Game notes
- Time and date: Friday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Network: Big Ten Network
- Location: SECU Stadium — College Park, MD
- Spread: Maryland (-17.5)
- Over/under: 47.5
- All-time series: Maryland leads, 2-1
- Last meeting: Maryland 23, Northern Illinois 20 — September 4, 2004
- Current streak: Maryland, 1 (2004)
Setting the scene
It’s the classic September non-conference clash of Big Ten vs. MAC, although Maryland wasn’t in the Big Ten last time the teams battled and Northern Illinois won’t be in the MAC beyond this year. The Huskies and Terrapins had a brief home-and-home in 2003 and 2004 with NIU knocking off a No. 15 Maryland team to open the 2003 season, but Maryland exacted revenge the following year at Huskie Stadium.
The first meeting in over two decades is a Friday night showdown pitting two 1-0 teams against each
other. There were varying levels of comfort in their Week 1 wins as Maryland flew past Florida Atlantic while NIU outlasted FCS Holy Cross in a close one. But NIU has a history of securing these “Boneyard wins” as the Huskies are 6-8 in their last 14 matchups against the Big Ten, hovering just a hair below .500.
Northern Illinois Huskies outlook
Northern Illinois’ season-opening win was quite on brand for the Huskies. Whether it’s a championship-bound Notre Dame or an FCS opponent, NIU has a history of winning low-scoring, ugly games that are a sheer test of grit and willpower. The Huskies’ 19-17 victory over FCS opponent Holy Cross was anything but glamorous, but the usual determinants — a stifling defense and an effective run game — led NIU to the 1-0 start it needed.
Like any typical NIU team, the 2025 Huskies trot out a deep backfield with several viable runners. Last Saturday it was Chavon Wright stepping up with 77 yards on a 7.0 average and Telly Johnson Jr. adding 67 yards on a team-high 21 attempts. Jaylen Poe, who starred in the 2024 UMass game and earned valuable reps in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, also a handful of touches, breaking 21 yards to set up NIU’s final touchdown and securing five receptions. The options are abundant, and if not for an errant snap that cost 32 yards, the Huskies would have posted 212 yards rushing in their opener — not bad behind a line returning one starter.
One thing the Huskies’ offense will likely not do is light up a defense for 300 yards. It’s been since November 2021 since an NIU quarterback reached this milestone, and the Huskies attained a collective 109 passing yards on 24 attempts in the opener. Josh Holst, the reigning Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP, earned the start but suffered an injury in the midst of a 12-of-18, 101-yard, 1-interception performance. FCS Dartmouth transfer Jackson Proctor checked in for four of NIU’s final five drives, but Holst received the victory formation honors. Holst’s health is something to monitor for this game, but NIU can feel comfort with an experienced Proctor (1,564 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, 3 interceptions in 2024) in the case it needs its backup.
As far as the weapons in the passing game, DeAree Rogers emerged as the likely No. 1 option in a revamped corps. The former Division II All-American is fresh off a 73-yard game (67% of NIU’s receiving production) and is lethal in an open field, as evidenced by three punt return touchdowns in a single season at Lenoir-Rhyne.
While the Huskies lost a wealth of talent at defensive tackle and linebacker, NIU’s front looked extremely poised in the opener. They limited Holy Cross to 65 rushing yards on a 2.5 average, generated eight tackles for loss, and suffocated the opponent to a 3-of-12 showing on third down. Newly-acquired defensive tackle Dasean Dixon starred in his first game as a Huskie by disrupting the interior of the line, while inside linebacker Quinn Urwiler performed with 10 tackles and a share of a sack. Reigning All-MAC selection Roy Williams from the defensive end spot is another veteran making NIU’s front dangerous again in 2025.
So how did Holy Cross drop 17 despite a dominant showing from the NIU defense? Special teams. The aforementioned errant snap on a punt resulted in a free Holy Cross field goal, while the FCS opponent nabbed one of its touchdowns on a kickoff return. Special teams went both ways though as NIU’s Dev’ion Reynolds took his own kick return to the house and aims to do the same in College Park.
Maryland Terrapins outlook
The 2020s marked a steady progression from Maryland football, at least until 2024 when the program stumbled from 8-5 to 4-8. This year marks a reset for the Terrapins, and they started this bounce-back campaign in promising fashion against Florida Atlantic, scoring 32 unanswered (26 in the second quarter alone) to record a 39-7 victory.
Speaking of a reset, that’s exactly what Maryland is dealing with at quarterback. The Terrapins puts their faith in true freshman Malik Washington — the program’s first true freshman starting quarterback since 2009 — and Washington shined in his debut. The 4-star Maryland native threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns on a 27-of-43 outing, and his offensive line prevented him from taking a single sack. Washington’s three touchdown passes were the most by a true freshman Big Ten quarterback in a debut since Michigan’s Tate Forcier in 2009, and he hopes the confidence inspired from Week 1 translates to this Friday night showdown.
There’s no more Tai Felton or Kaden Prather, but Maryland shined with a balanced receiving corps in the opener. Five different Terps secured between three and six receptions, with tight end Dorian Fleming landing a team-high six catches and wide receivers Shaleak Knotts and Jalil Farooq (an Oklahoma transfer) leading the yardage department.
The run game started strong but fizzled as the contest progressed, as Maryland grew more reliant on Washington’s arm — which threw 43 passes. Redshirt freshman DeJuan Williams emerged as the bellcow back with 54 yards on 10 rushes, but Maryland never gained a supreme advantage in that department against FAU’s front.
Maryland’s defense delivered promise in the opener, but penalties were a major concern. The Terrapins totaled 14 flags for 100 yards in the win, and eight of those transpired in the first quarter — seven of those eight on defense. In total, there were four false starts, three offsides, and two delay of games which are certainly things Mike Locksley and his staff can brush up on moving forward.
The Terrapins were especially assertive in the turnover battle with a commanding 6-0 advantage, with all six takeaways coming in the form of interceptions all by different players. Middle linebacker Daniel Wingate, the team’s defensive MVP in the opener, sparked the scoring effort with a 20-yard pick-six. The junior also logged a team-high 10 tackles including nine solo stops, serving as the main force holding FAU’s rushing attack to 2.4 yards per carry.
Maryland’s havoc-inducing defense also generated three sacks and eight tackles for loss, broke up six passes, and forced a safety, having its fingerprints all over the Owl offense. Among the primary playmakers creating these opportunities were strong safety Lavain Scruggs and cornerback Dontay Joiner, who contributed two pass deflections and an interception apiece.
The past decade of history shows Maryland is typically at its best in September. The Terrapins aren’t susceptible to non-conference losses, and in fact, they feature the longest non-conference win streak in the country at 15 games — four games superior to BYU, Missouri, Ole Miss, and Oregon. Most of those 15 victories have featured a comfortable degree of separation as the Terrapins enter this NIU matchup with seven-straight non-conference wins by 14 points or greater.
Prediction
Ohio vs. Rutgers was a rare exception, but Week 1 showcased plenty of low-scoring Big Ten vs. MAC affairs. Minnesota defeated Buffalo 23-10, Wisconsin shut out Miami (OH) 17-0, and Michigan State edged Western Michigan 23-6. Given the caliber of Northern Illinois’ defense and its lack of explosiveness offensively, this one should follow a similar script.
Maryland may not be able to thrive in the run game against the Huskies’ stout front, so relying on true freshman quarterback Malik Washington and his new assembly of targets is the way to go Friday night. Washington could see north of 30, 35 passes again as the Terrapins look to generate offense against a unit that likes to muck things up. NIU should win its fair share of matchups against Maryland’s offense, but the flipside is a concern for the Huskies. The Terrapins’ interception-happy defense stuffed the run and gave FAU fits all over. As long as Maryland limits its penalties, this defense is well-structured to thrive again in Week 2.
Maryland extends its FBS-best non-conference win streak to 16 and notches its eighth-straight non-conference win by at least 14 points.
Prediction: Maryland 28, Northern Illinois 13
