The Maryland Terrapins have fallen into their worst stretch in years, and find themselves at 3-3 in the middle of their season. This is a must win game for Maryland in their annual Homecoming game at SECU Stadium in College Park. This will be Maryland’s 102nd Homecoming game. The Terps have an all-time record of 61-36-4 in homecoming games (60.3 winning percentage). In town as their opponent is one of the newest Big-10 teams from the west coast in the USC Trojans. USC will be the 32nd different opponent Maryland will welcome on homecoming.
The Terps have won three of their past four and six of their last eight homecoming games, with wins against Purdue (2016), Indiana (2017 & 2021), Rutgers (2018), Minnesota (2020), and Northwestern (2022) in that span.
USC travels its furthest distance this season, and traveled across the country to just outside of our nation’s capital to play Maryland for the first time ever in the history of these programs. USC also enters this game with a 3-3 record.
With Billy Edwards Jr. at QB1 for the Terps, he must figure out a way to lead his team to victory. Tai Felton was the star in the Terps three wins, and he must turn big plays to keep drives moving and convert them into touchdowns. That all makes sense, but clearly the team is made up of dozens of other players who must step up.
Redshirt junior QB Billy Edwards Jr. is 6-3 as a starter at Maryland across three seasons, with wins over Northwestern, NC State, Auburn, UConn, Virginia, and Villanova. Edwards currently ranks in the top-20 among all FBS quarterbacks in completion percentage (68.4) and passing yards per game (290.0). Edwards Jr., who was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Edwards leads the Big Ten in completions (156), is third in passing yards per game, and is sixth in completion percentage. He has five games this season with multiple touchdown passes and zero or one interception. Over the last 30 Maryland seasons, only two QBs have more such games in a season—Taulia Tagovailoa (seven in both 2021 & 2023)
and Danny O’Brien (six in 2010).
RB Roman Hemby, as the main back, has to get the ground game going. He surpassed 2,500 career scrimmage yards and eclipsed the 2,000 rushing yard mark for his college career at Maryland.
Maryland’s eight interceptions have come from Glendon Miller (three), Jalen Huskey (three), Dante Trader Jr. and Ruben Hyppolite II. The Terps have notched eight interceptions this season, second behind Minnesota’s 13 for the most in the Big Ten, though the Golden Gophers have played seven games to Maryland’s six. The eight interceptions are tied for the 12th-most among FBS teams.
Maryland returned five starters on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, including All-Big Ten selections in running back Roman Hemby and wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather. OL Kyle Long and TE Preston Howard also return. Howard caught his first career touchdown pass in Maryland’s win over Auburn in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
Last week, Maryland’s defense held UConn to just 88 rushing yards and forced either a punt or turnover on 11 of 15 UConn drives. Seven starters returned for Maryland’s defense, including Third-Team All-Big Ten selection Ruben Hyppolite II and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection Quashon Fuller. Other returners include defensive linemen Jordan Phillips and Tommy Akingbesote, linebacker Kellan Wyatt and defensive backs Dante Trader Jr. and Glendon Miller.
“We’re at the halfway part of our season, and as I tell you, we evaluate every part of it whether it’s coaching, whether it’s staff, whether it’s philosophy, whether it’s process. We’ve had some challenging moments in the first half of the season. As a result, I’ve made some tough decisions, and significant moves internally.”
— head coach Michael Locksley said at Tuesday’s presser
“It’s important because that’s how you get to the outcomes you want. The big outcomes.”
While Locksley didn’t get into naming names of the changes he has made, he did say that he has made moves in moving players from first team starters to second team starters, and second team starters to first team starters.
With the Terps’ win against Villanova in their non-conference game, it was the 15th-straight non-conference season win. Also that win extended the Terps’ non-conference win streak to 15. Coach Locksley so far is 16-1 in non-conference games.
Maryland has won eight games in back-to-back seasons, and that is a testament to the team’s consistency and improvement, especially given the historical context since their last such achievement was in 2002-03.
Maryland’s record: 3-3 0-3 Big Ten
USC’s record: 3-3, 1-3 Big Ten
All-time series: These teams have never faced each other before
BetUS Sportsbook : Maryland are favorites at -10.5, O/U 46.5
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, FS1
Stadium: SECU Stadium • College Park, Md.
TV: FS1 Network, Play-By-Play: Eric Collins; Analyst: Robert Smith
Streaming TV: FOX
Radio: Audacy Radio App / SiriusXM 136; 105.7 FM (Balt.) / 980 AM (D.C.) — Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Steve Suter (analyst), LaMont Jordan (sideline)
