Every college football fan knew Ohio State’s offense would break through, even as Maryland forced the No. 10 Buckeyes into a second-quarter slump Saturday afternoon.

After all, Ohio State outscored Maryland 163-55 in the teams’ previous three meetings.

For more than 17 minutes between the first and second quarters, coach DJ Durkin’s squad held the Buckeyes without a score, forcing a fumble and blocking a field goal. But each time the defense gifted the offense good field position, quarterback Max Bortenschlager’s group failed to take advantage.

The offense that carried Maryland to three wins entering Saturday squandered the team’s chances of challenging one of the nation’s top teams.

“There were plays left on the field for us to make that we didn’t, and they capitalized on those,” defensive back Josh Woods said. “When they had the chance to execute those 50-50 plays, they did. We didn’t. It’s that simple.”

Maryland entered Saturday averaging the fourth-most points per game in the Big Ten (38.8).

Wide receiver DJ Moore led the conference in almost every receiving category. Running back Ty Johnson rushed for at least 100 yards in three of his four games. After replacing two injured quarterbacks, Bortenschlager seemed to find his groove last weekend in Maryland’s win over Minnesota, throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns while avoiding a sack.

But Ohio State, which had given up 335.6 yards per game entering Saturday, nullified those playmakers.

Moore recorded two receptions after catching at least seven passes in every game this season. Johnson ran for 57 yards. Bortenschlager reverted to his worst form, throwing 3-for-12 with 16 yards and enduring four sacks before exiting with an apparent injury in the third quarter.

Most importantly, the offensive line, which helped Maryland rush for 262 yards against Minnesota, looked like toy figures against Ohio State’s powering giants.

“You win some, you lose some,” Johnson said of the offense failing to capitalize on the defense’s forced turnovers.

More like: You win some, you get manhandled in some.

The Terps’ defense struggled at the start, allowing Ohio State to score on its first two possessions and pull ahead 20-7. But toward the end of the first quarter, after getting a boost from Johnson’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the group dug in.

Here’s how each team’s next three drives played out:

Defensive lineman Chandler Burkett blocked Ohio State’s field goal attempt. Maryland turned the ball over on downs.

Woods forced a fumble. Maryland went three-and-out.

Maryland forced Ohio State to punt, a kick that traveled just 22 yards. Bortenschlager was sacked on fourth down.

“When there’s big momentum plays in the game,” Durkin said, “you got to respond.”

Maryland’s offense didn’t respond, and the Terps defense — as expected — finally broke down. Hoping a middling defense would force a stop on four consecutive possessions against a national title contender is not a strategy for success.

The Terps might have stuck around longer if Tyrrell Pigrome or Kasim Hill, both of whom tore their ACLs, had started. But Maryland must rely on Bortenschlager or fourth-string quarterback Caleb Henderson to lead the team to three more wins for bowl eligibility. Whoever’s under center next week against Northwestern will need to bounce back.

“We got to learn from it,” Woods said. “You got to get better. That’s the good thing about it. We got so many more games, you know?”

The Terps may have seven more games, but not all of those are winnable. No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 7 Michigan and No. 4 Penn State still await the Terps.

That’s troubling, given Maryland’s offense proved it’s not ready to compete with the Big Ten’s best.