Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Behind Enemy Lines: Maryland Edition
When the 5-4 Maryland Terrapins come to Lincoln on Saturday to take on 5-4 Nebraska, one team will earn bowl eligibility. The Huskers have faced Maryland only twice all-time, with the most recent game in 2019.
With so little known about this opponent, I collaborated with Ahmed Ghafir, publisher of Inside the Black & Gold, to learn more about Terps and what the Huskers can expect. (You can read what I shared about the Huskers here).
DF: Since starting 5-0, Maryland has lost four straight games - two against ranked teams from the East (Ohio State and Penn State), and two against mediocre West squads (Illinois and Northwestern). What are the biggest reasons for the losing streak?
AG: The overall theme in the losses is poor execution that led to Maryland consistently losing the turnover battle. Against Illinois and Northwestern, Maryland largely beat themselves as unforced and/or post snap penalties continuously hindered the Terps’ defense, while poor tackling surfaced for the first time this year against the Wildcats.
In the first half, Maryland looked like they’d give Ohio State a real scare in Columbus, but the 60-minute effort wasn’t there as the Buckeyes pulled away in the fourth. Maryland has surprisingly been able to give both Ohio State and Michigan some trouble over the last combined three matchups, but the same can’t be said for Penn State and the Terps were dominated in every facet of the game from beginning to end last weekend.
Around the program, you frequently hear phrases like ‘the standard’ and ‘Terps vs. Terps,’ indicative of Maryland’s emphasis on playing up to their potential. Though the competition through the first five weeks wasn’t great, Maryland did exactly that and was reason why Terp fans expected a top 25 ranking heading into the Ohio State game. During the four-game stretch, Maryland has left way too many plays on the field largely to no fault of their own.
DF: Maryland has the #2 passing offense in the Big Ten and Taulia Tagovailoa leads the league in almost every passing category. What makes their passing game so good?
AG: The big thing is Maryland has multiple options to turn to. Tai Felton, Kaden Prather, Jeshaun Jones and Octavian Smith have all been key pieces in the Terps’ wide receiver room while tight end Corey Dyches has been a factor in the passing attack. Defenses can’t focus in on one target against Maryland’s offense, and Taulia has done well at times extending plays to find open targets downfield. While Maryland statistically has done well as Taulia leads the league in all-purpose yards, the passing attack still has another layer it can hit with the deep balls still very much hit-or-miss with the quarterback-receiver timing still off. Of course, the biggest problem for the skill players has been holding onto the football, whether that’s fumbles or drops. Drops have loomed large in the array of missed opportunities for the offense, so while they’ve been good, Maryland is still looking for great.
I don’t expect Maryland to have much success running the ball, because they haven’t shown that frankly all season and the Huskers’ defense does well turning offenses one-dimensional. Maryland will need its success to come through the air, so the swing and screen plays could be the move before Taulia turns to Kaden Prather, Tai Felton or Jeshaun Jones downfield.
DF: What are Maryland's strengths on defense? Who are some guys to watch?
AG: Jaishawn Barham and Ruben Hyppolite are the two primary names to know at inside linebacker, while Kellan Wyatt and Donnell Brown have been assets off the edge and will look to disrupt the pocket for Nebraska QB Heinrich Haarberg.
The cornerbacks have struggled this season with Ja’Quan Sheppard and Corey Coley routine victims of the big plays allowed downfield, but the starting safety tandem gives the backline confidence with Beau Brade, a likely 2024 NFL Draft pick, and Dante Trader Jr. looking to minimize the possibility of the Huskers finding success downfield.
Where Maryland has done well is getting to the quarterback with Wyatt, Brown and even Caleb Wheatland becoming assets. Whether Nebraska finds a way to create chunk plays through the air is among the primary questions that could separate the two teams in Saturday’s contest.
DF: Switching to the bigger picture, given how hard it has been for Mike Locksley to crack through Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State in the East, are Maryland fans excited that divisions are going away? Or will adding the new West Coast teams to future schedules offset any gains?
AG: A divisionless Big Ten has been the dream for Maryland. Facing Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State each season not only faced the Terps with a routinely brutal conference slate but is an uphill battle for Maryland to crack higher than third in the Big Ten East. While the four new Big Ten teams won’t provide the conference with any easy opponents, it’s a schedule change that a long list of Maryland fans welcome.
There’s also a recognition that the additions of the four teams adds another wave of challengers to Maryland’s recruiting efforts. Sure, Maryland will always mine talent through south Florida and the Carolinas, but the DMV [Delaware, Maryland and Virginia] is the bread and butter to Maryland football’s recruiting efforts. Oregon already has three verbals within the DMV in the 2024 cycle, while USC has become active in the area over the last 18 months with assistant Roy Manning making the routine cross-country trip to scout the area and watching schools like Good Counsel practice. But for Maryland to change that narrative, they’ll need to put successful seasons together and win the games they need to. Which brings us to…
DF: One thing Maryland needs to do win is:
AG: Win the turnover battle. Maryland is 3-0 this season when they’ve won the turnover battle and 0-3 when they’ve lost the battle. While Maryland is favored, I view this game as a true tossup with Lincoln a tough road atmosphere for the Terps. Hang onto the football to establish momentum on offense and find a way to disrupt Marcus Satterfield’s offense, and the Terps have a chance to pull out their sixth win.
DF: What’s your score and prediction for the game?
AG: I have Nebraska winning 27-21. This is a game that, on paper, Maryland matches up well. But the game isn’t played on paper and Maryland has struggled to put a complete game together since its win vs. Indiana back on Sept. 30. Nebraska is back in Lincoln, Maryland will need to prove they can win these types of games before they’re picked to win these games. I like the over to hit, though, with the line at 44.
