Football Hayes & Cannon
B1G Things to Know: Maryland
November 16, 2018 by mmeals
"B1G Things to Know" is your weekly gathering of the 10 most important things you'll want to know about this week's Ohio State game. These 10 facts will help you be the most knowledgeable fan at your Game Day activity, no matter where you gather across Buckeye Nation to cheer on the Men of the Scarlet & Gray.
The university founded as the Maryland Agricultural College and later known as Maryland State College, The University of Maryland, College Park, was chartered in 1856. The land on which the university is located was originally purchased by founder Charles Benedict Calvert, a decent of the Lord Baltimores, who founded the province (now state) of Maryland. On October 5, 1859, the first 34 students entered the Maryland Agricultural College. The school became a land grant college in February 1864.
Maryland began playing football in 1892. For nearly 30 years, Maryland played as an independent or in minor, now defunct, conferences. In 1921, Maryland joined 13 other institutions in forming the Southern Conference. Despite half of the SoCon members leaving in 1932 to form the SEC, Maryland would play 32 seasons in the conference. In 1953, Maryland and six others left to form the Atlantic Coast Conference. This would be the home of Maryland athletics until 2014 when the school joined the Big Ten.
Maryland has won two national championships, 1951 and 1953, although the school only claims the 1953 title. The Terps have won 11 conference championships, with the last coming in the ACC in 2001. Maryland Football has ended a season in a bowl game 27 times, going 11-14-2 in post-season play. Maryland has an all-time record of 649-594-43.
The Buckeyes face off with the Terrapins Saturday at noon in College Park. That means you have plenty of time to memorize the Big Ten Things to Know, and impress everyone around you with your knowledge.
Saturday marks only the fifth meeting all-time between Maryland and Ohio State. The Buckeyes lead the series 4-0. In the four previous meetings, Ohio State has outscored Maryland 225-69.
Through 10 games, Maryland has recorded 17 interceptions, the highest total in the country. The Terps are the only team in the Big Ten and one of just three FBS teams with at least one interception in every game this season, including five a few weeks back against Rutgers, the Terps most in a game since they totaled seven picks against Duke in 1988. LB Tre Watson is second in the country and leads the Big Ten with five interceptions and junior S Darnell Savage Jr. is right behind him with four, the third most in the country. Watson picked off his fifth pass this past weekend, tying Karl Edwards ('87) for the most all-time by a Terrapin linebacker.
After Ty Johnson's 98-yard kickoff return touchdown at #15 Michigan on October 6 and a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown by Javon Leake against Illinois, Maryland is the only team in the FBS with two kickoff return touchdowns of over 95 yards. They are also the only team in the FBS that has two different players who have recorded a kickoff return touchdown.
The Terps have had four different running backs rush for 100 yards in a game this season: Ty Johnson (at BG, MINN), Tayon Fleet-Davis, (at BG), Anthony McFarland (Temple, MINN, IND) and Javon Leake (ILL). This is the first time in program history Maryland has had four different 100-yard rushers in the same season. In addition, Maryland is just one of five teams in the FBS this season to have four different players have 100-yard rushing games.
Maryland has been perfect in the red zone so far this season, converting on all 24 of its opportunities inside the opponent's 20-yard line, making them the only team in the conference and one of only two in the country to be perfect inside the 20. The Terps have scored touchdowns on 16 of the 24 trips to the red zone while kicking field goals on the other eight.
The Maryland defense ranks second in the Big Ten, allowing just 181.2 passing yards a game, trailing only #4 Michigan who is allowing 116.0 passing yards per game. The Terps have held five of their 10 opponents to under 200 yards passing this season.
Ohio State and Maryland are familiar with each other. There are eight different hometowns with at least one player on both the Buckeye and Terrapin rosters. Six of these hometowns have a high school with at least one player on both rosters. Lastly, three sets of coaches have ties to opposing coaches or schools. This is not counting the now former Maryland Head Coach DJ Durkin, an Ohio native himself, who coached for Ohio State's Urban Meyer at Florida.
Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins needs 51 yards passing to establish a new Ohio State single-season record. The record has been held by Joe Germaine (3,330) for 20 years.
For the first time in school history Ohio State has two running backs with at least 2,000 career rushing yards. Mike Weber has 2,433 yards and J.K. Dobbins has 2,115 career yards. Ohio State previously had teammates – three times – with at least 2,000 rushing yards, but never two RBs. Also, Ohio State is now 15-0 when either Mike Weber or J.K. Dobbins rush for 100 yards or more in a game. They each have eight career 100-yard games and they doubled up in 2017 vs. Michigan State.
A win on Saturday would give Ohio State its 14th 10-win season since 2000. No other Power 5 program has more than 11 10-win season during that same time period.
And there you have it. You are now officially ready to begin your Game Day activities. You can now lay claim to the title of "Smartest Buckeye Fan at your Tailgate/Watch Party". Go Bucks!
Each week, Mike Meals scours through the Media Guides of Ohio State and that week's opponent to find you the 10 most fascinating, important, and/or crazy facts to prepare you for that week's game. You can also catch Mike along with Hayes & Cannon Content Manager/Writer Brandon Zimmerman on the weekly episodes of "The Sons of Schmidt" podcast on the Ozone Radio Network. Follow Mike on twitter (@mmeals)
Tagged in: Maryland