Maryland football has a resiliency problem under head coach Michael Locksley.
20 of the Terps’ 24 losses since 2021 have come as part of a losing streak. When they hit a rough patch, it’s been difficult for Locksley-led Maryland squads to get out of them.
Saturday’s contest with Nebraska isn’t just a chance for the Terps to move one win away from a bowl game appearance. It’s a chance for a young team to prove they can take on adversity and grow from it. Maryland’s 24-20 loss to Washington — one in which
the Huskies stormed back from a 20-0 deficit to win — is the definition of adversity.
“We’ll be defined by what we do now,” Locksley said. “Last week’s game should not and will not have any impact on this week’s game.”
The Terps and Cornhuskers are set to kick off from SECU Stadium at 3:30 p.m. EST and will air on Big Ten Network.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
2024 record: 7-6, 3-6 Big Ten
Nebraska was a Big 12 powerhouse dating back to the conference’s days as the Big Eight. Legendary coaches Bob Devaney, Tom Osbourne and Frank Solich led their Cornhuskers teams to 35 straight bowl game appearances between 1969 and 2003, adding three undisputed national championships and two split ones along the way.
But more than two decades after Solich’s departure, the program is a shell of its former success. Last season was its first winning season and bowl game appearance — a win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl — since 2016 as Nebraska suffered through the tumultuous Scott Frost era.
Third-year head coach Matt Rhule is laying the foundation for a program that finally appears on an upward trajectory. But despite their undeniable talent, this still isn’t your father’s Cornhuskers. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen runs a modern, pass-heavy system that resembles Maryland’s more than the ground-and-pound Nebraska offenses of old.
Maryland came out on the winning side of a grueling 13-10 win over the Cornhuskers in 2023, the teams’ last matchup.
Players to know
Dylan Raiola, sophomore quarterback, No. 15 — Much of the media attention surrounding Raiola centers around his impressions of and similar looks to Patrick Mahomes. But don’t let that distract from his abilities as a passer.
Raiola has taken a massive step up in his sophomore season. He already has nearly as many passing touchdowns (12) as he did all of last season (13), and has cut his interception rate in half. Raiola is just as efficient as he is an arm talent, with a stellar 74.2% completion percentage through five games.
Jacory Barney Jr., sophomore wide receiver, No. 2 — Barney can affect the game in a variety of ways. He’s broken out as both an elite slot receiver and punt returner for Nebraska in 2025, leading the team in receptions (23), receiving yards (348) and receiving touchdowns (3) while also averaging 14.8 yards per punt return.
DeShon Singleton, senior safety, No. 8 — Singleton has done nothing but improve since losing most of his sophomore year to injury. He started all 13 games last season and has become perhaps the defense’s best player this season, with the team’s second most tackles (23), a tackle for loss, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
Singleton’s best game as a Cornhusker came last week against Michigan State. His two interceptions on quarterback Aidan Chiles earned him a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week nod.
Andrew Marshall, junior cornerback, No. 10 — Marshall’s first season at the FBS level has been a productive one. He spent his first two collegiate seasons with Idaho at the famous Kibbie Dome before joining the Cornhuskers this past offseason.
Marshall’s play style converts well to the Big Ten. He’s a stalwart in run defense, with three tackles for loss this season despite playing outside corner, and is an elite tackling cornerback. With Maryland using RPOs and receiver screens frequently as extensions of the run game, Marshall’s tackling ability will be key Saturday.
Strength
Pass defense. The Cornhuskers are the owners of one of the country’s most impressive statistics: they have allowed just 91.8 passing yards per game this year, the fewest at the FBS level by a wide margin. They’ve only allowed a single passing touchdown all season.
That’s in part due to opponents; every team Nebraska has played ran the ball far more than they passed. Malik Washington leads the Big Ten in pass attempts, so don’t expect that figure to hold. But it’s an incredible accomplishment nonetheless.
Weakness
Sacks allowed. Calling this section “pass protection” wouldn’t tell the whole story. Nebraska’s offensive line has the third-highest Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade in the Big Ten. But Raiola does them no favors. The one glaring weakness of his game is his ability to evade pressure. His pressure-to-sack percentage is an astounding 32.7%, the second-highest number in the country, per PFF.
That means if Maryland’s defense can generate pressure — and it leads the Big Ten in sacks (19) so far this season — it could lead to Nebraska’s offense crumbling.
Three things to watch
1. Malcolm Hartzog Jr.’s status. Hartzog is a problem for offenses when he’s on the field. The 2024 All-Big Ten honorable mention can produce from every position in the secondary and has the stats and accolades to prove it.
But he’s missed the last three games with an injury, and Rhule said it was “highly doubtful” he’d make the trip to College Park. If he’s out another game, that’s a big win for the Terps.
2. Nor’easter watch. Autumn is in full swing, and that means it’s storm season in Maryland. The first nor’easter of the season is expected to begin some time Saturday afternoon — the game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. The bulk of that rain will come Sunday, but any inclement weather will be a challenge the Terps haven’t had to deal with yet this season.
3. Maryland’s margin of error is decreasing. A win for Maryland Saturday will prove it can bounce back from a tough loss, and bring it to 5-1, a win away from clinching a bowl game. A loss? Maryland moves to 4-2 with three ranked opponents on the docket for its last six games. The three unranked ones — UCLA, Rutgers and Michigan State — will be played on the road. Nebraska isn’t necessarily a must-win game, but a loss makes Maryland’s road to a bowl game much, much tighter.
