Maryland has been one of the best teams in the country during the first four weeks of the 2023 college football season. The Terps are one of 11 FBS schools to score 31-plus points in each of their games and one three FBS schools to win all their games by 18-plus points. It’s the first time Maryland has won its first four games by 18-plus points since 1913.
Even with a high-scoring offense and defense that is tied for second in the nation in takeaways with 11, Maryland has still not played a complete 60 minutes or had a game that matched the standard it believes it can reach.
“Momentum is critical, it’s real,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “… Momentum does not just happen, it’s created by what you do. Every week we’ve got to pay a price to go out and play successfully on Saturday and that part of our culture and standard, the players really embrace the work that has to be done.”
A win against Indiana (2-2 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) on Sept. 30 would mark Maryland’s first 5-0 start since 2001 before a big trip to Columbus to take on No. 4 Ohio State.
“I think it’d be pretty big,” wide receiver Octavian Smith said on the possibility of reaching a 5-0 record. “Coach emphasized that this week our focus is playing to our standard and if we do that we’re likely to win the game this weekend.”
Part of Maryland’s standard is starting and finishing the game off strong. The Terps scored 21 first-half points at Michigan State on Sept. 23, a point of emphasis heading into the game. But Locksley did not like the way the team ended the game, not scoring points on two separate second-half red-zone trips. His team also missed two field goals in the second half.
To quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, living up to Maryland’s standard on offense means taking care of the ball, making third downs short and manageable and scoring points when in the red zone.
“I think there are some reads I missed,” Tagovailoa said. “Some of those I wish I had back. … When looking at the film it’s nothing the defense did. It’s just the little details that our offense needs to work on.”
Here are some other notes:
- Maryland needs to stop the run against Indiana.
Indiana’s offense remains a work in progress, with the Hoosiers only averaging 21.3 points per game, but one player stands out to Locksley.
“I would say our objective for our defense this week is to find a way to minimize No. 12’s impact on the game,” Locksley said. “They try to find ways to give him touches.”
Indiana’s No. 12 is sophomore running back Jaylin Lucas, who does it all between running, receiving and returning kickoffs and punts. So far this season Lucas has rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns while adding 138 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
- Locksley sees similarities between the 2001 and 2023 teams.
In 2001, Locksley was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator under Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. That 2001 team had one of the best seasons in program history. It went 10-2, won the ACC championship and finished No. 11 in the AP Poll.
“That team was a fun team to coach and I will tell you right now I enjoy coaching this team that we have because of them embracing the culture of winning and what it takes to win,” Locksley said.
- The Terps’ defense has had some mixed results.
Maryland is giving up an average of 12.3 points per game, fourth in the Big Ten, but the Terps want to get off the field more consistently. They’re allowing opponents to convert on 37.3 percent of third-down opportunities, eighth in the league.
“That’s why I say we haven’t played our cleanest game yet,” defensive back Glendon Miller said.
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