The game seemed to match the weather, which was a bit rough. Several missed field goals, dropped passes, and questionable calls surrounded the game. Through it all, Maryland’s defense impressed as the team won, 27-13.

The Terps start off the season 4-1 for the second straight season – their first time having two-straight 4-1 starts since the 2013-2014 season.

Despite the game turning sloppy, the first quarter looked like it may be an offensive shootout. The first three drives all concluded with touchdowns. Maryland had a 14-7 lead after the first quarter. 

However, the next few drives for both teams went nowhere.

The Spartans had a chance to shorten Maryland’s lead, but their 33-yard field goal missed wide right – the first of several special teams struggles for Michigan State.

The game stayed at a stalemate until the Spartans capped off a 12-play, 85-yard drive with a touchdown pass which would have tied the game. However, the extra point snap was botched, allowing Maryland to hold on to the lead.

Right before halftime, the Terps found the endzone again to take an eight-point lead. They nearly added to it seconds later after a Dante Trader Jr. pick-six, but a questionable personal foul call negated it. 

“I ain’t gonna lie, that kinda got us,” linebacker Ahmad McCullough said.

The Spartans took advantage of the call and drove into field goal range, but Michigan State’s field goal attempt was blocked. 

Maryland led at halftime, 21-13.

“I had to coach myself to getting re-neutralized and going back to neutral, to let that one go,” coach Mike Locksley said about the penalty. “That one sat for a while. But, [I] was really happy that defensively they kept fighting.”

At the start of the second half, the lead grew to ten when Maryland kicker Chad Ryland made his 24th-straight field goal – tied for a Big Ten record. He was not able to break it, however. A field goal attempt later in the quarter missed wide right.

The intensity of the fourth quarter was matched by the intensity of the weather. 

The sky darkened as rain started to pick up. The Terps still showed control regardless as Antwain Littleton rushed 68 yards near the top of the quarter – putting Maryland two yards from the endzone. Maryland then ran the ball up the middle four straight times with no success, turning the ball over on downs.

The rain continued to pour as Michigan State got the ball deep in their end zone. Two passes slipped right through their receiver’s hands as they went three and out. Then, the storm lightened up, and Ryland avenged his missed kick from earlier with a 51-yard field goal to put the Terps up by two touchdowns.

However, the Spartans, still determined, found the red zone as part of a 15-play drive. However, Three-straight incomplete passes led to a fourth and 10. They went for it, but good coverage and the pocket swiftly collapsing sent Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne running. Thorne was short as he couldn’t reach the first down marker. 

Despite their slow start, Maryland’s defense showed up for most of the game, especially in the second half, where they shut out their opponent, holding them to 75 yards. 

“I thought we started pushing the pocket in the quarterback’s lap a few times,” Locksley said. “I thought for the most part our coverage was really good compared to how we’ve done things in the last couple of weeks.”

The Terps got the ball back and ran out most of the remaining clock. With its fourth win, Maryland moves to two wins from becoming bowl eligible.

“One of the things that’s been rewarding and encouraging for me, it’s just how these guys have really bought into everything we’ve asked them to do as coaches and the player-led culture,” Locksley said. “You’re starting to see it come to fruition.”