Maryland football travels to California to take on UCLA on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. EST.
Maryland (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) is coming off a tough loss to Nebraska on Oct. 11, when fourth-quarter struggles proved costly — again. Now, the Terrapins are looking to bounce back.
This game will be the first matchup between Maryland and UCLA since Sept. 1, 1955, when the Terrapins defeated the Bruins, 7-0. It is their first meeting since UCLA joined the Big Ten in August 2024.
Here are three things to look for as Maryland looks to win their first game in October:
Can Maryland bring UCLA back to reality?
The Terrapins are still searching for their first win this month. Meanwhile, UCLA has found new life under interim head coach Tim Skipper, going 2-1 since the dismissal of DeShaun Foster.
“They’re playing very hard for Coach Skipper,” Locksley said. “He’s done a great job the last few weeks of rallying those guys and you can tell they’re playing fearless and have nothing to lose. If you watch them on tape they’re playing together.”
The Bruins earned impressive back-to-back wins against Penn State (42-37) and Michigan State (38-13) after starting the season 0-3 under Foster.
Can Maryland win the fourth quarter?
Maryland has entered the fourth quarter in each of its two losses with a lead but has been outscored, 31-0, in the final period.
Against Washington, the Terrapins controlled much of the game before faltering late. Against Nebraska, they rallied to take a 31-24 lead, scoring 17 and 14 points in the second and third quarters, respectively, before losing momentum in the fourth.
So far this season, Maryland has been outscored, 48-17, in the fourth quarter — a stat prominently displayed in their athletic training facility, Jones-Hill House, as a constant reminder.
“Last week we didn’t finish in the fourth quarter,” Locksley said. “The last four minutes of the fourth quarter we had opportunities to. Missed tackles really jumped out to me in the fourth quarter — our lack of execution and inability to make plays where there are plays to be made.”
Locksley added that letting his younger players get snaps earlier in the game, can help his veteran starters late.
“I’ve got to do a better job of getting some younger players in earlier in the first or second quarter to take some of plays off the veteran starters,” Locksley said. “… It’s my job to try to figure out how instead of 70 plays how do I get him to play 55 plays, so that our best players are in the best possible position to make plays in the fourth quarter.”
Can Maryland contain Nico Iamaleava?
UCLA may lack star power on paper, but it boasts a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Nico Iamaleava who is determined to prove his doubters wrong.
Iamaleava leads the Bruins in passing yards (1,134) and rushing yards (335). However, he has also committed three fumbles in six games.
His decision to transfer from Tennessee — after a 10-2 regular season and a College Football Playoff appearance — raised eyebrows. Doubts intensified when he joined a UCLA team that went 5-7 in 2024 and opened this season 0-3 under Callahan.
Under Foster, Iamaleava completed 62 of 97 passes for 608 yards, four total touchdowns, three interceptions and 139 rushing yards.
Iamaleava has improved significantly since Skipper took over, completing 52 of 75 passes for 526 yards, nine total touchdowns and no interceptions along with 196 rushing yards.
“I think they limited exposing themselves to negative plays,” Locksley said of UCLA offensive shift. “They’re getting the ball out quickly in the passing game. They’re relying heavily on the run game and doing a real good job of blocking people up. … Most of all they’re playing loose. They’re playing just as if they got nothing to lose and that makes it easy for a team to just go out there and play without a lot of pressure.”
Photo Credit: Ross Turteltaub/UCLA Athletics