Welcome to The Diamondback Sports Digest, your weekly all-access pass to everything Maryland athletics.

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.