With just three games left in the season and potentially in head coach Michael Locksley’s tenure, Maryland football is in must-win mode. The Terps are two games away from securing bowl eligibility, but are in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

Saturday’s contest against Illinois was a chance for Maryland to find some late-season momentum. It didn’t capitalize. The Terps suffered their sixth straight loss — first time since 2019 and second in Locksley’s tenure at College Park — falling to Illinois, 24-6.

12 minutes remained in the game and Maryland held possession at the three-yard line with four plays to find the endzone. The Terps left with no points. Two incomplete passes and a pair of unsuccessful rushes resulted in another scoreless possession. Malik Washington’s fourth-down pass fell through the hands of Dorian Fleming.

Those four plays summed up the Maryland’s night. The Terps’ worst offensive performance of the season resulted in a season-low six points.

Drops have been one of the many areas that has held back Maryland this year. The Terps entered the afternoon as the second-worst Power 4 team in the nation with a 7.2 percent drop rate. That number only grew against the Fighting Illini.

But their offensive liabilities have not been the only reason for the losing streak.

While Maryland’s defense was strong early on in the year, injuries and an extended time on the field has resulted in a pair of poor performances. The Terps have been gashed for 90 points across their last two contests.

Maryland’s first-quarter performance against Illinois was a promising sign. The Terps only allowed 56 total yards and forced the Fighting Illini into a three-and-out on their first possession. 

Despite allowing Illinois to score a touchdown with time winding down in the opening quarter — quarterback Luke Altmeyer connected with Hudson Clement wide-open along the sideline for a 22-yard score — Maryland limited the big plays. Outside of the long touchdown, the Fighting Illini averaged 3.78 yards per play early on.

But the Terps’ offense missed opportunities time-and-time again to score more than three first-quarter points. Maryland settled for a field goal within the redzone and failed to convert on a 4th-and-1 in plus territory.

The Terps trailed 7-3 heading into the second quarter.

On Maryland’s third possession of the period, it started at the 46-yard-line. But the Terps only managed one first down, resulting in Sean O’Haire’s 43-yard field goal to make it a one-point game.

While Maryland and Illinois looked evenly matched in the first 24 minutes, it quickly unraveled just before halftime.

The Fighting Illini strung together a 13-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off on a three-yard touchdown run from Kaden Feagin. Still, the Terps only trailed by eight points.

After a promising opening drive, Maryland’s offense looked lifeless. Malik Washington was constantly under duress, and even when he had time to operate, the true freshman was erratic in short-yardage situations.

The Terps’ ground game didn’t help Washington out much either. Despite culminating their best performance of the season last week — Maryland totalled 305 rushing yards on 10.5 yards per carry — DeJuan Williams and Nolan Ray were nonexistent from Saturday’s contest.

While Washington was responsible for 164 of those yards against Rutgers, including a 73-yard scamper, the Terps’ playcalling shied away from utilizing his legs on Saturday. Maryland never drew up any designed runs, leading to some predictability through the air.

Washington finished with 238 passing yards, but a lackluster 25-for-46 completion rate led to Maryland’s downfall. Ray and Wiliams only combined for 49 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Even when the Terps successfully marched the ball down the field, their redzone offense faltered — a common theme for this year’s team.

Maryland found itself in the redzone on multiple occasions, but only amounted to three points. Despite the Terps being within one-possession for 34 minutes, they never put together a drive to regain their momentum.

Illinois added some insurance early in the third quarter. Six plays quickly positioned the Fighting Illini just outside the redzone. Altmyer once again found Clement streaking open for a 23-yard touchdown — his second score of the game.

The Fighting Illini tacked on another three points after a holding penalty took six points off the scoreboard. 

Even with Maryland down 18 points and only needing four yards to pick up the first down, Locksley opted to punt on fourth down. That call has been emblematic of the seventh-year head coach’s stance on the season.

Locksley’s mood on the sideline looks eerily similar to a head coach that knows he is likely on the way out following the conclusion of the season. But if the Terps keep churning out performances similar to Illinois, the need to fire Locksley only becomes more pressing.