Maryland football returns from its bye week looking to remain undefeated as it hosts Washington on Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m.
The Terrapins (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) will aim to secure their second conference win of the season. Maryland is 0-9 in games following a bye week under head coach Michael Locksley.
This will be the two teams’ first meeting since the 1982 Aloha Bowl, where the Huskies narrowly defeated the Terrapins, 21-20.
With a win, Maryland would start 2-0 in Big Ten play for just the second time since joining the league. But first, here are three things to look for in this conference matchup:
Can Maryland limit Washington’s run game?
Maryland faces its first major test against Washington senior running back Jonah Coleman, who ranks fourth in the Big Ten in total rushing yards (417), yards per game (104.3) and is tied for first in touchdowns (9).
Maryland has been stout against the run thus far, allowing just 2.49 yards per carry (eighth-best in the FBS). However, Coleman has averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
Maryland’s front seven will aim to contain Coleman and force Washington into a one-dimensional attack.
“He’s a heavy-handed runner,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “He’s one of those guys who’s tough to tackle. If you don’t bring your feet and play with leverage, he can make you look bad. We’ve got to be really good at gang-tackling.”
Beware of Washington’s passing attack, though.
While the Huskies lean on their run game, their passing offense is also dangerous.
“They’re explosive on offense, and it starts with their quarterback,” Locksley said.
Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has been highly efficient, completing 76 percent of his passes, second-best in the Big Ten. Although Maryland has excelled at forcing turnovers, Williams has yet to throw an interception this season.
Williams also averages 11 rushing attempts and 48 yards per game, totaling 192 rushing yards this season.
“We’re definitely aware of his ability to run,” junior defensive lineman Dillan Fontus said. “With a strong running back and a quarterback who can also run, we have to stay disciplined with our keys, so we know who and where to attack to keep them from extending plays.”
Can Maryland end its post-bye-week struggles?
Maryland is 0-9 following bye weeks under Locksley, with most losses coming by wide margins.
Most recently, the Terrapins fell to Oregon, 39-18, in 2024. That loss was part of a five-game losing streak to close out the season.
Locksley attributes the poor post-bye record to the strength of their opponents.
“We play really good teams after a bye,” Locksley said. “As a developing team, we’ve faced tough matchups coming off the break. It’s no different this week. I’ve looked at what we need to do differently. Some of it is about not beating ourselves up — being physical, letting young players tackle to the ground and then suddenly, we’ve got a bunch of injuries during the week.”
It’s a new season, and while history tends to repeat itself, Locksley is focused on correcting past mistakes as conference play continues.
“I’m willing to do anything and everything to improve,” he said. “Typically, the things we emphasize with this group, we execute. I went back and watched every single drop we had during the bye week. It’s a simple fundamental called looking into the tuck. … Those are things we can fix. We’ve studied it, and we’re working on it.”
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox