Maryland football faces Iowa at noon on Nov. 23 at SECU Stadium.
The Terps (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) are basically in a win-or-go-home situation concerning their bowl eligibility. After losing to Rutgers, 31-17, last week, the Terps must win their final two games to get to a bowl.
Here are three things to look for against Iowa:
Can Maryland slow down Kaleb Johnson?
Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson is tied for third in the FBS in rushing yards (1,328) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (20). The Hawkeyes are 4-0 when Johnson runs for more than 100 yards and 0-3 when he does not.
“He’s one of the best, if not the best,” Maryland head coach Michael Locksley said. “We better do a great job of minimizing his ability to get over 100 [yards]. His power, his vision … this guy is a load and runs behind his pads and it’ll be a physical challenge for us.”
Maryland will have to make the Hawkeyes one-dimensional. Iowa senior quarterback Cade McNamara is back from a concussion, but it appears walk-on Jackson Stratton will make his first college start. Stratton has only thrown three passes this year.
How close will Tai Felton come to setting another record?
Maryland senior wide receiver Tai Felton broke the program single-season receptions record (86) in the loss against Rutgers. The record was previously held by Chicago Bears wideout DJ Moore (81).
Felton became just the fourth Maryland receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season (1,040). He can become the all-time leader in single-season receiving yards he totals 201 yards in the next two games. The record is currently held by Marcus Badgett (1,240), set in 1992.
Felton was also named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s best receiver.
“I think it’s a team award because they push me to be a great person every day on and off the field,” Felton said. “To have made the plays I’ve made and to have that record and continue to try to break more records — but my main focus is to win these last two games.”
Can Maryland protect the football?
The Terps have turned the ball over at least once in each of their last six games.
After only throwing two interceptions in his team’s first five games, junior quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has thrown seven interceptions in Maryland’s last five games.
However, Locksley mentioned that not every interception is the quarterback’s fault.
“It’s always easy to say, ‘He threw an interception,’ but if we don’t run the right route or we’re not in the right location … throwing the ball is all about timing and spacing,” Locksley said. “Some of it is on the quarterback, some of it is on the receivers being where they are supposed to be and some of it is on the protection.”
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