After a six-game losing streak and confirmation that he will return next season, head coach Michael Locksley revealed that Maryland football is in ‘play-on’ mode.

“For us to play on, this first game is a very important game because it gives us a chance to extend our season,” Locksley said. “We need everyone on our roster to play for the guys next to them.”

Maryland’s chances to qualify for a bowl game rely on wins in both of its final two games.

A tough task awaits the Terps on Saturday as they host No. 18 Michigan for senior day and the 2025 home finale.

A season that began with the hope of a young team has soured amidst a long losing streak — something that has become common over recent years. 

The Terps have one last chance to prove to their home crowd that this isn’t the same old Maryland.

Maryland will look for its win against a top-25 opponent since 2022 — the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against then-No. 23 NC State — and its first win against a Big Ten top-25 opponent since joining the conference. With a similar coaching staff likely to return next season, a win on Sunday would be a huge boost for the program. 

Can Michigan continue its dominance in its last contest before ‘The Game’

Next week, Michigan hosts No. 1 Ohio State in a game that will likely make or break its 2025 season.

But first, the Wolverines have to head to College Park, where they have never lost and claimed their 1000th program win in 2023. 

Michigan comes into Saturday with an 8-2 record. Its two losses came at No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 15 USC.

After winning the national championship in 2023, the Wolverines had a down year in head coach Sherrone Moore’s first season. But Michigan has regrouped in 2025 and remains alive for postseason aspirations. 

Like Maryland, a freshman quarterback leads the Wolverines this season. Bryce Underwood has been solid this season, throwing for 1,951 yards and seven touchdowns. His top receivers are fellow freshman Andrew Marsh and graduate student Donaven McCulley, who have combined for just under 1000 yards. 

But Michigan’s bread and butter is its ground game, where the Terps have surrendered 225 or more yards in each of the past three games. 

The Wolverines had a two-headed monster in the backfield with Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall. Haynes has missed the past three games and is likely out for the regular season. He had 857 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games. Marshall has taken over as the lead back and hasn’t missed a step, rushing for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year.

On defense, the Wolverines allow 298.1 yards per game, the 17th-fewest in the nation.

Senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham spent two seasons with Maryland and even had his only career interception against Michigan in 2023. Barham switched sides last season and will return to College Park in what would’ve been his senior day. This season, he has 27 tackles and three sacks for the Wolverines. 

Alongside Ernest Hausmann and Jimmy Rolder, the Wolverines have one of the best linebacker cores in the nation. 

Arkansas transfer TJ Metcalf and junior defensive back Brandyn Hillman have been Michigan’s stopgap in the secondary. Edge rusher Derrick Moore has terrorized quarterbacks and offensive linemen. He has 8.5 sacks on the season and nine tackles for loss. 

Michigan has dominated lesser opponents all season and is expected to do the same to Maryland. 

Can the Terps play spoiler?

What was bad has gotten worse for Maryland football. 

The Terps’ defense, which was its most formidable unit throughout the season, has been tormented in three consecutive games and the offense has been anemic. 

The defense has been banged up, with key contributors like Daniel Wingate and Zahir Mathis playing through injuries. That said, Maryland has had no answer for the run game and it hasn’t been able to stop the pass. 

Defensive seniors Jamare Glasker, Jalen Huskey and Cam Rice will play their final game at SECU Stadium, looking to return to their early-season form. 

Maryland football didn’t score a touchdown last week against Illinois. Freshman quarterback Malik Washington has been solid, but hasn’t been able to elevate those around him. Against a highly-touted freshman quarterback, Washington will have to prove if he’s the best freshman in the Big Ten. 

The first three losses in Maryland’s losing streak were close — the last three haven’t been.

The Terps are rightfully big underdogs to the Wolverines, but will look to find any positives in a tough stretch.

Saturday’s game will kick off at 4 p.m. from SECU Stadium on WMUC Sports.