Maryland football did not enter the bye week the way it wanted.
The Terps (3-2, 0-2) have looked good against nonconference opponents but have not picked up a win in the Big Ten yet.
Maryland will try to get back on track against Northwestern on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m., but first here are three takeaways from the first five games of the season:
Tai Felton is having a breakout season.
Senior receiver Tai Felton has waited patiently for his opportunity and is now on the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
Felton is currently third in the nation in receiving yards (642), tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (5) and fourth in receptions per game (9.2).
Felton is the first player to record four 100-plus receiving yards in four consecutive games at any point of a season since Jermaine Lewis in 1995.
“I’m just all about the win,” Felton said after tying the record. “So as long as we win and I’m doing my job whether it’s zero catches or 15 it’s all good.”
Through five games last season, Felton had only managed 299 yards and three touchdowns.
Maryland is hungry for takeaways.
Maryland’s defense has forced a turnover in each game this season. The Terps currently rank tied for first in the country takeaways (14).
Defensive backs Glen Miller and Jalen Huskey are both tied for third in the country in interceptions (3).
“Glen is always a guy that is going to make a play when you need it,” senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II said of Miller following the season-opening 50-7 win against UConn. “He got a crucial interception when we needed it. He helped us start the second half the right way.”
Maryland has struggled in the conference.
Though the Terps have only played two games in the Big Ten so far, neither of the losses have been pretty.
On Sept. 28, a close game against Indiana turned ugly quickly. Maryland dropped to 0-2 in the conference after a 42-28 loss.
The Terps looked ready to pick up a win against Michigan State in the conference opener but ultimately lost on a last-second field goal, 27-24.
There were some standouts, Felton being one of them. But as the team constantly says, it’s Terps vs. Terps and they beat themselves in the three phases during those losses.
“We’ve got some talented players, but it doesn’t all come together the way you like it,” head coach Michael Locksley said after the 42-28 loss at Indiana. “I like to see the offense, defense, special teams all kind of carry their weight. … Clearly frustrated that we’ve got the ingredients. I’ve got to find a way to get it to come together in one game.”
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