Tag: Terrapins

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

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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

Bryson Kuzdzal pushes No. 18 Michigan to ninth straight over Maryland

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In his first career start, former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns to propel No. 18 Michigan to a 45-20 win over Maryland, Saturday in College Park, Md.

Bryce Underwood threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns as the Wolverines (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) kept their hopes alive for a berth in the College Football Playoffs.

Underwood completed 16 of 23 passes without an interception. His top target, Andrew Marsh, caught five passes for 76 yards and a touchdown to help Michigan beat Maryland for the ninth straight time.

Malik Washington completed 19 of 39 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown the Terrapins (4-7, 1-7) lost their seventh straight and saw their hopes of becoming bowl eligible disappear.

The skid matches the longest of coach Mike Locksley’s seven-year tenure at Maryland. Early this week, the school said that Locksley would return next season.

On the game’s opening possession, the Terrapins drove 75 yards, scoring on a 1-yard pass from Washington to Dorian Fleming on a fourth-and-1 play.

Two of the Michigan scoring drives started in Maryland territory as the Terrapins failed to recover an onside kick and Michigan’s Mason Curtis picked off a Washington pass.

The Wolverines tied it, 7-7, when a tightly covered Marsh made an over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone.

On the second play of the second quarter, Kuzdzal capped an 83-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7.

Donaven McCulley increased the lead to 21-7 when he took a wide receiver screen from Underwood and raced 22 yards to the end zone.

Kuzdzal went 19 yards untouched on an off-tackle play to make it 28-10.

After Sean O’Haire kicked his second field goal for Maryland, Kuzdzal scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 35-13.

Kuzdzal, a junior who had not carried in a game before this season, was in the lineup because Michigan was without injured Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, who have rushed for a combined 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Michigan fullback and captain Max Bredeson did not play in the second half. He emerged from the locker room in the third quarter on crutches.

The Wolverines’ backfield injury woes continued in the fourth quarter as Jasper Parker departed minutes after scoring on a 6-yard run.

–Field Level Media

No. 18 Michigan prepares to avoid trap game at Maryland

Posted on | by Field Level Media

While Michigan believes it has a path to a College Football Playoff berth, the Wolverines might have to navigate it with a former walk-on running back in the starting lineup.

With injuries piling up in the backfield, Bryson Kuzdzal could get the call on Saturday when No. 18 Michigan (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) faces slumping Maryland (4-6, 1-6) in College Park, Md.

Kuzdzal’s rise up the depth chart has come after injuries to Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, who have rushed for a combined 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said on Monday that Haynes, who was the Big Ten rushing leader when he suffered a foot injury last month, is likely to miss the Wolverines’ final two regular-season games.

Moore added that Marshall is day-to-day after sustaining a shoulder injury in Michigan’s 24-22 come-from-behind victory Saturday at Northwestern.

The next man up is Kuzdzal, a junior who had not participated beyond special teams in his first two seasons with the Wolverines.

In 25 carries this year, Kuzdzal has 106 yards, half of which came last week at Northwestern as Michigan pushed its winning streak to four games.

“If Bryson has to be the guy, I feel very comfortable with him,” Moore said. “He’s explosive, probably faster than Jordan, probably not as strong.”

Also emerging Saturday for the Wolverines was wideout Andrew Marsh, who broke out with 12 receptions for 189 yards, both season highs for the true freshman.

Moore added that Marsh will likely take over as the Wolverines’ punt returner, providing an injection of speed to a unit that is averaging just 2.8 yards per return, third-lowest in the conference.

Maryland is reeling after losing six straight, but the Terrapins can find inspiration Saturday with news that coach Mike Locksley will be back for his eighth season next year.

On Sunday, Maryland athletic director Jim Smith posted an open letter on the school’s website supporting Locksley and vowing that the school will increase funding for the program.

“To have (administrators) now that share the same special vision that I have, while also seeing the foundation of what we have when we didn’t have all the resources that we needed, I’m excited,” Locksley said on Tuesday. “I see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Terrapins can still make something out of this season, as wins over Michigan and Michigan State would make them bowl eligible for the fourth time in the last five years.

During its skid, Maryland has regressed on offense. The Terrapins scored their season low in a 24-6 loss on Saturday at Illinois. It was also the first game that true freshman quarterback Malik Washington failed to throw a touchdown pass.

In its first season in the Big Ten in 2014, Maryland beat Michigan. Since then, the Wolverines have won all eight meetings.

With Michigan facing its annual rivalry game against Ohio State on Nov. 29, Moore said that the Wolverines are not taking anything for granted against the Terrapins.

“There’s nothing about this game that is a trap game,” Moore said. “This is about a really good team that if you don’t play well, you will get beat.”

–Field Level Media

Luke Altmyer throws 2 TD passes as Illinois throttles Maryland

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Luke Altmyer threw two touchdown passes to Hudson Clement and Illinois sent Maryland to its sixth straight loss, 24-6 in Champaign, Ill. on Saturday.

Altmyer completed 15-of-25 passes for 172 yards and had one interception as Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) won its second straight game.

Clement caught three passes for 72 yards and the Fighting Illini rushed for 225 yards, including 81 by Kaden Feagin on 14 carries.

Malik Washington completed 25-of-46 passes for 238 yards and one interception for the Terrapins (4-6, 1-6).

Maryland only rushed the ball for 55 yards on 18 attempts.

Maryland needs to beat Michigan and Michigan State to reach bowl eligibility and the loss will likely fuel further debate about the fate of head coach Mike Locksley.

Leading 14-6 to start the second half, the Illini went 67 yards in seven plays (five runs) to increase the lead to 21-6. On second-and-1 at the 23, Altmyer found Clement all alone at the five and he scored his second touchdown of the day.

On their next possession, Illinois drove 61 yards to the Maryland 1-yard line, but the 14-play drive came up empty after Altmyer’s fourth-and-goal pass from the two was incomplete with 1:31 left in the third quarter.

Washington then led the Terps 95 yards to a first-and-goal at the Illinois three, but the defense stiffened, and Washington’s fourth-down pass was incomplete.

Maryland was 3-for-12 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth.

Illinois drove again and this time got points. After a holding penalty wiped out an Altmyer touchdown run, David Olano’s 33-yard field goal made 24-6 with 4:19 remaining.

Maryland took a 3-0 lead on Sean O’Haire’s 29-yard field goal on the opening drive.

Late in the first quarter, Maryland went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Illinois 49 and failed to convert. Seven plays later, Altmyer found Clement for a 22-yard touchdown and Illinois led 7-3.

After a short punt midway through the second quarter, the Terps started on the Illini 46 and O’Haire later connected from 43 yards to make it 7-6.

Illinois took the ensuing kickoff and went 75 yards in 13 plays. Altmyer hit Clement for 27 yards to the 25 and, seven plays later, Feagin went up the middle for a three-yard touchdown with 1:38 left in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Indiana's E.J. Williams (7) celebrates a touchdown during the Indiana versus UCLA football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

No. 2 Indiana begins run of Big Ten bottom-dwellers at Maryland

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No. 2 Indiana and Maryland welcomed new quarterbacks this season who have been game-changers for their respective offenses.

While it has translated to team success for the Hoosiers and Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza, the Terrapins have failed to improve despite flashes of brilliance from true freshman Malik Washington.

Mendoza and Indiana (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) hope to ride their momentum and extend the three-game losing streak of Maryland (4-3, 1-3) when the teams meet Saturday in College Park, Md.

After moving up a notch to their highest ranking in program history, the high-flying Hoosiers are looking at a November schedule which includes teams that have a combined conference record of 1-17.

In a press conference on Monday, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti sounded like a coach concerned about his players becoming overconfident as he heaped praise on Maryland.

“They fly around on defense. They create turnovers. They sack the quarterback,” Cignetti said. “And offensively they’re protecting the quarterback, protecting the ball, making explosive plays and have a good kicking game.”

Cignetti also pointed out that Maryland has been victimized by misfortune. In each of their losses, the Terrapins held the lead with four minutes left.

“They’re outscoring people the first three quarters, 175-50,” Cignetti said, without mentioning that Maryland also has been out-scored 44-7 in the fourth quarter during its three-game skid.

In its most recent defeat, 20-17 at UCLA on Oct. 18, Maryland surrendered a touchdown and two field goals in the final 3:33.

In his Tuesday press conference, Maryland coach Mike Locksley pointed out that the Terrapins’ lack of depth has proven costly late in games, especially when injuries have mounted.

“What I have to do as a head coach is find a way to make sure those guys are available to finish games,” Locksley said.

Last week, while Maryland had a bye, Indiana dominated UCLA 56-6 as Mendoza threw three touchdown passes and former Maryland starter Roman Hemby ran for two scores.

Hemby (513 rushing yards) teams with Kaelon Black (509 rushing yards) in a potent Indiana backfield.

“Both those two backs are a little different,” Locksley said. “Roman, as we know, is a home-run hitter.”

The Hoosiers average 264 yards per game passing and 230.5 yards per game on the ground in a balanced offense that has long been a signature of Cignetti’s teams.

Mendoza’s efficiency is illustrated by his passer rating (188.5), which is second in the nation. Mendoza also is completing 72.9% of his passes and leads the nation with 24 touchdown passes while throwing only three interceptions.

For Maryland, Washington is one of three Power Four true freshmen who has thrown for at least 200 yards in each of his first seven games in a season this century.

His goal for now is to remedy the Terrapins’ lack of efficiency in the red zone. Maryland has scored touchdowns on 42.3% of its trips inside the 20-yard line, which is the lowest mark in the Big Ten.

“You come away with, not just points, but touchdowns, that kind of changes the game,” Washington said. ” … Those are the body blows that we need to be able to put opponents away.”

– Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) looks to pass during the first quarter against the New Mexico Lobos at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

UCLA rallies past Maryland for third straight win

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Anthony Frias II rushed for a 55-yard touchdown and broke a late 35-yard run that set up Mateen Bhaghani for a game-winning field goal as time expired, and UCLA scored its third consecutive victory with a 20-17 defeat of visiting Maryland on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.

A defensive struggle most of the way, UCLA (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten Conference) and Maryland (4-3, 1-3) combined for more points in the final 3:33 than in the previous 56:27. Bhaghani’s 23-yard chip shot after a hard Frias run capped the late flurry of points that began after the Bruins had gone nine straight possessions without a point.

UCLA faced another fruitless drive with a fourth-and-10 near midfield, but quarterback Nico Iamaleava found Kwazi Gilmer for a 16-yard completion. It became a 31-yard net gain when Maryland’s Jalen Huskey, who snagged the first of two Terps interceptions of Iamaleave on the night, was penalized for targeting.

Maryland’s Dontay Joyner was flagged for pass interference previously on the same drive.

The Bruins finished the drive when Iamaleave connected with Mikey Matthews for a 14-yard touchdown to give UCLA a 14-10 edge. The Bruins hadn’t scored since Frias’ long touchdown rush in the early second quarter.

Maryland’s offense faced its own struggles, going 10 straight possessions with no points. The Terps did not reach the end zone until late in the third quarter — and did so with defense.

Jamare Glasker jumped a route to the sideline with UCLA backed up near its own goal line. His untouched pick-six was Maryland’s second in as many weeks, and FBS-leading fourth of the season.

Huskey’s pick just before halftime and Glasker’s interception were the Terps’ nation’s best 13th and 14th of 2025.

Maryland had its own turnover problems, however, as freshman quarterback Malik Washington was intercepted by Scooter Jackson at the Maryland 20 following Iamaleava’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass. That led to a 42-yard Bhaghani field goal and seven-point UCLA lead with 2:04 left in the fourth.

Washington rallied, leading Maryland down the field on nine plays spanning 75 yards, culminating in Washington’s laser-beam 8-yard touchdown pass to Jalil Farooq with 40 seconds remaining to tie the game at 17.

Washington finished 23 of 48 for 210 yards. He added a team-leading 67 yards rushing on six carries.

Iamaleava went 21 of 35 for 221 yards. Titus Mokiao-Atimalala accounted for 102 yards on six catches.

Frias finished with 97 yards on just four carries.

–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

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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

Sep 20, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Kaleb Webb (84) celebrates after earning a first down during the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Billy Edwards Jr. leaves early as Wisconsin falters in loss to Maryland

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Billy Edwards Jr.’s return to action against his former team, Maryland, lasted just seven plays as his replacement, Malik Washington, ushered the Terrapins to a 27-10 victory over Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, in both teams’ Big Ten opener.

Washington paced Maryland’s (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) scoring attack in his first career road game, accounting for all three Terps touchdowns. The true freshman finished his day going 18-for-34 with 265 yards and two passing touchdowns, as well as one on the ground.

He delivered the game-ending strike on a 62-yard bomb to Shaleak Knotts, who dusted the entire Badgers defense with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter.

Edwards Jr., who appeared in 26 games for the Terrapins, helped lead Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) on a promising opening drive that went all the way to the Maryland 21-yard line.

It all went downhill for the Badgers afterward. The Terps blocked Wisconsin’s 38-yard field-goal attempt, then Edwards Jr., who missed the previous two games due to injury, would get injured once again on Wisconsin’s very next play. He did not return.

The Badgers followed this up with an interception, five punts and a turnover on downs to end the half scoreless.

Terps defensive back Jalen Huskey returned the Wisconsin interception all the way to the Badgers’ 4-yard line. Washington then punched it in from the 1-yard line with 6:22 left in the first quarter to open the scoring for the day.

Badgers backup Danny O’Neil finished the game 14-for-22 with 120 yards and an interception. The Terps sacked him six times and held the Badgers to under 300 total yards.

After blocking a Badgers punt, Washington and Knotts connected for the first time on the day for a 9-yard score to go up 14-0 with 13:47 left in the half.

The Terps ended the half with a pair of field goals from Sean O’Haire, a 49-yarder and a 26-yarder, to go up 20-0.

Wisconsin moved the ball better in the second half. O’Neil led the Badgers to a field goal on their opening drive of the half, a 33-yarder by Nathanial Vakos to make it 20-3.

Maryland started the second half with three straight three-and-outs before Washington capped a 99-yard drive with the deep shot to Knotts.

Wisconsin finally got in the end zone late as Hunter Simmons came in for O’Neil and found Lance Mason from 13 yards out with 28 seconds left in the game.

This was Maryland’s first-ever victory over Wisconsin.

–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