The Maryland Terrapins pulled off their best comeback win in years. Can they take that win as some momentum against Minnesota today? Maryland is at 4-3 and in need of another win today on the road.
With Billy Edwards Jr. at QB1 for the Terps, he had to gain a lot of confidence after leading his team to victory after trailing by 14 points in the 4th quarter last week. Tai Felton has taken on double teams for much of the season, and that has allowed receivers like Octavian Smith Jr. and Kaden Prather to get some one-on-one coverage and make some big plays.
Redshirt junior QB Billy Edwards Jr. is 7-3 as a starter at Maryland across three seasons, with wins over Northwestern, NC State, Auburn, UConn, Virginia, Villanova, and USC. Edwards currently ranks in the top-10 among all FBS quarterbacks in completion
percentage (70.1-No.9) and passing yards per game (301.9-No.8). Edwards Jr., who was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 25 on Oct. 7, and is tied with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders for the most completions among all FBS QBs (195).
RB Roman Hemby, as the main back, has to get the ground game going for the Terrapins. He surpassed 2,500 career scrimmage yards and eclipsed the 2,000 rushing yard mark for his college career at Maryland. He is one of just nine active FBS players who have recorded 1000+ scrimmage yards in each of the last two complete seasons.
Maryland’s nine interceptions have come from Glendon Miller (three), Jalen Huskey (three), Dante Trader Jr., Ruben Hyppolite II, and Lavain Scruggs. Those
nine interceptions are tied for the 15th-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.
“Really excited about last week’s outcome. … I want to emphasize at how proud I am about the mindset of this team. I think they understand how important it is that they stay focused on the process as well as progress. … You want to see incremental improvement every game.”
— head coach Michael Locksley said at Tuesday’s presser
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: 4-3 1-3 Big Ten
Minnesota’s record: 4-3, 2-2 Big Ten
All-time series: 4-3 against Minnesota all-time
BetUS Sportsbook : Maryland are underdogs at +5.5, O/U 46.5
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET, FS1
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: FS1 Network,Play-By-Play: Connor Onion; Analyst: Spencer Tillman
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)
