes last season. The Buckeyes are also experienced at safety with Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell.
Anything can happen, but the Terps stand almost no chance of beating Ohio State this season without some sort of miracle.