Tag: Terps

Maryland QB Malik Washington staying put in ‘26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Malik Washington, a former five-star quarterback recruit coming out of high school, is returning to Maryland for the 2026 season, the program announced.

Washington is from Severn, Md., and elected to stay home for college over numerous other offers. It was unknown whether he would test the transfer portal following a 4-8 season for the Terrapins.

“Representing this team, this area, means so much to me and my family,” Washington said in a statement Saturday. “This is home and we’re going to continue keeping the best athletes from this area here with the Terps. I believe in everyone in our facility and I know we’re building something that our fans will be excited about for years to come.”

Washington beat out two other quarterbacks for the starting job as a true freshman, and he completed 57.7% of this throws for 2,963 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games. He added 303 yards and four TDs on the ground.

However, Maryland dropped the final eight games of the season after a 4-0 start. The program announced last month that it would retain head coach Mike Locksley.

–Field Level Media

Alessio Milivojevic helps Michigan State avoid history it didn’t want

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Freshman Alessio Milivojevic threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Michigan State snapped its eight-game losing streak with a 38-28 victory over Maryland on Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit.

Alante Brown added a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown as the Spartans (4-8, 1-8 Big Ten) avoided becoming the first Michigan State team to lose all of its league games since joining the Big Ten in 1953.

Milivojevic did most of his damage in the first half and finished the game 27 of 39 for 292 yards and one interception.

Maryland (4-8, 1-8) rallied in the second half but suffered its eighth straight loss, matching the longest losing streak of coach Mike Locksley’s seven-year tenure and the second longest skid in program history.

Freshman Malik Washington completed 38 of 61 passes for 459 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for the Terrapins. His competitions, attempts and yardage were all career highs.

Michigan rolled up 453 yards while Maryland finished with 534 yards, its most in a game since last season’s opener.

Milivojevic repeatedly attacked the middle of the Maryland defense, finding receivers open between the hash marks.

Nick Marsh had seven receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown while Jack Velling made five catches for 68 yards and another score.

Milivojevic’s biggest completion came when the Spartans, holding a 31-28 lead, made a bold call, going for it on fourth-and-7 from the Terrapins’ 10 with two minutes left in the game.

Milivojevic found Omari Kelly open in the back of the end zone for the clinching touchdown.

Michigan State scored on the game’s opening possession as Milivojevic capped a 70-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kai Rios.

After Martin Covington increased the Spartans’ lead to 10-0 with a 25-yard field goal, Milivojevic fired a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marsh less than four minutes into the second quarter.

Washington countered with his first touchdown pass of the game, a 7-yard toss to the back of the end zone to Jalil Farooq to cut the deficit to 17-7 two-and-a-half minutes after the Marsh score.

Milivojevic was clutch again as he threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Velling with just four seconds left in the half, making it 24-7.

In the third quarter, Maryland scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. Washington fired two touchdown passes in the period, but in between came Brown’s kickoff return score, keeping the Spartans in front 31-28.

Elijah Tau-Tolliver carried 13 times for 95 yards for Michigan State.

Farooq had 10 receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns while Shaleak Knotts caught eight passes for 139 yards and a touchdown for Maryland.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Danny O'Neil (18) is tackled by jMaryland Terrapins defensive lineman Dillan Fontus (46) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Stingy Maryland staying humble while preparing for Washington

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Maryland coach Mike Locksley isn’t buying into the hype.

Despite his team getting off to a 4-0 start, he isn’t ready to make any grand proclamations about the Terrapins entering a Saturday Big Ten Conference matchup with Washington in College Park, Md.

“I don’t feel the swell of excitement because I try to insulate myself,” Locksley said on IMS Radio. “I came up in the Nick Saban school of thought: Don’t take the cheese, don’t eat the rat poison of it, because there weren’t very many people in December and January (backing us) when everybody was leaving this place and going other places and there wasn’t a lot of direction.

“We figured it out. We’ve put together a good roster. Now the goal is to continue to find a way to develop it and build on it so that we can get this thing back on track.”

The Terrapins, who have yet to trail this season, opened conference play on Sept. 20 with a 27-10 victory at Wisconsin, then had a bye last week.

Maryland’s defense has been stellar. The Terrapins are allowing just 10.8 points per game and entered last week’s bye with the most sacks (16) and interceptions (eight) in the nation.

“It’s not something we’re going to hang our hat on,” defensive lineman Dillan Fontus said. “It’s still the first four games. We’re not worried about stats and stuff like that. It’s just a testament to all the work we put in … It’s more of an expectation than a surprise or something to hang your hat on.”

The Huskies (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) had been cruising before a 24-6 loss at home last week against No. 1 Ohio State in their conference opener. They committed six penalties — two on coach Jedd Fisch — and Demond Williams Jr. was sacked six times.

“When you play the No. 1 team in the country, they know how to win,” Fisch said. “They’ve won a lot. They win every year. And if you’re going to be able to finish the game, and be able to win those games, those penalties can’t happen. Those sacks can’t happen. The mistakes that were made can’t happen.”

Williams, a sophomore who is completing 75.6 percent of his passing attempts, was 18 of 22 for 226 yards against the Buckeyes.

Fisch suggested it might have been better if Williams had completed fewer passes — throwing the ball away instead of taking a sack.

“I’ve got to help Demond understand that an incompletion is OK sometimes,” Fisch said. “He doesn’t throw many incompletions at all. Sometimes — sometimes — that leads to holding the ball a little bit longer and unfortunately, at times, it can turn into a sack.”

–Field Level Media

Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9), who transferred in from Maryland in the offseason, is tended to after being injured during the second quarter of their game against Miami (Ohio) Thursday, August 28, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

‘Great barometer’ awaits Badgers and Terps in Big Ten opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The visiting Maryland Terps should provide the most accurate assessment yet for the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday in the Big Ten Conference opener for each team.

In its first real test, Wisconsin (2-1) was hammered 38-14 in a mistake-plagued loss Saturday at No. 14 Alabama after opening with home victories over Miami (Ohio) and Middle Tennessee State.

It’s fair to suggest Maryland (3-0) gets its first real test this week. The Terps, playing on the road for the first time, are coming off wins over Towson, Florida Atlantic and Northern Illinois by a combined 103-33 score.

“This will be a great barometer for what kind of team we have and what type of team we can be,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said Tuesday.

Wisconsin held Alabama to just 72 yards rushing on 22 attempts, but Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson shredded the secondary for 382 yards and four touchdowns.

The main question for the Badgers is the status of starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., out since suffering a sprained knee in the season opener. Edwards passed for 2,281 yards with 15 touchdowns last season at Maryland before transferring.

“Billy is just going to be day-to-day,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “At some point we’re going to have to save Billy from Billy, but we’ve also got to make some decisions and move along during the week. Right now, we wouldn’t know.”

Reserve quarterback Danny O’Neil completed 11 of 17 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions versus Alabama. Wisconsin ran for just 92 yards on 34 attempts, an anemic 2.7 per carry.

The Badgers rank fifth in the nation in rushing defense at 46.3 yards per game, but they give up 224.3 yards per game through the air. The Badgers average 332.7 yards of total offense. Winless UCLA, which fired its coach this week, is the only Big Ten team that averages fewer.

When Edwards transferred to Wisconsin, that cleared the way for freshman Malik Washington to earn Maryland’s job. Washington completed 16 of 22 passes for 261 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Towson. He has completed 62 percent of his throws through three games for 773 yards, six scores and one pick.

La’khi Roland had a 100-yard interception return that put the Terps up 41-0 early in the third quarter against the overmatched Tigers.

The Terps average 382.7 yards per game while allowing 302. Maryland is 11-of-14 in red zone conversions, which includes five touchdowns.

Wisconsin has won all four meetings with Maryland, including a 23-10 win three years ago in Madison.

–Field Level Media

Sep 5, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Malik Washington (7) passes over the reach of Northern Illinois Huskies defensive tackle Alvin Gulley Jr. (0) in the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Malik Washington dazzles again as Maryland downs NIU

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Malik Washington threw a pair of touchdowns to help Maryland pull away from Northern Illinois 20-9 in a defensive battle on Friday night in College Park, Md.

With the Terrapins (2-0) clinging to a four-point lead in the fourth quarter, the true freshman quarterback led Maryland on a 77-yard touchdown drive, finding the end zone on a 42-yard pass to Shaleak Knotts. Because of a penalty and negative rushing yards, Washington threw for more yards (88) than the length of the drive.

This helped deny the Huskies (1-1) their second straight Week 2 upset, 363 days after they stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last season.

Washington finished the game 19 of 35 for 254 yards and the two touchdowns, with 134 of those yards coming in the fourth quarter. He did have a red-zone fumble on a third-quarter scramble that prevented the Terps from potentially padding their lead earlier.

In his first two career starts, albeit against non-Power Four opponents, Washington has thrown for 512 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

NIU’s offense was anchored by its two-headed running back tandem of Chavon Wright (90 yards rushing, seven receiving) and Telly Johnson Jr. (86 rushing yards, 17 receiving), who accounted for 200 of the Huskies’ 271 yards of offense (74 percent).

Johnson got most of his production on a 74-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that cut Maryland’s lead to 13-9. But outside of that, the Terrapins’ defense was up to the task throughout the game.

Maryland notched four sacks and nine tackles for loss, and held NIU QB Josh Holst to 91 yards on 14-of-22 passing.

Washington’s production was quite focused on certain targets in the two halves. Of his five completions and 75 passing yards in the first half, four and 70 of those went to tight end Dorian Fleming.

The Georgia State transfer set up the Terrapins’ first score, a 36-yard field goal from Sean O’Haire, with a 48-yard screen pass he ran to the brink of the red zone.

Fleming then caught Maryland’s first touchdown on a 12-yard bolt from Washington to make it 10-0 Terps midway through the second quarter.

But Fleming was held catchless in the second half. Instead, 113 of Washington’s 179 second-half passing yards went to Knotts (58) and Jalil Farooq (55), both of whom had all their production after halftime.

–Field Level Media

Notre Dame's last second field goal attempt is blocked to give Northern Illinois the 16-14 win in a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

Northern Illinois visits Maryland plotting another Week 2 shocker

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In Week 2 last season, Northern Illinois pulled off perhaps the most inexplicable upset of 2024 by toppling a Notre Dame team that went on to reach the national title game.

This year in Week 2, Northern Illinois (1-0) has a chance to make noise again versus a heavily favored foe — though a victory Friday night at Maryland (1-0) wouldn’t have the same seismic impact.

“We’re playing a Big Ten opponent on national TV,” Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock said on Tuesday. “It’s a great opportunity to see if we can get better from Week 1 to Week 2.”

While Northern Illinois opened last week with an uninspiring 19-17 victory over FCS Holy Cross, Maryland’s opener featured a flashy debut from true freshman quarterback Malik Washington.

In a 39-7 defeat of Florida Atlantic, Washington lived up to his advance notice as a highly touted recruit, completing 27 of 43 passes for 258 yards without an interception.

All three of Washington’s touchdown passes came in the dizzying final eight minutes of the first half when the Terrapins took control of the game.

“This kid is mature beyond the years,” said Maryland coach Mike Locksley. “I saw a young quarterback really put it on himself to deliver some great throws.”

Washington’s promising debut has removed some of the pressure building on Locksley and the program after last year’s 4-8 season that included just one win in the Big Ten.

“To get off to a fast start is igniting,” Locksley said. “To elevate, you have to at least hit the button to start where you want to go.”

After losing 16 players to power-conference schools in the transfer portal, this is a much different Northern Illinois squad than the one that took down Notre Dame. The Huskies have nine new starters on each side of the ball.

Josh Holst, who was the backup at quarterback last year, presents a running threat. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards with one interception and no touchdowns against Holy Cross.

The Huskies depended on their rushing attack, which produced 180 yards led by Chavon Wright (11 carries, 77 yards, one touchdown) and Telly Johnson Jr. (21 carries, 67 yards).

A 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Dev’ion Reynolds gave Northern Illinois the lead for good in the fourth quarter versus Holy Cross.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley walks down the sidelines during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Maryland trusts ‘foundation’ facing FAU’s Air-Raid

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Maryland took a step backward following three straight winning seasons and bowl victories under coach Mike Locksley.

The Terrapins are starting from scratch in many ways when they kick off the season Saturday against Florida Atlantic in College Park, Md.

Maryland ended 2024 with five straight losses and finished with a 4-8 record, but given how different this year’s roster looks, it’s the furthest thing from Locksley’s mind.

“I’ll give you a good coaching axiom: Success is equal to production being greater than or equal to our expectation, and it’s our expectation, not yours,” Locksley said Tuesday. “… We’ve created a foundation that I think will allow us to bounce back better, because of the foundation, to get back on track to compete for Big Ten championships.”

Among the many departures were quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. and MJ Morris, who transferred out, with Edwards going to Wisconsin and Morris to Coastal Carolina.

There is no word on the status of Maryland’s three-way quarterback competition, other than the fact that all three are healthy and available to play Saturday.

The candidates are green. Justyn Martin is a transfer from UCLA with one career start, Khristian Martin redshirted last year and true freshman Malik Washington was a four-star high school recruit.

Nolan Ray, Maryland’s second-leading rusher last year (374 yards), and tight end Dorian Fleming received some attention on preseason award watch lists. Maryland also swapped out both coordinators, hiring veterans Pep Hamilton on offense and Ted Monachino on defense.

The Terrapins are preparing for a new-look Florida Atlantic offense that will be dictated by first-year coach Zach Kittley, the youngest head coach in the FBS at 34.

Kittley worked with Patrick Mahomes as a Texas Tech grad assistant once upon a time, and more recently he molded Bailey Zappe into a record-breaking passer at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky.

“He’s an Air Raid guy, so we expect them to be a Texas Tech-like Air Raid system on offense, and that’s his background, his wheelhouse,” Locksley said.

Caden Veltkamp was the quarterback FAU brought in to orchestrate the aerial attack. At Western Kentucky, Veltkamp won C-USA Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 3,108 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding seven rushing TDs.

“He’s living up there (at the facility),” Kittley said. “He loves every second of it. He’s in my office asking me questions … And the difference between him and a lot of these guys is he’s played a lot of football and he’s been in some big games. He played in a conference championship game last year.”

FAU fired Tom Herman last year near the end of a 3-9 season. The Owls last finished above .500 in 2020.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) throws a pass during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Kyle Monangai scores twice in return as Rutgers tops Maryland

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyle Monangai rushed for two touchdowns and Athan Kaliakmanis tossed for two scores Saturday as Rutgers secured bowl eligibility with a 31-17 win over Maryland in College Park, Md.

Monangai scored from 2 and 6 yards out, the latter giving the Scarlet Knights a 21-17 lead with 5:14 left in the third quarter. He finished with 97 yards on 25 carries after missing last week’s game with an undisclosed injury.

Kaliakmanis completed 20 of 30 throws for 238 yards for Rutgers (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten), which clinched bowl eligibility in consecutive seasons for the first time since making four straight bowls from 2011-14.

Billy Edwards Jr. went 32-of-55 for 335 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while Roman Hemby tallied 87 rushing yards and a score as the Terrapins lost their third straight game. Maryland (4-6, 1-6) must win its last two games to make a fourth straight bowl.

The Scarlet Knights seized control after Hemby’s 1-yard run slid the Terrapins ahead 17-14 early in the second half. Monangai’s second score put Rutgers back in front, and Dymere Miller’s 32-yard catch on the first play of the fourth quarter extended the lead to 28-17.

Miller finished with eight receptions for 107 yards, both game-highs.

Jordan Thompson intercepted Edwards at the Scarlet Knights’ 28-yard line on Maryland’s next possession, and Jai Patel drilled a 46-yard field goal to make it 31-17 with 9:53 left. Rutgers’ defense notched fourth-down stops on the Terrapins’ next two drives to seal the victory.

Maryland converted 3 of 6 fourth downs overall, while the Scarlet Knights finished 3-for-3.

Jack Howes’ 48-yard field goal with 2:01 left in the first quarter put Maryland up 3-0. Rutgers responded with a 17-play, 75-yard drive that lasted almost nine minutes and ended with Kaliakmanis’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Ian Strong.

Edwards hit Tai Felton for a 12-yard score on Maryland’s next possession for a 10-7 lead. The Scarlet Knights answered again, this time on Monangai’s 2-yard run to swing Rutgers ahead 14-10 with 1:01 remaining in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Jordan James (20) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

No. 1 Oregon to make first-ever encounter with Maryland

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The College Football Playoff rankings have Oregon in the No. 1 position for the first time in history. Its previous high was No. 2 in 2014, when the Ducks were one of four teams in the inaugural CFP.

But the Ducks (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) still have a ways to go to get to the playoffs, and their final regular-season stretch starts Saturday with their first-ever meeting with Maryland in the conference matchup in Eugene, Ore.

Oregon has wins over two teams in the CFP rankings, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 12 Boise State. The Ducks also defeated Illinois, which was ranked in the Top 25 at the time, and thumped Michigan 38-17 in Ann Arbor last weekend

The Ducks lost two starters to injury against Michigan, including top wide receiver Tez Johnson, whose arm was in a sling. But indications are that Johnson will be back at some point this season, as will starting offensive lineman Marcus Harper II, who was helped off the field with a left knee injury.

The Ducks, who are looking to move to 10-0 for the third time in program annals, would seem to have the pieces in place and the depth to replace both players.

“I’m confident we have a plan,” Lanning told the Eugene Register-Guard. “There’s a lot of guys that can play winning football for us right now. Who that’ll be come Saturday, I’ll leave that for us to figure out in-house, but we’ve got a lot of guys that can play winning football for us, and there will be some guys that will step up like they have all season.”

The Ducks didn’t miss Johnson much after he left the Michigan game early on. Traeshon Holden finished with 149 receiving yards after being disciplined for spitting on an Ohio State player last month.

Oregon has been a complete team this season, with solid defense, a productive running game, the accurate passing of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, and big-play potential on special teams, though not having Johnson could impact that unit.

Maryland (4-4, 1-4) has lost three of its last four games, and is playing a game in the Pacific time zone for the first time since the 2014 Foster Farms Bowl in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Terrapins feature wide receiver Tai Felton, who leads the Big Ten with 73 receptions and 907 receiving yards. With 93 more yards, he can become just the fourth Maryland player ever with 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

Maryland’s passing attack will look to challenge Oregon’s secondary. The Terrapins rank first in the Big Ten in passing yards per game at 314.5 per game. On the other side of the ball, the defense has allowed 42.3 points per game in their previous three losses, to Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota.

“We have a good football team, still,” Maryland head coach Michael Locksley said. “I feel pretty confident that this team will show up and be heard.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch (12) passes the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Northwestern, Maryland aim to rebound after games slipped away

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With both teams licking their wounds from lookalike losses to Indiana, Northwestern and Maryland are seeking the finishing touch when they meet Friday night in College Park, Md.

Last week, the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) were poised to upset the then-No. 23 Hoosiers as they trailed by three points before giving up two touchdowns in the final seven minutes of a 41-24 loss.

Meanwhile, the Terrapins (3-2, 0-2) have had a week to stew on their 42-28 loss at the Hoosiers. The game was tied 21-all in the third quarter before Indiana (now No. 18 in the country) reeled off three straight touchdowns.

The bye week came at a good time for Maryland, which lost three of its top players.

On Tuesday, coach Mike Locksley was evasive about the status of safety Dante Trader Jr. and wideouts Tai Felton and Kaden Prather, saying two were healthy, but not identifying which ones.

“I’m thinking all three will be good to go,” Lockley said. “We did a procedure on one of the three, where it just (depends on) how it takes.”

While Felton leads the Big Ten in receptions (46) and receiving yards (642), Prather provides a secondary threat with 26 catches for 269 yards.

Coming off consecutive 8-5 seasons and three straight bowl appearances — all wins — the program has come under fire as the Terrapins appear to have regressed.

“We’ve got the transfer portal coming open here soon,” Locksley said. “The church gates are opening up here soon and we need to have positivity about the program, about the kids, about the direction.”

Northwestern also had hoped for a better start after going 8-5 last year under David Braun, who was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

“I think this football team is very confident that we have more within us,” Braun said.

In his third career start, quarterback Jack Lausch completed 23 of 38 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against Indiana.

“I’m so stinking excited about the progression we’re seeing out of Jack,” Braun said.

Northwestern hopes for more from its rushing attack, which has produced 152 yards on 48 carries in its two Big Ten losses. The improved health of Cam Porter should help, Braun said.

Porter was sidelined for the Wildcats’ 24-5 loss at Washington and carried just six times for 15 yards in the Indiana defeat.

Porter scored two touchdowns last year in Northwestern’s 33-27 win over Maryland, which brought the Wildcats’ record to 3-1 in the series.

–Field Level Media