The Terps lost their sixth straight game Saturday at Illinois, falling 24-6 and failing to score a touchdown for the first time this year.

Illinois (7-3, 4-3) rushed for a season-high 225 yards, and Maryland’s offense again struggled to sustain drives. The Terps (4-6, 1-5 Big Ten) can still reach a bowl game by winning their final two games, but the path is narrow — and the scrutiny surrounding coach Michael Locksley’s future is growing.

“We got to deal with the terrain, and the terrain is where we are today,” Locksley said. “We’ll have plenty of time at the end of the season to evaluate everything as a whole … [we’] got two games, two opportunities left.”

Maryland is one loss away from matching Locksley’s previous-worst of eight conference defeats, a record set in his first season and matched last year. The coach is now just 16-41 in Big Ten play in his current tenure.

Much of the week was spent discussing coach Michael Locksley’s job status. Athletic director Jim Smith told Taylor Lyons of The Baltimore Sun that the seventh-year coach would remain the rest of the season. Smith said he would evaluate Locksley after — calling it “silly” to do now.

That hasn’t stopped the noise from fans. Quarterback Malik Washington said he hasn’t been on social media to read most of the chatter and the team was focused only on those inside the program.

Criticism will grow further after the loss in Champaign, largely because similar issues consistently arise.

[As Maryland football struggles, Malik Washington shoulders more responsibilities]

Illini running back Ca’Lil Valentine rushed 20 times for 64 yards, while fellow rusher Kaden Faegin notched 62 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. It was the third consecutive game an opposing team rushed over 200 yards.

Quarterback Luke Altmyer had 62 yards on the ground while tossing for 172 and two scores. Receiver Hudson Clement got past Maryland’s secondary twice with 22 and 23-yard touchdown receptions.

“We all didn’t play well enough, whether it’s us as coaches calling it [or] us as players, executing it,” Locksley said.

The Terps were just 3-12 on third down and left the red zone twice without a touchdown, including being stopped on fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter. Maryland has now failed to score a fourth-quarter touchdown since Oct. 18 against UCLA, and has been outscored 85-17 in the frame during this season.

Maryland rushed for 55 yards, tied for second least this season while quarterback Malik Washington completed 25 of 46 passes for 238 yards.

Locksley finished the game by punting on fourth-and-five from Maryland’s 30-yard line, citing field position reasoning with a defensive stop. 

“It’s definitely tough,” Washington said. “Nobody’s excited about this energy.” 

Defensive back Lavain Scruggs said ahead of the game vibes in the locker room has remained tight despite the losing streak. The redshirt junior pointed to the relationships built during summer’s training camp.

[ANALYSIS: Maryland football woes could spell the end for Michael Locksley]

“We’re still the same team,” Scruggs said. “The locker room is amazing. The guys want to win, the guys are hungry.”

While Scruggs said the group won’t crumble, Locksley’s teams are susceptible to late-season collapses. Maryland has lost three consecutive games in all six of his full seasons during his current tenure, and is in danger of matching his longest skid of seven next week against Michigan — set during his first season in 2019.

Locksley disagreed that he is coaching the final three games to remain Maryland’s coach — and said he deserved to stay in the role. He declined to offer a reason why other than, “I’m the head coach of the University of Maryland.”

Ahead of last week’s game against Rutgers, offensive lineman Isaiah Wright and defensive back Jalen Huskey both said they felt as if they were playing for Locksley amid negative press. But the coach pushed back against that narrative.

“I’ve been a big boy for a long time,” Locksley said Tuesday. “I’ve done a lot harder things in my life. I can deal with a five game losing streak.”

The five-game losing streak has stretched to six — and Locksley’s hope for “small progress” through achieving one more conference win even looks bleak. Not much time remains for the minimal steps necessary to his definitions.

The Terps dropped their fifth straight Saturday at Rutgers, 35-20. The loss put them below .500 for the first time this season after a 4-0 start.

Coach Michael Locksley cited the theme of progress after the game, pointing to injuries and a tonal shift the program hopes to make as it tries to salvage the rest of the season.

“It’s my job to remain positive,” Locksley said. “It may not feel real good right now, but I can tell you that I know this group will keep pushing.”

A win over Rutgers would’ve given Maryland one more overall and conference victory than last season — progress, as the seventh-year coach would’ve called it, after a 1-8 Big Ten finish in 2024.

“That’s called slow progress,” Locksley said Tuesday on the opportunity to win two conference games. “I don’t have a low bar for anything I do in my life.”

[Maryland football unravels in fifth straight loss, 35-20 at Rutgers]

But the Terps allowed nearly 500 yards to Rutgers — a program Locksley recently called a similar project to Maryland. The Terps are tied with the Scarlet Knights for fewest conference wins since 2020.

Under Locksley, Maryland has beaten just two Big Ten opponents that finished with a winning record — a 7-6 Rutgers team in 2023 and a 7-6 USC squad in 2024.

Upsets like those aren’t rare for struggling programs. This weekend alone, Wisconsin, which entered winless in Big Ten play, stunned No. 23 Washington, 13-10, with its punter, Sean West, leading the team in passing yards.Wake Forest (6-3) knocked off No. 12 Virginia (8-2) on the road, likely ending the Cavaliers’ playoff hopes.

It’s hard to energize a fanbase without a signature win. And while Maryland had chances this season — against Washington (6-3) and Nebraska (7-3) — fourth-quarter collapses after holding leads turned potential statement victories into gut-wrenching losses.

“There’s a difference between progress and expectations,” Locksley said. “This inexperienced team created an expectation with how they played early.”

Locksley pointed to Maryland’s turnover margin and reduced penalties as evidence of progress.

The Terps rank second in the Big Ten in turnover margin with 19 takeaways against 11 giveaways — a sharp improvement from last year, when they finished 14th in the conference with a negative margin.

Penalties don’t have as strong an argument.

Maryland was flagged five times for 45 yards against Rutgers, while the Scarlet Knights committed just one infraction for five yards. The Terps still rank fourth in the Big Ten in both penalties and penalty yardage per game — only a slight improvement from last year, when they were third-worst in the conference.

It’s the kind of incremental change that fits Locksley’s “slow progress” mantra.

“If you know football, you see that type of progress,” Locksley said.

[Watching film with Maryland football’s Cam Rice: pass rush, preparation and technique]

Rubik’s cube of injuries

Locksley said it feels like every time he speaks with a trainer, he’s being told another player is done for the day. For a team he’s described as lacking depth, those injuries have been detrimental.

“We’re plugging holes all over the place because we’re just running out of bodies,” Locksley said. “It’s [like solving] a Rubik’s cube putting people in.”

The struggles are most noticeable defensively. Maryland’s dynamic freshman edge rushers and sack leaders, Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis, played just 18 and 39 snaps, respectively, out of 70.

Locksley said Mathis, who boasts 4.5 sacks this season, has played with a toe injury the past few weeks. The freshman played one snap last week against Indiana and missed Maryland’s loss against UCLA.

Fellow defensive lineman Dillan Fontus played just 16 snaps, while linebacker Daniel Wingate has played with a leg injury the past two games, Locksley added.

Wingate said the losing stretch has taught him to focus on preparing younger players to step in seamlessly when injuries strike.

“[I learned] just having the next man up mentality and being a better leader, to have those guys have that mentality,” Wingate said.

Playing for the veterans

A bowl game seems increasingly unlikely.

Heading into the weekend, Rutgers was one of two opponents left on Maryland’s slate with a losing record.

The Terps still need two wins to reach bowl eligibility, with Illinois (6-3), Michigan (7-2) and Michigan State (3-6) left on the schedule. Perhaps that’s why Locksley said he reminded his younger players in the locker room to play for veterans who don’t have many games remaining.

“We’re down to playing for pride and opportunities for these guys,” Locksley said.

Some of those veterans include receivers Shaleak Knotts and Octavian Smith Jr., who’ve been part of two bowl wins under Locksley, and have spent all four years in the program. Cam Rice, Jalil Farooq and Isaiah Wright each transferred to Maryland for their final college seasons and have played pivotal roles — with only three guaranteed games left for the group.

“[We’ll] play for pride for the older guys,” freshman quarterback Malik Washington said. “This is some of their last opportunities to be able to play in a Maryland jersey.”

In the online Maryland community, few voices are more prominent than his. Douglas posts reactions after Terps games, trades jabs with fans and fills recruits’ mentions with long pitches about joining the program.

“Are you a bot?” one user replied to a 2023 post.

“Are you a real person or a burner account? Seriously cannot tell,” another posted.

“Convinced this guy isn’t real,” an account replied in 2024.

Douglas laughed at the conspiracy theories.

“I’m not sure why,” Douglas said. “I ignore the noise.”

The 62-year-old — whose X account has more than 6,000 followers and 68,000 posts — is exactly what his bio says: a Maryland alum and former Washington Wizards executive that now uses social media to stay connected to the programs he loves. It’s an obligation, he said.

“Can I go overboard at times? Maybe. … Am I biased? Yeah, no question about that,” Douglas said. “I’m emotional because I care.”

Douglas graduated from the University of Maryland in 1985 — becoming the school’s first sports administration major after creating an individual studies curriculum that pulled from journalism, radio, film, business and sport courses. His College Park experience fuels his fandom.

[Fans growing restless as Maryland football drops fourth straight, 55-10 to No. 2 Indiana]

Douglas created his X account in December 2013. Rewatching old Maryland games during the COVID-19 pandemic reignited his passion and ramped up his posting, he said.

There’s no set routine for Douglas’ posting. He said he tries to highlight all Maryland programs — not just the major revenue sports. If the volleyball team pulls off a rare win, he’ll post about it.

He said he tries to ignore rival trolls, but if someone is factually wrong about Maryland athletics, he’ll jump in and correct them. He aims to be positive and fair and cools off quickly during losses, he said.

“I’m not here just as a PR arm for the university … I’m a fan,” Douglas said. “If I can educate somebody, and they’re obviously wrong, and they’re just being haters, then I’m going to educate them.”

Then there’s the recruiting pitches to prospects, where Douglas frequently posts references to Maryland’s conference titles and this university’s educational standing.

“Chuck always had this cut and paste ready to go in his back pocket,” a user replied in 2022.

Are the blurbs pasted from a notes app on his phone? Partially.

He said he keeps a few boilerplate lines saved, but customizes each pitch by sport and recruit.

“​​How many of those recruits even read that? I have no idea,” Douglas said. “It’s just trying to get the word out about the school.”

Why not Maryland? @TerpsFootball

Top 15 ranked Public University.,Big Ten Conference, $150m team facilities, Under Armour flagship. Coaching staff with NFL, National Championship resumes, Nations Capital. Top 3 media market. Top 10 team facilities. Player driven, family… pic.twitter.com/r4mKAOccIQ

— Cʜᴜᴄᴋ ᴅᴏᴜɢʟᴀs ✪ (@ChuckDouglas_) July 29, 2023

More than just boosting a recruit’s interest, he wants them to understand the impact Maryland could have on them.

“I’m a living example of an alum who achieved all of his dreams,” Douglas said. “Maryland is a place you can achieve anything and everything you ever dreamed of.”

[Zahir Mathis nearly quit football. Now he’s flourishing at Maryland.]

After his graduation, Douglas joined the Washington Bullets on a one-year, $1,000-a-month deal as a public relations and coaching assistant. He was soon promoted to video coordinator before moving to the talent side as a scout.

After serving in several scouting positions, he became assistant general manager in 1990 and vice president of player personnel near the end of his time with the Bullets. He oversaw college scouting, opponent breakdowns and draft prep. In 1996, he scouted and signed center Ben Wallace — the only undrafted, modern-day player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Douglas worked for the Wizards until 2010, overseeing drafts that brought in Terps Juan Dixon and Steve Blake. He then launched a consulting firm that places U.S. college players on European teams.

“He would stay in the office probably until midnight or later, many a night, watching tapes,” said John Nash, Bullets general manager from 1990 to 1996. “He watched every frame of every tape. And he was very, very thorough.”

Two decades in the NBA gave Douglas a perspective he now applies to his Maryland fandom, he said.

“I know how hard it is to win,” Douglas said. “You’re climbing a mountain every day.”

Douglas has built relationships across Maryland’s athletic department. Football coach Michael Locksley follows him on X, and Douglas said he maintains contact with staffers like Kirby Mills. Douglas recalled former football receivers coach Gunter Brewer telling him, “You help more than you know.”

Women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese and athletic director Jim Smith also follow him. Douglas said he is enthusiastic about Smith and the future of the athletic department.

“We need fans like that — we need people who believe in where we’re going and the direction we’re taking things,” said Mills, senior associate athletic director and chief development officer.

Maryland’s most talked-about “bot” is just a faithful alum with a phone and a lot of passion for his alma mater.

The algorithms may change, but one constant remains: Douglas will keep tweeting — and keep believing in his Terps.

By midway through the third quarter, the majority of the sellout red-out crowd remaining in the stands was Indiana’s crimson.

The student section at SECU Stadium chanted to fire coach Michael Locksley at the end of the first half — an indictment of the Terps’ 17-point deficit and eventual 55-10 loss to No. 2 Indiana on Saturday. It marked Maryland’s fourth consecutive loss.

“It just sucks to watch our team play,” junior computer science major Justin McKendry said. “We should be a better program than this.”

In many ways, Indiana was in a similar situation to Maryland before the hiring of coach Curt Cignetti. Despite a few bowl game appearances over the past decade, the school regularly finished near the bottom of the Big Ten. The Hoosiers, too, are historically considered a basketball school.

[Watching film with Maryland football’s Cam Rice: pass rush, preparation and technique]

Cignetti’s hire has Indiana now 20-2 across the past two seasons, including a College Football Playoff appearance last year — which is why some Terps fans believe the school could use a similar coaching replacement.

“We’re a basketball school. We need to be a football school, too,” junior Miles McDonald said. “If Indiana can do it, we can do it too.”

The 45-point margin was different from the past three losses, though, all of which were by one score. Maryland was outscored in the fourth quarter 44-7, blowing a lead in the period each game.

Locksley admitted he, and his staff, need to coach better going forward — noting the team shouldn’t play inexperienced since they’re eight games in. And again, he said the team isn’t the “same old Maryland” — despite moving to 1-4 in Big Ten play, and now 16-39 in his current tenure.

To prevent another late-season spiral, the coach pointed to his relationship with the players. He called it the difference between last year’s five-game losing streak to end the season and 2025.

“These players will play hard for me,” Locksley said. “I will coach them hard and I will hang in there with them.”

Maryland notched its Big Ten-leading 15th interception of the season on Indiana’s opening drive. But with the ball on the Hoosier’s 12-yard line, the Terps mustered just six yards and settled for a Sean O’Haire field goal.

It was reminiscent of an offense that scored just three points in the first 58 minutes against UCLA two weeks prior, including stalling in the red zone twice.

Maryland didn’t score again in the first half. Quarterback Malik Washington threw two interceptions before adding a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown in the second half.

[Zahir Mathis nearly quit football. Now he’s flourishing at Maryland.]

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza led multiple 80-plus yard drives, including a 93-yard one for the Hoosier’s first touchdown. The redshirt junior tossed a 22-yard touchdown to Omar Cooper Jr. in between field goal attempts in the second quarter.

Washington threw a 55-yard touchdown of his own to redshirt freshman running back DeJuan Williams to open the second half. But Indiana’s top-ranked Big Ten offense responded with two touchdowns in the frame, along with the defense’s score.

“A lot of guys are upset, disappointed with how things are going,” defensive lineman Cam Rice said. “We all got to be better at what we do and just keep pushing.”

Larry Sefcik, who graduated from this university in 1981, said he doesn’t believe Locksley has proved himself as coach, now in his seventh year. Sefcik acknowledged Maryland is predominantly a basketball school, but called it disappointing to see fans leaving early — though he somewhat understood due to the halftime deficit.

“I’m not seeing a lot of hope right now,” Sefcik said.

Esa Ellahi, a freshman business and finance major, pointed to the team’s young talent but lack of results. McDonald suggested firing Locksley while keeping the core intact. Junior Justin McKendry said the Terps should be better with the Under Armour backing they receive.

With four games remaining, Maryland needs two wins for a bowl game berth. A similar unravel to 2024 could loom large over a promising young group.

“It’s a waste of talent right now,” Ellahi said. “We got a bunch of potential, but it just seems we can’t get it.”

The Terps entered the fourth quarter on Saturday against UCLA leading — the third straight week they were up entering the final frame — but lost again, this time on a last-second field goal.

Maryland’s defense largely dominated, but conceded 13 points in the fourth in a familiar late-game collapse. The offense managed a season-low 17 points and didn’t reach the end zone until the final minute.

Here are three takeaways from the Terps’ 20-17 loss.

Locksley’s repetitive news conference

Coach Michael Locksley reiterated five times after the game that he and his team are “not victims.”

The seventh-year coach made it clear he doesn’t want Maryland to view its late-game woes as the team’s defining trait — rather lessons to build upon.

“I’m not gonna ask why. Why is a victim question,” Locksley said. “I’m not a victim. I’m going to ask what we need to do, what I need to do to get us to be able to finish these games.”

The Terps have now recorded at least one three-game losing streak in each of Locksley’s seasons.

Last year showed how quickly such slides can snowball. Maryland was 4–3 in 2024 before a five-game skid left it 4-8 to end the season, going more than a month without a win.

That was the first time since 2020 that the Terps didn’t make a bowl game. Maryland needs two wins in its final five games to reach one this season. But with matchups looming against Indiana (7-0), Illinois (5-2) and Michigan (5-2) — that road gets steeper.

[Maryland football collapses in third consecutive game and falls to UCLA, 20-17]

For Locksley, the no-victim mantra reflects more than frustration — it’s an attempt to reset the psyche after three gut-punching losses. He believes Maryland’s issues are rooted in execution, not talent.

Whether that shift in mindset translates to wins will define the Terps’ final stretch.

“Obviously disappointed, I can tell you, not discouraged,” Locksley said. “Obviously we have to do better.”

Malik Washington, offense struggles — but still fulfills what fans waited for

The freshman quarterback acknowledged his performance against the Bruins fell short of his expectations. Washington posted his fewest passing yards of the season and completed fewer than half his attempts for the first time.

Washington said UCLA was able to take away Maryland’s explosive plays by keeping their coverage deep and forcing the Terps to settle for underneath throws. That approach made the offense adjust and live with limited gains rather than the big plays they’ve relied on in recent weeks, he said.

Still, the freshman said there’s no concern amid the challenging three-game stretch.

“Sometimes you just get a little unlucky with it,” Washington said. “There’s drives that we have to put together as an offense … we just gotta figure out a way to put it all together.”

[Zahir Mathis nearly quit football. Now he’s flourishing at Maryland.]

The Terps’ rushing struggles persisted as the running backs averaged less than three yards per carry, with Washington finishing as their leading rusher. Maryland’s receivers haven’t offered much help to the freshman, dropping three passes against the Bruins to bring their season total to 24 — already surpassing last year’s mark.

Still, Washington did what he couldn’t the past two weeks — lead a late scoring drive. He directed a nine-play, 75-yard march that tied the game with less than a minute remaining, only for his defense to unravel in four plays.

“It’s tough,” Washington said. “The cards just weren’t in our favor again today.”

Sloppy play, late defensive collapses continue

It’s hard to call a three-takeaway game “sloppy.” The Terps proved it can be done.

Edge rusher Trey Reddick was ejected in the second quarter for targeting, and safety Jalen Huskey repeated the mistake in the fourth.

With freshman edge rusher Zahir Mathis out, Reddick’s absence only further thinned Maryland’s defensive line. Huskey’s ejection compounded the defensive issues, with linebacker Daniel Wingate also exiting injured late.

“It’s hard because these are our playmakers. These are our guys that make a play,” defensive lineman Dillan Fontus said.

Maryland allowed a game-high 196 yards in the fourth quarter, after conceding an average of 72.6 yards in the previous three — allowing 13 points in the frame. Saturday’s game marked the third straight week Maryland was outscored in the final frame.

The Terps have now been outscored 61-24 in the fourth quarter this season.

Locksley noted frustration that the targeting calls came from the Big Ten office in Chicago rather than from the officials on the field. Still, it’s a trend for the Terps this season after edge rusher Sidney Stewart was ejected from the Washington game for targeting.

“For the second week Chicago called them and we lose a player,” Locksley said. “I’ll probably get in trouble for saying that, but it’s one of those things that I’ll keep asking — what I have to do, how I need to coach, what the position is I put us in.”

Maryland football let another close game slip away. The Terps blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and fell to Nebraska, 34-31, on Saturday at SECU Stadium — their second straight loss after leading in the final period.

I covered the immediate fallout and the team’s struggles late in games, and my beat partner, Jake Kauderer, detailed the Terps’ undisciplined, penalty-filled first half, a trend under coach Michael Locksley. Not a bad week to cover Maryland football.

Meanwhile, across from SECU Stadium is a potential championship contender at Ludwig Field. The No. 7 Maryland men’s soccer team beat No. 13 Rutgers, 2-0, on Tuesday, adding another resume booster to what looks like coach Sasho Cirovski’s most promising squad in years. Keep reading for more. 

Our picks of the week

If Saturday felt like a similar script to other Maryland football losses under Locksley, you weren’t alone. After the Terps committed eight penalties for 100 yards in their 34-31 loss to Nebraska, fans were displeased with the same issues that seemingly pop up every year.

The Terps ranked in the Big Ten’s bottom three in penalty yards allowed per game in each of the past five seasons, leading the league twice. Maryland recorded three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the first half — including two which came within three plays of each other.

“It’s something that is drilled into us,” safety Jalen Huskey said. “If you want to win games, it has to be on the players — we’re on the field, the coaches aren’t out there making the penalties.”

But Locksley insisted after the game that this wasn’t the “same old Maryland.” Part of that reasoning likely stems from a dynamic freshman class. The trio of quarterback Malik Washington and defensive ends Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis — have broken records and established a future core.

The highlight reel

Maryland women’s soccer opened the season 4-3, but have dropped seven of nine games in conference play. Its latest defeat was a 2-0 loss to Nebraska. 

• Cirovski’s squad has won six of seven home games, with one draw. Despite the coach saying it wasn’t their best effort against Rutgers — the win highlighted the Terps’ defensive prowess while playing at home. 
• Field hockey snagged its first top-ten win on Friday, defeating No. 10 Iowa, 2-1. The Terps were previously 0-3 in such matchups.
• Maryland volleyball has struggled in conference play under coach Adam Hughes, and 2025 hasn’t been any different. The Terps have lost all six conference matches, falling in three sets to No.7 Wisconsin on Sunday. 

Quote of the week

Locksley acknowledged the volatility of the coaching business when reflecting on Penn State’s firing of James Franklin, a former Maryland assistant.

“It’s the landscape. That’s why the best is now and not ahead,” Locksley said. “We learned very quickly that you’re only as good as the last game you played and the last game you won.”

The irony is that “The Best Is Ahead” has been both Maryland football’s slogan under Locksley and the name of his family’s foundation.

Up next

Football heads west to face a surging UCLA team at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday. The Bruins are 2-1 since parting ways with coach DeShaun Foster.

Women’s soccer hosts Michigan on Thursday — the first of a three-game home stand to close the season.

Missy Meharg’s squad hosts No. 1 Northwestern on Sunday — hoping earn their second top-ten victory of the season after defeating No. 10 Iowa on Oct. 10.

All week, the Terps emphasized that last week’s loss was the first adversity they faced all season and an opportunity to grow.

Maryland entered the fourth quarter on Saturday up a touchdown, but conceded another late-game score while the offense couldn’t respond on its final drive. The Terps fell to Nebraska, 34-31, at SECU Stadium and have now been outscored by 31 points in the fourth quarter this season.

“When we’ve been in the fourth quarter, I’ve watched the other team make some plays, and I’ve watched us not make a play,” coach Michael Locksley said. “For me as a coach, that’s the area that I’ll focus on. ”

After a Nebraska field goal with 7:47 left in the fourth quarter, Maryland (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) punted following a four-minute possession that stalled around midfield. Quarterback Dylan Raiola orchestrated a seven-play drive with under four minutes remaining that culminated in a three-yard touchdown pass to receiver Dane Key.

With just over a minute left, quarterback Malik Washington pushed the ball to the Maryland 45-yard line with a 16-yard completion to Shaleak Knotts. Washington missed an open Dorian Fleming on the next play and received an international grounding penalty. The freshman said he tried to save time by throwing the ball away — nearly out of the pocket on the play.

He connected with Knotts again on third down to set up a fourth-and-four on the Nebraska 49-yard line, but threw just behind Fleming — allowing the Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) to kneel the game out.

[Behind Maryland football’s early-season success is a dynamic freshman class]

“We came up short today, but I’m excited to see how the guys fought and everybody stayed with it,” Washington said. “It just showed that we have a lot of fight in us as a team.”

Maryland has conceded 47.5 percent of its points in the fourth quarter this season, while only scoring 17 of its own in the frame. Locksley said it will be a point of emphasis this week to see how to put his offense in a better position to make plays going forward.

A week earlier against the Huskies, receiver Jalil Farooq dropped a pass on third down of the Terps’ final drive that would’ve given them the ball in the red zone trailing by four. Maryland squandered a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter of that contest.

Defensively, safety Jalen Huskey noted the team needs to improve communication late and stop screen passes.

“We gave up those plays and it’s plays we know we can defend,” Huskey said. “At the end of the day, we just gotta finish.”

Washington kept Maryland afloat in the first half with 152 passing yards and a passing touchdown. The ground game also emerged, with redshirt running back Nolan Ray trotting in for a 28-yard touchdown — the Terps’ first run of more than 20 yards this year. DeJuan Williams added a rushing score later as Maryland finished with a season-best 4.2 yards per carry.

[Maryland football player back with team after hospital visit]

But Maryland recorded three unsportsmanlike conduct infractions and a personal foul for hitting the returner on a fair catch in the first half. The Cornhuskers also notched a pair of long kickoff returns and Raiola tossed three first-half touchdowns to build a 24-17 lead.

The Terps finished the game with eight penalties for 100 yards and entered the game averaging the third most penalty yardage in the Big Ten. The Terps have ranked among the top-four in penalty yardage in the conference each of the past four seasons — an issue Huskey and Locksley said falls on the players.

“I think the penalties happen when players play beyond the whistle,” Locksley said. “They got to make better decisions.”

Washington said the team will hold a players meeting to discuss where to improve, while Locksley said this isn’t the “same old Maryland.”

The Terps will have to travel cross-country to prove that against a surging UCLA team with little stakes to play for amid a lost season. For Maryland, any urgency felt over the past week only increases.

The Terps’ first-year athletic director weaved through crowds, shaking hands at every turn.

“Hopefully you will all come back next week,” Smith told fans at a pregame tailgate. “This is a sellout today. We have a home-field advantage like we’ve never had before.”

The Diamondback followed him on Saturday as he threaded the masses, paused for conversations and greeted fans. Maryland athletics views Smith’s visibility as essential to turning SECU Stadium into a hotspot.

His first stop was a tailgate hosted by boosters Scott Weitz and Joel Pitt, where about 650 people gathered. A ’90s rock band played as Maryland cheerleaders performed.

Smith’s white dress shirt hung open at the collar with a red suit jacket draped over his shoulders under the 80-degree sun.

“[Tailgating] is important for us,” Smith said as Sublime’s “Santeria” played in the background. “Football gameday is about community. We’ve got to facilitate an incredible community.”

[Maryland football blew a 20-point lead to Washington. These 3 stats tell why.]

Saturday’s sellout was Maryland’s first since 2023 and drew 46,185 fans — the fifth-largest crowd of coach Michael Locksley’s tenure. But the 24-20 defeat was a familiar script for Terps fans.

Maryland has dropped eight of its 10 most attended home games under Locksley, with crowds shrinking by more than 4,000 fans on average in the home game after a loss.

Smith said the real key to attendance is whether fans think Maryland has a chance.

“As long as you’re going to continue to believe the team can win, I think you’ll continue to have good crowds,” Smith said.

Senior associate athletic director and chief development officer Kirby Mills, who oversees donor engagement with the Terrapin Club, said his team works to build connections weekly, aiming to grow Maryland’s game day culture organically so it isn’t tied solely to team success.

Maryland officials said early-season football ticket sales are stronger this year, citing recent marketing pushes and renewed visibility. They declined to provide specific figures.

Weitz, who has hosted Maryland’s largest tailgates for 20 years and has visited every Big Ten stadium, said expanding tailgates is key to elevating Maryland’s game day atmosphere.

“Maryland isn’t where it needs to be, but it can be,” Weitz said. “We need to have giant tailgates where people can walk up and just pay money and join.”

Fernando Palacios, a Maryland fan since 1983, echoed a common concern. While the program boasts strong tailgate culture, traffic and parking remain major issues. He said fans are often funneled to wrong entrances.

Palacios said the atmosphere in College Park feels on the verge of breaking through, recalling sold-out crowds during his time as a student — a contrast to recent years when opposing fans have filled many big games.

“This fanbase is a bubbling pot, just waiting for something big,” Palacios said.

[Brayden Marko wants to be next in Maryland football’s school of tight ends]

Smith worked his way through several more tailgates. He said visibility is the only way to truly hear fans — but that outreach hasn’t been limited to gamedays.

Since taking the job, Smith’s X and Instagram feeds have been filled with Terps results and fan interactions. He’s also appeared on SiriusXM, 105.7 The Fan, Big Ten Network and many other outlets.

Smith tweeted more in the single week leading into the Washington game than former athletic director Damon Evans has since leaving for SMU in March. Smith said he never pitched visibility during his interviews, assuming it was simply part of the job.

“He’s exactly what Maryland needed,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour founder and Maryland alum. “He’s going to pull this athletic department together.”

Smith moved into the Jones-Hill House before the game for the Terpsville Fan Fest — where cornhole, inflatable bounce houses, face painting and more games are set up across the turf in the Terps’ practice facility three hours before kickoff.

Senior associate athletic director Carrie Blankenship orchestrated the idea, which Smith views as an investment for kids to grow up as Terps fans.

“It makes [my son] want to come to the game,” said George Rodman III, who brought his 3-year-old. “It’s great to have the team walk with the band and then come in here afterwards. It’s a great experience.”

Maryland’s student section thinned in the second half against Washington. Some students pointed to the sun and lack of shade in the section as reasons to leave early, as well as previous blowouts. Some said halftime or post-third quarter events and giveaways could help them stay.

At Wisconsin, Smith noted, fans stayed for the traditional “Jump Around” even while their team trailed big against the Terps. He stressed that lasting traditions at Maryland must come from students rather than administrators, and sees naming the student section as a first step toward building tradition.

“A bunch of old guys and old women come up with an idea — it’s not as good as if the students come up with it themselves,” Smith said.

During the game, Smith watched a few drives on the field before mingling with donors and fans in Tyser Tower. He then returned for jumbotron presentations and tried to stop by the student section. His day began at 7 a.m. and didn’t end until he got home at about 8:45 p.m.

After three cups of coffee throughout the day, he usually watches most of the game on recording later.

Every handshake and visit is about one thing in Smith’s eyes — building a stronger Maryland community — one that is still waiting for the breakthrough that finally pulls other Terps fans fully on board.

A sellout crowd. A lively 4-0 start. A fanbase desperate to believe SECU Stadium could finally feel like a true destination.

For two quarters, it looked like the Terps would deliver. They extended their lead to 20-0 early in the third quarter, the kind of moment that should have signaled a program turning the corner.

Instead, Maryland unraveled: 24 unanswered Washington points, a 24-20 loss and a familiar feeling over emptying stands.

For all the promise, the refrain echoed again: “Same old Maryland.”

Here are three stats that capture the Terps’ collapse.

No Maryland possession lasted longer than three minutes after the 20–0 start

After an interception set up a field goal on Maryland’s opening drive, the Terps’ offense settled in with a pair of long, methodical marches.

Maryland used a 16-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to take a 10-0 lead, then scored a field goal off another 16-play possession.

By halftime, Maryland had controlled the ball for 17:57 — about six minutes more than Washington — with those three scoring drives accounting for all but 51 seconds of its possession time.

A nine-play, three-minute drive pushed the lead to 20-0 early in the third quarter. But it was the longest possession Maryland managed the rest of the half,as it failed to sustain a drive longer than 2:54 the rest of the way.

[Maryland football continues post-bye week woes, implodes in 24-20 loss to Washington]

“What we learned today as a team is you got to learn how to put people away,” coach Michael Locksley said.

The Huskies, meanwhile, showed balance. They pieced together a seven-minute field-goal drive, followed it with a three-minute touchdown march, then struck again in just more than a minute. Their final blow came on an 11-play, 80-yard march that drained more than five minutes.

By the finish, Washington had held the ball three minutes longer overall — and eight minutes more in the second half — flipping the script from Maryland’s early control.

The Terps’ third-down efficiency was key in the first half — converting on seven of 11 attempts, along with a fourth down, while picking up 11 first downs.

Maryland converted only two of six third downs in the second half, with only three first downs in the fourth quarter.

“Washington did a little bit better than us, and especially in critical situations where they needed to make plays — they did,” Locksley said.

Maryland rushed the ball only four times in the second half

The Terps opened with a complementary offense, even if their ground game averaged just 2.8 yards per carry. They mixed quarterback Malik Washington’s 25 first-half passing attempts with 16 runs, 10 handled by redshirt freshman DeJuan Williams.

But that balance vanished after halftime. Williams carried the ball just twice more, and Maryland ran only four times in the entire second half — with a single handoff in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, the freshman signal-caller dropped back 24 more times in the second half, even as the Terps ran 13 fewer plays after the break.

Locksley pointed to the run-pass-option scheme as a reason for the shift. He said Washington was often reading between two-safety looks and man coverage. The Terps looked to throw against man but couldn’t capitalize. 

[Malik Washington’s past coaches break down his historic start for Maryland football]

“We just went out there and we did what was working in the first half,” Washington said. “The first drives were methodical, taking what the defense gives us. We tried to do the same thing in the second half.”

The run game didn’t just disappear against the Huskies, though. It’s been missing all season.

The Terps are last in the Big Ten in rushing yards, the only squad in an 18-team conference averaging less than 100 yards a game, with 3.3 yards a carry. Roman Hemby, their leading rusher last year, is averaging more than five yards a carry at Indiana and ranks eighth in the conference.

Washington outgained Maryland by 163 yards in the second half

The Huskies sputtered early — converting just one of six third downs and getting outgained by more than 40 yards.

But the second half flipped. The Huskies went 4-for-6 on third downs and piled up 163 yards more than the Terps to seize control over the game.

Linebacker Daniel Wingate said Maryland’s second-half struggles stemmed from self-inflicted mistakes and a failure to maintain the standard set early. The junior said it was the missed execution, not scheme, that made the difference.

“We were up on them the whole game,” Wingate said. “Just being able to finish it to the end, until the clock hits zero, is something we got to work on.

The Terps lost team-sack leader freshman edge rusher Sidney Stewart to a targeting penalty, but Wingate said the defense needed to have a next-man mentality to keep the plays moving instead of dwelling on mistakes.

Cornerback Dontay Joyner, who had surrendered only 30 passing yards all season entering Saturday, conceded 75 to the Huskies. Kevyn Humes, similarly steady with just 44 yards allowed to that point, yielded 68 while working out of the slot.

“We didn’t need to do nothing special or extraordinary. We just had to continue to do what we do at the end of the day,” Wingate said. “And we didn’t do that.” 

Their emphasis on footwork helped Washington develop the pocket base he calls “second nature.” Now, Campbell and Washington’s former coaches watch him thrive using the techniques they drilled for years.

“When people see him and they’re amazed, I look at it and I know that he’s worked that drill hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times,” Campbell said. “To see his hard work pay off is just the coolest thing in the world because none of this is by accident.”

With the Terps ahead 14 in the second quarter against the Badgers, Washington settled in. The freshman opened the drive at Maryland’s 30-yard line with a 19-yard completion to receiver Octavian Smith Jr. He faked an outside zone run, whipped his eyes downfield and reset his base before lofting a pass down the right sideline.

The footwork mirrored a drill Campbell calls “brake and claim,” where Washington plants with his off foot to slow his roll, then regains balance for a clean throw.

“This is literally textbook,” Campbell said. “I got thousands of videos of us working this.”

pic.twitter.com/gzNnI7mZyF

— Mike Howes Clips (@mikehowesclips) October 1, 2025

Washington threw an 18-yard pass to receiver Kaleb Webb a minute later — backpedaling in the pocket before shuffling to a stop and firing a high-arching ball that dropped just beyond multiple defenders’ reach.

The sequence was what Campbell calls a “Brady step,” a shuffle reset that replaces a three-step drop and lets Washington stay balanced to deliver touch throws over the middle.

pic.twitter.com/htLU7elQbH

— Mike Howes Clips (@mikehowesclips) October 1, 2025

[Maryland football mailbag: Terps aim to return to national relevancy after strong start]

The drive ended with a field goal that stretched Maryland’s lead to 17-0 — only minutes before Washington uncorked a deep ball at the end of the half.

Campbell pointed out that many young quarterbacks linger too long after a play fake. But Washington snapped his head around off a play action fake, reset his base and fired a 48-yard strike under pressure to set up a field goal before halftime.

“Coach [Michael Locksley] called the shot play. We came out of it. I saw a good leverage,” Washington said. “I knew [Smith] is a guy that can fly, so I put the ball out there and let him make the play.”

Some people are surprised

I’m not

@malikw2025 pic.twitter.com/ZCa2FvHYaM

— Coach Aaron (@CoachAaronRHA) September 23, 2025

Washington connected on a 62-yard strike to Shaleak Knotts in the fourth quarter, stretching Maryland’s lead further — not the first time the Terps dialed up the shot. Earlier, Washington overthrew Webb on a similar route that could have gone for a 42-yard score. The quarterback said he adjusted by putting more air under the ball.

Locksley said he saw the freshman “self-correct within the game,” a trait Spalding coach Kyle Schmitt remembered witnessing often in Washington’s high school career.

Schmitt said Washington rarely made the same mistake twice, recalling how he would miss a throw early but return determined to complete it later. That competitiveness, paired with his constant communication on the sideline, made him “a master” at in-game adjustments.

“He plays so balanced … [but] he feels like he’s pissed off that he didn’t hit that earlier,” Schmitt said.

The Cavaliers’ coach remembered Washington insisting on re-running plays he missed in practice, and if Spalding faced an opponent he had misfired against again in the postseason, he would try to hit the same play the next time.

“It’s just a kid that loves football and lives and breathes it,” Schmitt said. “The ability to self-correct in game is a trait of great players … he’s special with that.”

Locksley noted today that he hasn’t seen Malik Washington repeat the same mistake.

He pointed to Washington’s fourth-quarter touchdown to Shaleak Knotts after missing Kaleb Webb on the same play earlier.

“He made the adjustment … saw him self-correct within the game.” pic.twitter.com/sxNP0oO7hO

— Michael Howes (@Mikephowes) September 22, 2025

Maryland has used Washington’s legs sparingly this season — he has just nine carries — but in consecutive weeks the Terps dialed up nearly identical quarterback keepers at the goal line, resulting in touchdowns against Wisconsin and Towson.

[The Diamondback Sports Digest: Malik Washington is exciting Maryland football fans]

Former coaches say that reluctance to run has been part of Washington’s game, despite the 6-foot-5, 231-pound quarterback’s stature. Schmitt recalled challenging him to run more as a junior at Spalding — Washington rushed for 534 yards and 15 touchdowns over his last two high school seasons.

“You start to challenge him … and that pisses him off in a good way,” he said.

Kerwin Porter, Washington’s youth coach with the Brooklyn Park Broncos from ages eight to 13, remembered constantly urging him to “run more.” Porter laughed that, for all of Washington’s hesitancy, he never saw him caught from behind.

pic.twitter.com/GcVLQwKQ5M

— Mike Howes Clips (@mikehowesclips) October 1, 2025

Schmitt said Washington’s legs are most effective in selective spots — short-yardage or red-zone situations — and in scrambles when plays break down and Washington’s ability to create can separate him.

Beyond his play, Washington’s program-building presence has already shown at College Park.

Schmitt recalled how he attracted “winners” to Spalding’s roster, and Maryland has seen a similar effect — 14 DMV recruits joined him in his 2025 class, with nine more committed for 2026.

“The maturity piece — how he elevated the Spalding program. We’re starting to see that here,” Locksley said. “People want to play with him.”