Maryland coach Mike Locksley met with the media following his team's 48-23 loss to Nebraska on Saturday. The loss drops the Terrapins to 2-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Big Ten
For the first time since 2016, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are 5-0. The Huskers now lead the all-time series between the schools to 4-1. Nebraska has now won 15 of its past 17 Homecoming games.
Nebraska has won each of its first five games by at least 17 points. This is the first time the Huskers have won five straight games by at least 17 points since 2001.
The Husker offense had another impressive afternoon with 447 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer was the star, catching 10 passes for a career-high 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is the first Husker to have
back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Samori Toure in September of 2021.
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 108 yards. Colandrea is the first Husker quarterback to top 100 rushing yards since Heinrich Haarberg rushed for 157 yards against Louisiana Tech in 2023.
Penalties were another major storyline on Saturday afternoon. Together, both teams committed 28 penalties for 247 yards. The 28 penalties were the most in an FBS game since Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky had 28 flags in 2021.
In a media availability, Locksley accepted responsibility for his team's mistakes in Saturday's loss.
"As always, give Nebraska, Matt, credit. Good football team. They got down, responded with some big plays when they needed to make them. I thought our guys came to play this week. And when you play good teams like Nebraska, they don't need help. So that's all coaching, that's execution, and that's on me. I'm going to continue to show up and do the work, the necessary work, until the results catch up."
The Blackshirts entered the game as one of college football's top-ranked defenses. The Terrapins had 395 yards of total offense but struggled on third-down, finishing the afternoon 1 for 14.
Nebraska now ranks second in the nation in third-down conversion defense. The Huskers have allowed 13 conversions on 61 attempts through five games. Locksley discusses the third-down struggles and what it takes to fix them.
"I thought our players really showed up. It was great to have DeJuan back today. He helped us in the run game a little bit, but still way too many self-inflicted wounds that we'll get in tomorrow, get the film watched, get it looked at. It starts with third down. For me, on the offensive side, we didn't do a great job on third down. On defense, like I said, the explosive plays showed up, and then to get a punt blocked. So all three phases had their opportunities, and what we've got to do is get these guys to make the plays when they're there, and then we've got to coach better, starting with me. With that, I'll open up for questions."
Nebraska remains home and will host Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. CT.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Maryland coach Mike Locksley said after brutal loss to Nebraska
