Maryland and Indiana will meet on Saturday for the 13th time in program history. The Hoosiers own the all-time series lead (7-5), although the Terps have won the last three matchups.
Indiana enters the weekend undefeated. The Hoosiers’ latest win came last Saturday when they defeated Charlotte, 52-14.
The Hoosiers amassed over 500 yards of total offense against the 49ers, only having to punt once throughout the game. Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw for 258 yards and one touchdown completing all but four of his passing attempts. Running backs Justice Ellison and Kaelon Black combined for over 100 rushing yards and two scores in the win.
Rourke, Ellison, and Black are part of a new look roster for Indiana that includes 29 transfers.
Indiana is also led by a new head coach, Curt Cignetti. Cignetti is the first Hoosier coach in program history to begin their inaugural season 4-0.
“When you watch this team, the thing that jumps out to me is they’re not going to give us this game,” said head coach Michael Locksley in a recent press conference. “They’re going to make us beat them and for us that has been the challenge.”
Cignetti left James Madison — where he was the head coach for five seasons. In Cignetti’s time as head coach of the Dukes, James Madison advanced from FCS to FBS, made the Top 25, and qualified for a bowl game. Cignetti brought along 13 former Dukes to Indiana this year.
Maryland enters Saturday with a 3-1 record and a win over Villanova in its last game. Billy Edwards Jr. and Tai Felton led the Terps offense with historical performances.
Edwards Jr.’s 87.5 completion percentage set a new single game program record, and Felton’s 41 catches through the team’s first four games broke Frank Wycheck’s record of 38.
The Terps’ run game accumulated 159 yards in their win against Villanova, showing signs of improvement from past weeks.
Indiana’s defense holds opponents to 2.59 yards per carry this season — the 13th best mark in all of FBS football. The Hoosiers have the seventh best scoring defense in the country.
“This game is going to come down to, [Indiana will] figure out who to take away from us and our complimentary players on offense, [and] somebody’s going to have to step up and play big for us in this game,” said Locksley.
Maryland and Indiana are tied with Illinois for the best turnover margin in the Big Ten (+7).
Saturday’s game will be the second conference game for both teams. Indiana won its first conference game, knocking off UCLA in convincing fashion in its second game of the season. Maryland lost its first conference game to Michigan State, 27-24, in a Week 2 home matchup in College Park.
This will be Maryland’s first conference road game of the season and the first conference road start for Edwards.
“Going on the road in [the] Big Ten, you’re always going to play, you know, great teams, great opponent, great environment,” said Edwards.
Matchup to Watch:
Maryland’s Offensive Line vs Indiana Pass Rush
The Terps’ O-line has done a good job in pass protection this season — only allowing four sacks this season, one in each game.
“I think pass protection has come together pretty well,” said redshirt senior center Josh Kaltenberger.
The Hoosier pass rush has generated 12 sacks this season, which is tied for second in the Big Ten. Mikail Kamara — a JMU transfer — leads Indiana with a total of three sacks, holding a four-way tie for third in the entire Big Ten.
“From me personally playing IU past three, three years or so, obviously different defense, different defensive scheme, but you just go through and attack that like you do each and every week and figure out what they’re running, figure out what they’re doing differently, study personnel and attack,” said Kaltenberger.
