Maryland travels to West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a 12:30 p.m. matchup against Purdue.
The Terrapins (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) are looking to snap a six-game losing streak in what will be their second game under interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim.
Maryland and Purdue (3-5, 2-3) have met only four times, with the all-time series tied at two. In the most recent meeting, the Boilermakers edged the Terrapins, 31-29, in College Park.
Maryland came close to a breakthrough against Illinois last week before falling on a game-winning 26-yard field goal as time expired.
Here are three things to look for in the conference matchup:
Can Maryland establish the run?
While sophomore quarterback Malik Washington’s mobility has become an increasingly valuable part of the offense, Maryland cannot rely solely on its quarterback to generate production on the ground.
Sophomore running back DeJuan Williams has averaged just 55 rushing yards per game in his last four contests, while Washington has contributed 29 rushing yards per game during that same stretch.
Purdue’s run defense presents an opportunity for Maryland to find its footing on the ground. The Boilermakers rank 17th in the Big Ten against the run at 5.2 yards per carry.
Abdul-Rahim emphasized this week that Washington does not need to carry the offense by himself.
“This is a conversation that I had with him on the field, as well as [Nov. 1]: Malik cannot assume he has to win a football game,” Abdul-Rahim said. “Malik needs to be a distributor in the offense and be a humongous part of our program. But he doesn’t have to feel like he has to win everything. He doesn’t have to make the miraculous throw. He doesn’t have to put the whole team on his back.”
Abdul-Rahim added that the responsibility falls on the entire offense to elevate its play.
“It’s more a mindset of can his brothers lift themselves up to where Malik is, and we need to move accordingly in that fashion,” Abdul-Rahim said.
Will Chris Durr Jr. record another 100-yard game?
Junior wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. has been one of Maryland’s most consistent offensive weapons, and an interesting trend suggests another big performance could be on the horizon.
Durr has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in every other game this season. His most recent 100-yard outing came two games ago in a 37-30 loss to Rutgers on Oct. 17. His best performance of the year came two games before that, a 149-yard effort against Nebraska.
Abdul-Rahim believes Maryland should continue finding ways to put the ball in Durr’s hands.
“He’s so reliable,” Abdul-Rahim said. “I think we have to count on him even more, and that’s one of the things we want to hone in on. How can we get him more involved regardless of where he is to affect the game in a positive way?”
Can Maryland keep its bowl hopes alive?
The path to bowl eligibility is simple for Maryland: win out. The Terrapins must win their final four games to reach the six-win threshold required for postseason consideration.
Maryland has not appeared in a bowl game since its victory against Auburn in the 2023 Music City Bowl, a 31-13 win that capped a successful season. Since then, the program has endured back-to-back-to-back disappointing campaigns and a coaching change.
Still, Abdul-Rahim is keeping the team’s focus squarely on Purdue rather than looking ahead to what remains on the schedule (Wisconsin, USC and Penn State).
“We’re focusing on Purdue,” Abdul-Rahim said. “… I’m not focused on the outcomes four games from now.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics