Maryland football faced its first adversity of the 2025 season last Saturday. They blew a 20-point lead to Washington and ultimately fell, 24-20.
This Saturday, the Terps will have their first chance to bounce back after a loss. They will host Nebraska in another highly anticipated matchup, similar to last week.
“I’m really pleased with where this team sits,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “Obviously, none of us are happy about the outcome from Saturday….you got to play the game for four quarters, and we played it for three.”
The biggest difference between the two matchups is that Maryland is in a much different position after the loss. The Terps’ youth got the best of them last Saturday, but the task ahead is just as difficult.
Saturday provides a marquee quarterback battle between two of the highest-ranked Big Ten recruits over the past two years. Dylan Raiola was in similar shoes to Malik Washington last season as a true freshman starter for the Cornhuskers. Though Raiola was good last season, he took a big step heading into 2025 — Washington will have to match it, which he failed at last week against Demond Williams Jr.
With another chance to get right at home, the Terps can’t let another opportunity pass them by.
“I think we just need to learn how to finish. I think that was the big takeaway from that, that game last week, and how we handle adversity in times like that,” Cam Rice said. “I think what I’ve seen, though, we’re staying together, and we’re all focused.”
Nebraska comes in with high expectations
The Cornhuskers come into Saturday’s matchup with a 4-1 record and are off to a good start in head coach Matt Rhule’s third season at the helm.
Rhule has revitalized Nebraska’s program after a tumultuous tenure coaching the Carolina Panthers.
“You look at the job Matt Rhule has done. He split that roster, turned over, turned around their program, lot more athletic team, a lot more length than they maybe have had there in the last couple of years,” Locksley said. “They got a big time quarterback and do a really good job in all three phases.”
Nebraska’s lone loss on the season was a 30-27 loss to No. 15 Michigan, in which it battled but fell short. Its two key wins are against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium to open the season and beating Michigan State last week at home.
Raiola is Nebraska’s heartbeat, and his unique playstyle is similar to that of NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes.
“The quarterback last week, he was more of a runner, so we had that to worry about, you know, keeping him in the pocket, saying the run aspect of things,” Rice said. “But now the ingredients are pretty much the same, play with high effort, and get after the quarterback and affect his throws.”
Raiola has thrown for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns, and two interceptions this season, and spreads out his offense through a few key targets. Jacory Barney Jr. leads the way with 348 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Nyziah Hunter and Dane Key follow Barney and have combined for 516 yards and five touchdowns.
The 2025 Nebraska team isn’t as “ground-and-pound” as it has historically been known for, but Emmett Johnson has had a good season in the backfield. Johnson has run for 479 yards and seven touchdowns in five games this season.
Senior linebacker Javin Wright leads the Cornhuskers with 27 tackles, despite missing a game this season. Wright is 25 years old and has been with Nebraska since 2019 — one of the last Covid-era seventh years.
Defensive back DeShon Singleton has been all over the field this season. He has totaled 23 tackles and two interceptions thus far in his fourth season with Nebraska.
Nebraska’s defense is solid and has key contributors throughout the lineup under defensive coordinator John Butler.
“They have a great team. You can tell that their program and they have a lot of disciplined guys,” Isaiah Wright said.
How will Maryland bounce back?
Maryland will need to quickly recover from last week’s demoralizing loss on Saturday. Although Maryland seemed to play three great quarters, it fell apart in the fourth. The Terps can’t let this happen against Nebraska, as they start down a cross-country trip to face a revamped UCLA team the following week.
“Being upset about it is not going to get it back. Go back. Watch the tape. Get it corrected and move on to the next opponent,” Washington said. “We just stuck together. We really emphasize and preach sticking together in times of need.”
The Terps are in much better shape than they were this time last season. Maryland has bought into Locksley’s leadership this season and the locker room has a different feel. Maryland would like to continue that trend.
Last week, defensive back Dontay Joyner struggled — he gave up two touchdowns and got called for a penalty for doing the ‘seatbelt’ celebration. The Terps need him to play up to his talent against a potent passing attack.
“You see a guy like [Joyner] who had a tough day at the office, stand in front of his team yesterday and own his stuff and apologize to his team that, hey, you know what. I lost my stuff and it affected us,” Locksley said.
That is something new for Maryland’s program. In the changing landscape of college athletics, Locksley has emphasized accountability.
Maryland’s ground game has been underwhelming to say the least this season, to the point where the Terps seemingly abandoned the run in the second half against Washington. The Terps have not had a 20-yard or more rush on the season, and need to show signs of improvement as Big Ten play continues.
Kickoff is slated for 3:30 from SECU Stadium on WMUC Sports.
