Maryland football’s Saturday bout against Wisconsin was going to be a barometer for the Terps no matter the outcome. And while it wasn’t a perfect outing, it was a performance that should leave both fans and head coach Michael Locksley satisfied with where the team stands.
Through 60 minutes, Maryland ultimately got the best of the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium, 27-10.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
Special teams shined
Just how good was Maryland’s special teams unit Saturday? The Terps have blocked six kicks
over the past two seasons. Two came Saturday; one on a field goal attempt, and the other on a blocked punt.
The blocked field goal came in the first quarter courtesy of freshman Zahir Mathis, who has undoubtedly made a name for himself through the team’s first four games. Though the Terps were unable to immediately turn the sensational play into points on the other end, it did hinder Wisconsin from putting points on the board on its very first possession and seizing momentum.
The blocked punt, however, was far more consequential. Wisconsin was backed up rather deep in its own territory when freshman safety Messiah Delhomme got his hands on Atticus Bertrams’ attempt, giving the Terps the ball at the 28-yard line. Malik Washington and company marched into the end zone just five plays and 1:24 later.
The fact that Maryland’s youth movement has made tangible, momentum shifting plays this season bodes extremely well for the team’s future. What’s even more reassuring is that the freshmen who made those plays — Mathis and Delhomme — have also been steady contributors on defense.
Don’t forget Sean O’Haire, either — he was perfect on his field goal attempts, nailing from 49 and 26 yards.
A stifling defensive performance
The Terps did not allow a single point in the first half. The Badgers passed for 95 yards and rushed for just 34 more — a product of Maryland’s speedy, group-tackling efforts.
Wisconsin starter and former Terp Billy Edwards Jr. commanded just two drives before Danny O’Neil took over at quarterback. Edwards had been dealing with a knee sprain and limped off the field after a short scramble before ultimately being ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
O’Neil struggled to pick apart Maryland’s secondary, often waiting a few extra beats before making a decision. This resulted in added pressure from the Terps’ rush, which got home six times.
But Maryland’s interior run stuff was arguably even better. The Terps struggled mightily to contain rushers in 2024, a point that hit its peak when Penn State racked up 244 yards on the ground. But on Saturday, Maryland’s defensive line seldom left holes open. Linebackers Trey Reddick III and Daniel Wingate assumed dominant sideline-to-sideline roles, hawking ball carriers all over the field. The Terps tallied 10 tackles for loss on the afternoon, with names like Dillan Fontus and EJ Moore Jr. making splash plays.
The Terps’ secondary also got in on the action, with Jalen Huskey grabbing a first-quarter interception. Huskey’s impressive day later continued with a fourth-down stop on O’Neil in the second quarter.
Malik Washington was dealing
Statistically, could his completion percentage be better? Sure, he went 18-of-34 passing. But a handful of those incompletions came from early drops.
As a whole, Washington was about as good as Maryland fans could hope for in his Big Ten debut, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he did not turn the ball over. He largely made smart, safe decisions all afternoon, save for a slant pass that hit a Wisconsin defensive back in the hands.
His patience allowed him to open up the field for some huge chunk plays, too, including a 48-yard strike to Octavian Smith Jr. and a 62-yard dime to Shaleak Knotts for a game-sealing touchdown. He had three other passing plays that went over 15 yards.
Washington also utilized his legs to his advantage, perfectly diagnosing the defense on a read-option for the Terps’ first score.
Overall, Washington’s poise and presence at a packed Camp Randall Stadium should be commended; he spread the ball to seven different pass catchers and never seemed locked onto a specific target.
