Mike Locksley’s sixth season as Maryland football’s head coach is fast approaching, and it promises to be a season of change. With former field general Taulia Tagovailoa no longer under center, the team faces a significant transition at quarterback.
Despite the uncertainty at the quarterback position, there’s reason for optimism across several key position groups, both for this season and beyond.
In 2023, the Terps posted an 8-5 record, marking their second consecutive eight-win season. This year, they’ll face challenges not only from familiar Big Ten rivals but also from new additions to the conference.
Let’s take a closer look at each Maryland matchup this season.
Aug. 31: UConn
2023 record: 3-9 (FBS Independent)
Maryland opens its season at home, just as it did last year against Towson. Much like the Tigers, UConn is not expected to pose a significant challenge to the Terps.
The Huskies finished the 2023 season with a 3-9 record, far from being a powerhouse. Their only victories came against Rice, Sacred Heart and UMass — the latter notoriously regarded as one of the weakest teams in Division I football.
Head coach Jim Mora is back for his third season, but his squad saw a sharp decline after a surprising 6-6 campaign in 2022, where they defeated a nationally-ranked Liberty team to reach bowl eligibility.
In 2023, however, UConn’s story was different. The Huskies averaged just 19.1 points per game while allowing 29.8 points per game. Their offense struggled, averaging only 326.9 yards per game compared to their opponents’ 408.5 yards.
If the Terps can establish an early lead on Saturday, it could be a long afternoon for the Huskies.
By Ryan Alonardo
Sept. 7: Michigan State
2023 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
The Terps kick off conference play earlier than usual. Outside of 2020 — when it only played Big Ten opponents due to the pandemic — the last time Maryland had a conference foe before Week 4 was 2011, when it was a member of the ACC.
Maryland dominated Michigan State a season ago, winning 31-9 in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans’ quarterback in that game, Noah Kim, transferred to Coastal Carolina in the offseason. Michigan State dipped into the portal to replace him, securing sophomore Aidan Chiles from Oregon State.
The former four-star recruit is a dangerous running threat, which could present issues for a Terps’ defense that struggled against mobile quarterbacks last season. A revamped offensive line with two Power Four transfers will help protect him, and running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams transfers from UMass on the coattails of a 1,157-yard season.
The Spartans’ defense struggled to stop opponents last season, giving up 28.3 points a game, but they hope a flurry of transfers will ease that issue.
Maryland has won the last two contests between the teams.
By Matt Germack
Sept. 14: at Virginia
2023 record: 3-9 (2-6 ACC)
Just five years ago, the Cavaliers were contending for the ACC title against Clemson. Now, they find themselves at the bottom of the conference, finishing with a disappointing 3-9 record in 2023.
Last year, Virginia faced Maryland in a game that ended in a decisive 42-14 victory for the Terps. Though the game was close early in the fourth quarter, four consecutive turnovers by the Cavaliers quickly sealed their fate.
Anthony Colandrea, who was under center during that loss, is expected to start this season as a sophomore. He’ll have some strong weapons at his disposal, including Biletnikoff Award Watch List wide receiver Malachi Fields and transfer wideouts Trell Harris (from Kent State) and Chris Tyree (from Notre Dame).
On defense, Virginia returns nine of 11 starters. However, that may not be enough to make a significant impact, as the Cavaliers had the worst defense in the ACC last season, allowing an average of 33.8 points per game.
By Ryan Alonardo
Sept. 21: Villanova
2023 record: 10-3 (7-1 CAA)
The Terps round out their nonconference schedule at home against Villanova, one of the best FCS programs in the country.
The Wildcats are coming off a year in which they dominated their regular season schedule, but fell in the playoffs to eventual FCS national champion South Dakota State. They enter 2024 ranked No. 6 in the FCS preseason coaches poll.
Villanova’s 2023 success was due in large part to stout defense. It allowed just 18.8 points per game, the second lowest in its conference, last season and most of that unit returns in 2024. But the backfield duo of quarterback Connor Watkins and running back Jalen Jackson brought the Wildcats to another level.
Watkins is back this season, and was named CAA preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Jackson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent.
Villanova is still an FCS opponent, but it’s hard to find a tougher one for Maryland to play.
By Matt Germack
Sept. 28: at Indiana
2023 record: 3-9 (1-8 Big Ten)
The Hoosiers haven’t had much recent success against the Terps, losing to them in each of the last two seasons. While Indiana put up a fight in a close 38-33 loss in 2022, the following year’s contest was much less competitive, as Maryland dominated at home with a 44-17 victory. In that game, Tagovailoa shredded Indiana’s defense, passing for 352 yards and five touchdowns.
However, this year could be different. The Hoosiers are entering a new era under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, who previously led James Madison to a 19-4 record in its first two years as an FBS program.
With Cignetti’s arrival, Indiana has seen significant roster turnover, which could have a major impact on its performance this season. The Hoosiers return just five starters on offense and three on defense. Key new faces include redshirt senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Ohio, and senior running back Justice Ellison, who joined from Wake Forest.
On defense, Indiana will be looking for improvement, especially from its three transfer defensive linemen. In 2023, the Hoosiers ranked last in the conference with just 20 sacks and were in the bottom four of the Big Ten with 750 tackles.
While this matchup has the potential to mirror recent results, it could also be a trap game for the Terps if they’re not careful.
By Ryan Alonardo
Oct. 11: Northwestern
2023 record: 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
Maryland welcomes Northwestern to College Park for its annual blackout game. The Terps will have to take on a program that, despite playing 2024 in a less-than-ideal temporary stadium, is very much on the up.
Wildcats’ head coach David Braun took over a program that went 1-11 in 2022 and was plagued with scandal throughout the offseason. He managed to turn the team around completely in his first season, though, leading Northwestern to its first bowl game since the 2020 season.
In year two, Braun is looking to bring his program to new heights. He brought in Vanderbilt transfer Mike Wright to solidify the quarterback position, and returns most of the defensive unit that was third in the country in turnover margin in 2023.
The Wildcats delivered the Terps some heartbreak a season ago when they beat Maryland in an ugly 33-27 slugfest. Taulia Tagovailoa and Jeshaun Jones both lost fumbles, and Tagovailoa added on a game-sealing interception in the closing minutes.
Last year’s Northwestern team may have been a fluke — six of its eight wins were by one score — but if not, its turnover-heavy formula could spell trouble for a Terps offense with a huge unknown at quarterback.
By Matt Germack
Oct. 19: USC
2023 record: 8-5 (5-4 Pac-12)
This could be the most intriguing game on Maryland’s schedule. Not only is USC new to the Big Ten this year, but it will also be fascinating to see how the Trojans fit into the conference standings at this point in the season.
The intrigue is heightened by the talent USC lost after the 2023 season, including quarterback Caleb Williams to the NFL Draft and five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson, who transferred to Boise State. The Trojans also lost key players like safety Calen Bullock, running back Marshawn Lloyd and wide receiver Brenden Rice to the draft.
Under head coach Lincoln Riley, it will be interesting to see if redshirt junior quarterback Moss Miller can thrive in the offense. In his three years at USC, Miller has tallied 914 yards and 9 touchdowns with an impressive 71.7% completion rate.
Miller will have a number of potent weapons at his disposal, including wide receiver Zachariah Branch, a potential breakout star. Branch made history as USC’s first-ever freshman to be named a first-team All-American, recognized for his skills as a returner. He will look to build on his 320-yard receiving freshman campaign.
This game could come at a crucial point in the season for the Terps, and playing at home might just tip the scale in their favor.
By Ryan Alonardo
Oct. 26: at Minnesota
2023 record: 6-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
The Terps travel to Minneapolis to face the Golden Gophers for the first time since 2021.
Minnesota left a lot to be desired in 2023. It was inefficient on both offense — where it scored the Big Ten’s fourth-fewest points per game with 20.9 — and defense — where it allowed the conference’s fifth-most points per game with 26.7.
Graduate quarterback Max Brosmer transferred from FCS New Hampshire for his final year of eligibility. He’ll try to revive a passing attack that simply wasn’t much of a threat in 2023 — the Golden Gophers ran the ball over 60% of the time a season ago.
If Minnesota can pride itself on anything from last season, it’s the fact it was one of the most disciplined teams in college football last year. It averaged just 27.1 penalty yards a game, the lowest mark in the Big Ten. Alongside a positive turnover margin, the Golden Gophers aren’t likely to beat themselves.
Minnesota allowed the fifth-most yards per game in the Big Ten last season. If Maryland’s offense can click in Minneapolis, it shouldn’t have a problem securing a conference win in between two all-country opponents.
By Matt Germack
Nov. 9: at Oregon
This could be Maryland’s toughest game of the 2024 season. The Ducks are not only in prime position to win the Big Ten this year but are also serious contenders for the National Championship in January.
Two key players to watch are quarterback Dillon Gabriel and wide receiver Tez Johnson, both of whom could be early selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, depending on their performance.
Last season, Gabriel earned All-Big 12 first-team honors with the Oklahoma Sooners, passing for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns. Johnson, on the other hand, set Oregon’s single-season reception record with 86 catches in 2023, along with 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns.
However, Dan Lanning’s team is more than just an offensive powerhouse. The defense is anchored by All-Pac 12 linebacker Jeffrey Bassa and transfer cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, who starred in the College Football Playoff last year for Washington. Last season, the Ducks allowed the third-fewest yards per game (320.3) in the conference.
By Ryan Alonardo
Nov. 16: Rutgers
2023 record: 7-6 (3-6 Big Ten)
The Terps dominated the Scarlet Knights last season in Tagovailoa’s last collegiate game, winning 42-24. But Rutgers is a program on the rise, and not one for Maryland to take lightly.
The Scarlet Knights won their first bowl game since 2014 last season, on the back of stout defense and a stellar running back in Kyle Monagai.
Monagai ran for 1,262 yards in 2023, which led the conference, and averaged over five yards per carry. He should only get better this season, which is a scary proposition for Big Ten defenses.
Rutgers’ passing game is much less of a threat. It will be led by transfer quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who threw for 1,838 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a below-average 53.1% completion percentage. He isn’t likely to be protected well either — the Scarlet Knights were 108th in PFF (Pro Football Focus) team pass-blocking grade.
The Terps have won the last three contests between the teams, and, before the season begins, look favored to extend that streak.
By Matt Germack
Nov. 23: Iowa
The long-running narrative around Iowa football holds true: strong defense and questionable offense. In 2023, the Hawkeyes led the Big Ten in tackles (952) and ranked fifth in sacks (33.0). They also placed fourth in the conference for opponent yards per game, allowing just 282.5.
However, the offense often struggled, failing to score in three games — against Penn State, Michigan and Tennessee.
Despite these challenges, Iowa enters the 2024 season ranked No. 25 in the nation. There’s reason for optimism, particularly with the return of key players. The linebacker duo of Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson, who combined for 281 tackles last season, will once again anchor the middle of the field.
The success of Iowa’s offense may hinge on the health of senior quarterback Cade McNamara. Last season, McNamara completed 46 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns before a season-ending injury. He has since been named the 2024 starter.
This late November matchup could turn into a defensive battle, especially if Maryland’s offense hasn’t found its rhythm by then.
By Ryan Alonardo
Nov. 30: at Penn State
2023 record: 10-3 (7-2 conference)
Maryland wraps up its regular season in Happy Valley, looking to pull off what will likely be viewed as a massive upset and potentially push Penn State out of the new 12-team College Football Playoff.
James Franklin’s squad has had its way with the Terps in recent years, demolishing them 51-15 in 2023 and 30-0 in 2022. Given how much Maryland struggled to move the ball against the Nittany Lions with Tagovailoa at quarterback, it will certainly be a challenge to do so with Billy Edwards Jr., MJ Morris or Cameron Edge at the helm.
Andy Kotelnicki comes in as Penn State’s first-year offensive coordinator looking to elevate a unit that led the Big Ten with 36.2 points per game last season. Junior Drew Allar was extremely efficient for the Nittany Lions in 2023, throwing 25 touchdowns and just two interceptions, and he’s poised to take another step forward in 2024.
Penn State’s defense was suffocating in 2023, allowing just 13.5 points per game. That unit will be led by linebacker phenom Abdul Carter, who can play all over the defensive front and presents a multitude of problems for offenses to solve.
It will take a stellar performance from Maryland, a bad one from Penn State and plenty of luck for the Terps to come away from this one with a win.
By Matt Germack
