The most important season in head coach Mike Locksley’s Maryland tenure has arrived.
The stakes are clear: with two years remaining on a contract, Locksley needs to succeed. If the Terps finish the season with a winning record and compete in a bowl game, there’s a good chance he gets rewarded with an extension.
If the Terps have another 4-8 season? Odds are Locksley will not remain the coach with just one year on his contract.
The pieces are on the roster for the Terps to succeed. The schedule gives
the Terps a chance to make something happen. The latter begins with Hampton.
The Terps will play host to the Pirates on Saturday at SECU Stadium. The game begins at 8:00 p.m. and will be available to watch on the Big Ten Network.
Hampton Pirates (1-0, 0-0 CAA)
2025 record: 2-10, 0-8 CAA
As would be expected of a team that went 2-10 in FCS in the transfer portal era, there is a lot of turnover at Hampton this year. First-year head coach Van Malone will be tasked with building a program for the first time after bouncing around the power conference level for nearly two decades.
The Pirates made a strong start in that department when they shut out Virginia University of Lynchburg — of the National Christian College Athletic Association — in their season-opening win on Aug. 29. The 45 points Hampton scored were their most in 18 games, and the shutout was their first in 88 games.
Hampton’s search for a first winning season since 2018 will not be impacted much by a game against the Tersp, but the game could be valuable experience for a fresh roster.
Players to watch
Jalen Woods, sophomore quarterback, No. 4 — Woods transferred to Hampton after spending a year at Southern, where he passed for 541 yards and four touchdowns in six games. Against Virginia University of Lynchburg, he was 15-of-26 for 191 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Amari Pryear, freshman running back, No. 20 — Pryear was a local talent the Pirates managed to retain, and judging from first impressions, he could be one of their more important players on the season. The Hampton, Virginia, native rushed for 132 yards on eight attempts in his collegiate debut, including one 65-yard rip. At 5-foot-6 and 185 pounds, he may not perform as well against a more physical line, but the breakout speed is something to watch for Maryland’s defense.
Cam Sturdifen, fifth-year defensive back, No. 1 — One of a few key returners on the roster for Hampton, Sturdifen has spent his entire career with the Pirates and logged 68 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss while starting every game last year. He brought that form into 2026, logging seven tackles and forcing a fumble that he recovered.
Strength
Diverse options. Maryland will not be able to plan for individual opponents against Hampton. Six players recorded at least four rushes, and a whopping thirteen players caught a pass against Virginia University of Lynchburg. The Pirates have several players that can contribute at that level.
Weakness
Proven experience. Woods, the starting quarterback for Hampton, has thrown a total of 92 collegiate passes. Several potentially key contributors are freshmen. A game against Maryland will be a difficult test for the Pirates.
Three things to watch
1. Big day on tap? The Terps have a chance to run up the score Saturday and make a statement. Maryland hasn’t exceeded 50 points in a game since 2022 and hasn’t cleared 60 since 2021.
2. Maintain the standard. The Terps have won 15 consecutive season openers against non-conference teams, the third-longest streak in the conference.
3. What does the secondary look like? Maryland was bolstered by a sudden announcement Wednesday that once-departed cornerback Dontay Joyner was rejoining the team. It is unknown when he will first be able to feature for the Terps, and in the meantime, the Terps need to field a full secondary. Locksley named multiple freshmen defensive backs as potential contributors, including Darrell Carey and Zahir Cobb, who he likened to Messiah Delhomme as a potential instant-impact player.
