Maryland Throttles Indiana 44-17, Hoosiers Struggle in All Aspects
Indiana coach Tom Allen preached high energy and sharp focus after his team overlooked Akron last week, but the Hoosiers came out flat again at Maryland.
On the first play of the game, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa completed a 62-yard pass to Jeshaun Jones on a blown coverage. It was a sign of things to come. Tagovailoa and the Terrapins shredded Indiana for 472 total yards on their way to a 44-17 win Saturday at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md.
The first-half defensive meltdown was glaring, with Maryland scoring quickly and easily. But Indiana's offense may have been even worse, going three-and-out three times, failing on fourth down twice, throwing an interception and mustering just three points.
Maryland's first drive covered 75 yards on three plays, ending with a screen pass to Tai Felton, who dodged Indiana defenders for a 13-yard touchdown. The Terrapins were in the end zone in just 25 seconds.
Indiana's do-everything speedster Jaylin Lucas set the Hoosiers up with optimal field position after a 56-yard kick return. Running back Christian Turner picked up a pair of first downs on the ground with solid push from the offensive line, but past struggles revealed themselves again. On 3rd and 2 from the Maryland six-yard line, Turner was immediately met in the backfield by multiple Terrapins for a one-yard loss. Indiana settled for a field goal, making it three consecutive weeks of abysmal goal-line offense.
Indiana forced a Maryland punt, in large part thanks to a pass breakup from cornerback Kobee Minor in the end zone. But the Hoosiers' offense continued to flounder. In six plays across its next two drives, Indiana lost 15 yards.
Meanwhile, Maryland had no problem pouring on the points. Indiana's second busted coverage in the first 10 minutes of the game allowed a 29-yard Tai Felton touchdown, his second of the game. That scoring drive took just five seconds.
Another Indiana three-and-out and subsequent special teams penalty set Maryland up at the Indiana 21-yard line, and it was easy pickings from there. A swift, 19-yard touchdown run from Tagovailoa, who juked multiple Indiana defenders, gave Maryland its third easy score of the day. That drive took just 46 seconds.
By the end of the first quarter, Maryland held a 21-3 lead. It's three touchdown drives spanned a combined 76 seconds and 125 yards. The game was over that fast.
Following three three-and-out possessions, Indiana offensive coordinator Walt Bell got aggressive on the following two drives out of necessity, going for it on two fourth-down attempts. Except for the first drive, Indiana moved the ball as well as it had all day, gaining 79 yards on 15 plays. But on 4th and 6, quarterback Tayven Jackson faced immediate pressure and scrambled before making a rushed throw to Aaron Steinfeldt that never had a chance.
On the following drive, Indiana called a timeout to discuss its approach to 4th and 1. Bell decided on an option, with the first choice being a run with Christian Turner up the middle. Jackson recognized that would be stopped easily, so he kept the ball and ran outside. Neither option was going to lead to a first down, but Jackson's scramble led to an 11-yard loss.
Like it did all first half, Maryland responded with a quick touchdown. It took Maryland just 26 seconds to run five plays for 50 yards, culminating in Felton's third touchdown of the game.
Jackson threw an interception on a ball Jaylin Lucas probably should have caught, but Jackson left it high to his 5-foot-9 receiver. Indiana went into halftime trailing 27-3. Maryland's four scoring drives in the first half spanned 11 plays, 175 yards, 102 seconds.
The second half carried on without much purpose, as the outcome had been decided.
Jackson's day was done near the midway point of the third quarter, as Indiana replaced him with Brendan Sorsby. Jackson finished the game completing 17-of-29 passes for 113 yards and an interception. He was sacked three times.
Sorsby completed 7-of-11 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns, while running the ball five times for 25 yards. He led Indiana on two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. The first covered 47 yards on seven plays and ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Donaven McCulley. Sorsby's second scoring drive covered 75 yards on 13 plays, and he hit Andison Coby for a 16-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the game.
As a whole, it was a complete mess of a game for the Indiana offense. The unit gained 321 total yards, converted 20 first downs and scored 17 points. But 122 of those yards and 14 of those points came when both teams were playing backups in the fourth quarter.
Indiana entered the game with one of the worst rushing offenses in the country, and that trend stayed true as the Hoosiers ran for 116 yards on 37 attempts, good for 3.1 yards per carry.
The defense dug Indiana an early hole with multiple blown coverages, and Maryland continued to move the ball with ease all afternoon. Tagovailoa entered the game as the Big Ten leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offense and points responsible for, and truly carved Indiana up on Saturday.
Tagovailoa finished the game completing 24-of-34 passes for 352 yards and five passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
Maryland moves to 5-0 first time since 2001, while Indiana's season has gone downhill fast. The Hoosiers stand at 2-3 on the year, and the last two have been particularly ugly. Indiana needed four overtimes last week to defeat an Akron team that's won six games since 2019, and it was uncompetitive from the opening kickoff Saturday against Maryland.
Indiana has a bye week to rest, prepare and reassess every aspect of the team before playing one of the nation's best. The Hoosiers will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines and coach Jim Harbaugh on Oct. 14. Game time and television information for this game has not been released.
After Saturday's dreadful performance against Maryland, Indiana will be major underdogs against Michigan and wins will be hard to come by the rest of the year.
Related Stories on Indiana Football:
- INDIANA FIRES WALT BELL: Coach Tom Allen and the Indiana football team have fired offensive coordinator Walt Bell following the Hoosiers' 44-17 loss against Maryland on Saturday. Offensive coordinator responsibilities for the remainder of the 2023 season will be assumed by Rod Carey, who was previously the quality control coach for Allen and Indiana. CLICK HERE
- DANIEL OLINGER COLUMN: Indiana lost to Maryland 44-17 on Saturday in the most discouraging performance of the 2023 season. Coach Tom Allen blamed execution yet again after the game, an excuse that rings hollow this deep into the season. CLICK HERE
- WHAT TOM ALLEN SAID AFTER 44-17 LOSS: Here's everything coach Tom Allen said in the postgame press conference following Indiana's 44-17 loss at Maryland. CLICK HERE
