The first-year athletic director informed the team of the decision today and told ESPN Maryland is focused on improving financially to reach the level of the Big Ten’s top teams.

“We are working to strengthen our NIL support for 2026 and beyond and have already seen success for next year,” Smith told ESPN. “We are prioritizing roster retention, recruiting and competing in the transfer portal.”

The Terps are in the midst of a six-game skid and boast just one win in Big Ten play for the second straight season. The only Big Ten team worse over the past two seasons is Purdue, which hasn’t won any conference games.

[Maryland football fails to score a touchdown in sixth straight loss, 24-6 to Illinois]

Locksley is 16-41 in Big Ten play at Maryland, with his first full season in 2019. He entered the season with the second-lowest winning percentage among active Power Four coaches who have been at a college for at least seven seasons, The Baltimore Sun reported. The Terps are yet to beat a ranked Big Ten opponent under him.

It would have cost more than $13 million to fire Locksley, according to his contract. Smith told The Sun on Tuesday he would evaluate Locksley after the season — calling it “silly” to do now. Instead of waiting, Smith made his biggest decision yet.

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

Locksley took over a program reeling from the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. He instilled a new culture and guided Maryland to three straight bowl game wins from 2021-2023 — the first time the Terps accomplished the feat.

“To continue building on this foundation, Coach Locksley needs — and deserves — the full support of our department, our university, and all of Terp Nation. We are fully committed to giving him and our student-athletes the resources and investments necessary to succeed. I have worked closely with Coach Locksley to rapidly strengthen our NIL support for 2026 and beyond, with a clear and focused effort on roster retention, recruiting, and being highly competitive in the transfer portal,” Smith added in the letter.

Locksley curated NFL talent and brought in many talented recruits, including freshman Zahir Mathis, Sidney Stewart and four-star quarterback Malik Washington. But considering his results the past two seasons and the fanbase’s growing impatience, it is surprising Smith committed to Locksley before the season concludes.

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.

Terps quarterback Malik Washington has been sacked just twice. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t endured pressure.

Washington leads the Big Ten in passing attempts, has to compensate for a defense allowing nearly 30 points a game in conference play and boasts four rushing touchdowns — matching the rest of the team’s total. The freshman shoulders immense responsibilities for a struggling team.

Washington accounts for about 73.7 percent — or 2,319 — of the Terps’ combined 3,146 passing and rushing yards, the highest proportion among all starting quarterbacks in the Big Ten, according to a Diamondback analysis.

Locksley said it’s not just Washington. The entire offense is beaten up.

“To be quite honest, we haven’t put a lot on Malik,” Locksley said. “First and second down typically he’s under center, turning off, turning around, handing the ball off.”

The early rushes haven’t eased Washington, though. Through six Big Ten games, Maryland is averaging 3.4 yards a carry on nearly 70 runs on first down. Four of those rushes have gone for double-digit yardage, while five have resulted in negative plays. The early-down difficulties have left Washington in many third-and-long situations, where Locksley said a young quarterback is vulnerable.

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

The Terps have converted just 10 of 40 attempts in scenarios with third downs on seven or greater yards in conference play. Their highest conversion rate came against UCLA at 50 percent and their lowest was at Rutgers, picking up a first down on one of eight attempts.

While Maryland racked up 403 yards against the Scarlet Knights, more than half its third downs were greater than seven yards — a key reason the Terps scored only three second-half points.

“The area that’s been the toughest has been, obviously, being able to be efficient at running the ball, especially when we need to run the football,” Locksley said. “We’ve been in second-and-10 quite a bit, and when that happens, those downs are advantageous to the defense.”

Washington missed throws throughout the 35-20 loss to Rutgers, tossing for only 98 yards. He previously became one of three Power Conference true freshman quarterbacks this century to throw for at least 200 yards in his first eight games.

Maryland’s receivers, whose 7.2 percent drop rate ranks second-worst in collegiate power conferences, continued their downturn with only 50 yards against the Scarlet Knights.

[Maryland football at the point of ‘playing for pride’ after lowly loss to Rutgers]

Shaleak Knotts, who leads the Terps in receiving yards, ended with 13. In his last five games, the senior made one catch of more than 30 yards and hasn’t found the end zone. He recorded a 30-plus yard reception in all of Maryland’s first four games, scoring in each.

Senior Octavian Smith Jr. went over 100 yards in consecutive games earlier this season, but boasts just 134 across the past five games.

With senior Jalil Farooq third in receiving yards, uncertainty looms on Washington’s targets next season. If the Terps can’t bolster the receiver room, big plays may continue to be sparse. It could keep pressure on Washington to lead methodical drives with a run game that is among the Big Ten’s most inefficient this season.

“When you’re one dimensional, it makes it easy to defend,” Locksley said.

Maryland’s defense has endured its own woes. The Terps have conceded 72 fourth-quarter points through six conference games. That includes allowing UCLA to reach field goal range with a 35-second, 68-yard drive after Washington orchestrated a game-tying touchdown.

A mix of gut-wrenching and blowout losses raises the question of the mental toll on Washington, considering his high school success. He went 33-3 as Archbishop Spalding’s starter with no conference losses.

“In high school, we didn’t lose too much,” Washington said after Maryland’s loss to Indiana on Nov. 1. “Now I just have to learn how to deal with losses and be able to come back from it and come back stronger.”

After a 35-20 road loss to Rutgers on Saturday, Maryland football continues to unravel.

Despite a season-best rushing performance, the Terps allowed nearly 500 yards in their fifth straight defeat. Coach Michael Locksley said he is looking for “slow progress” and that Maryland is at the point of “playing for pride.”

Sports editor Sam Jane analyzed Locksley’s trajectory after dropping below .500 for the first time this season.

Our pick of the week

Maryland men’s soccer was ranked No. 1 in the nation last week for the first time since 2019. Sadam Masereka’s hat trick against Michigan State on Friday not only cemented a 4-3 Maryland win, but also capped its undefeated regular season and first Big Ten title in three years.

“To be undefeated in 2025 is a remarkable accomplishment,” Cirovski said. “While we did it in 2016, the college landscape has changed so much that this is incredibly rewarding.”

In under 35 minutes on Friday, Masereka became the first Maryland player to score a hat trick since October 2017, pushing his goal tally to nine.

Since taking over as coach in 1993, excellence has been the expectation for Cirovski and Maryland. But after trailing for just 78 seconds in this year’s regular season, it fell 2-0 to UCLA in Wednesday’s Big Ten Tournament semifinals at Ludwig Field.

Men’s soccer reporter Aidan Currie compiled four stats that encapsulate Maryland’s historic regular season, despite the Terps’ shocking loss to begin postseason play.

The highlight reel

• Maryland men’s basketball went 1-1 in its first homestand of 2025-26. The Terps beat Alcorn State on Tuesday after falling to Georgetown on Friday.
• Ever wondered why athletes have such odd superstitions? General assignment reporter Jillian Hartman spoke with coaches and players from Maryland baseball and gymnastics to find out why.
• Addi Mack engineered Maryland women’s basketball’s comeback win over Georgetown on Sunday, scoring 17 fourth-quarter points.
• Maryland field hockey dropped its Big Ten tournament opener against Ohio State and missed out on an NCAA tournament bid for the second time since 1994.
• Maryland baseball released its 2026 schedule on Friday.

Quote of the week

Redshirt freshman Andre Mills and freshman Darius Adams scored a combined 26 points in Maryland men’s basketball’s 84-64 win over Alcorn State on Tuesday.

Adams contributed two 3-pointers, his first makes from beyond the arc this season after shooting 0-for-7 in the Terps’ first two games. Mills spoke on watching his growth firsthand.

“[It felt] like a Disney movie,” Mills said. “[Adams] being 18 years old and playing in this league is not easy at all.”

Stat of the week

Maryland men’s basketball’s 70-60 loss to Georgetown on Friday snapped its 48-game home-opener win streak, which dated back to 1977.

Up next

Women’s basketball hosts Towson on Thursday at 7 p.m., while men’s basketball travels to Marquette, coach Buzz Williams’ former school, on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Football hits the road against Illinois at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Terps are in danger of dropping their sixth straight.
Men’s soccer continues postseason play in the NCAA tournament, pending a bid in Monday’s Selection Show.

Sure, he may finish out the regular season — maybe even limp into next year — but the dwindling trajectory is unmistakable. The window for Locksley to build something sustainable at Maryland has closed.

New athletic director Jim Smith may have to assess the direction of the program before the situation becomes more difficult to manage. It could be time for him to seriously evaluate whether a coaching change is in the program’s best interest this offseason.

Saturday’s 35-20 loss to Rutgers cemented an annual tradition under Locksley — a losing season in Big Ten play. In Locksley’s seven years as coach, Maryland has beat 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, and has never finished with a winning conference record.

Entering the season, Locksley’s winning percentage was the second-lowest among Power Four coaches working since 2019. California’s Justin Wilcox was the only coach with a worse record and yet, the Golden Bears are 6-4 this season with a recent win over No. 19 Louisville. 

After Saturday’s loss, Locksley tried to justify his team’s performance by saying this squad’s expectations shifted after their 3-0 start. But in the preseason, the coach said he viewed his roster on a “win now” basis and wanted his program to shift toward a pro-style approach. He said that meant less focus on developing young players, and an emphasis on preparing players to immediately win.

“I feel really confident that we put a plan in place that will allow this team to bounce back pretty quickly,” Locksley said in March. “We’re out of that model of developing and now it’s ‘What can you do now?’”

Fast forward to this week, and Locksley said winning a second Big Ten game would demonstrate “slow progress.” On Saturday, he pointed to reduced penalties as an area for improvement this season.

The Terps are still the fourth most penalized team in the conference. 

They could be fighting for a bowl game or a strong rebound season after last year’s 4-8 showing. Instead, Maryland’s starting quarterback Malik Washington’s mentality is to “finish strong, play for pride,” he said Saturday.

It’s not just fans who have reset the expectations for this team. Over time, Locksley has lowered the bar himself.

When Locksley initially took the Maryland job, the program was unstable, reeling from the tragic death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and the ensuing revelations of the toxic nature of coach D.J. Durkin’s methods.

Locksley reestablished a strong culture, leading the Terps to three straight bowl wins. His teams featured prolific offenses, several NFL draft picks and no major scandals. The span between 2021 to 2023 is the best stretch of Maryland football in the last 15 years. 

It’s undeniable that Maryland is certainly in a better position than when Locksley arrived. He clearly loves the area — reminiscing on attending games at Byrd Stadium as a young child — and has brought in top talent and players tend to love him. His freshman class with Washington, edge rushers Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart and safety Messiah Delhomme has played well this year.

But he hasn’t won enough. And in a business that prioritizes winning above all else, Maryland needs to find a coach who can do that at a more consistent level.

There are other factors in deciding Locksley’s future, notably, his buyout that kicks in if Maryland fires him before his contract expires. Some sports journalists around Maryland reported that money may be hard to come by in this case.

Even if Maryland does gather the money required for a buyout, it will have to also pay a new coach in a competitive hiring cycle. Several other high-profile jobs have already opened up, including LSU, Florida, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Stanford and Arkansas. Those schools are all potentially better resourced and more attractive jobs than Maryland.

Two years ago, Indiana was mired in mediocrity, a program that closely resembled the Terps today. The Hoosiers hired Curt Cignetti, and he has the program on the brink of its second straight College Football Playoff appearance and the No. 2 ranking in the country. 

Hires like Cignetti don’t happen often. But there’s plenty of attractive candidates in the coaching market who Smith could target. Any of them could bring juice to a program that desperately needs some positive momentum.

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.”

Saturday marked a prime opportunity for the Terps to snap a four-game skid and record their first win in November since 2023 — which came against the Scarlet Knights.

Instead, they faltered. Maryland lost to Rutgers, 35-20, at SHI Stadium, despite a season-high 305 rushing yards. Quarterback Malik Washington led with 164 yards on the ground, surpassing his total of 99 entering the game.

“This inexperienced team created an expectation with how they played early, [they’re a] little banged up right now and they keep showing up for me,” coach Michael Locksley said. “It’s my job to remain positive — I have no problem with the expectation that we’ve created.”

During the week, Locksley said a victory over the Scarlet Knights would signify progress for the Terps since it makes five wins — one more than last season. While a low number, he said it would demonstrate “slow progress.”

But Maryland boasts just two Big Ten wins over the past two seasons and is now guaranteed to finish below .500 in conference play. The Terps have done that in all seven seasons under Locksley since 2019.

“I’m not going to evaluate us right now,” Locksley said. “Meet me at the end of the season, I’ll have an end-of-season review for you.”

Maryland’s defense allowed quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to throw for 229 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Antwan Raynond added a career-high 240 rushing yards and receivers were often wide open down the field. Cornerback Jamare Glasker surrendered three touchdowns, with Locksley yelling at the redshirt junior on the bench after one.

[Here are 3 takeaways after Maryland football’s lifeless loss to Indiana]

Rutgers made it a two-score game with just under five minutes when Raymond dashed for a five-yard touchdown. The Scarlet Knights converted a pair of third-downs on the drive.

The Terps, who entered sixth in the Big Ten with 23 sacks, notched just one, while Rutgers failed to sack Washington. The freshman missed some key throws, including a wide open DeJuan Williams out of the backfield on fourth down in opposing territory in the third quarter.

Still, Washington bounced back from his first multi-interception outing against Indiana, where he rushed for one yard on three carries. He has repeatedly said he wants to use his legs more and finished with two total touchdowns against the Scarlet Knights.

“[The run game is] something that we talked about earlier in the season, being able to improve on,” Washington said. “Adding myself into that just helps the offense even more.”

That included a 73-yard read-option on the game’s second play, the longest rush by a Terps quarterback since 2015.

Maryland’s previous longest run this season was 28 yards. It also entered last in the Big Ten in rushing yards, rushing yards per game and rushing attempts. No running back recorded a run of more than four yards against the Hoosiers.

[Meet Chuck Douglas, Maryland athletics’ most online fan]

But the backs joined Washington in a season-best performance Saturday.

Williams averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 14 carries. Redshirt sophomore Nolan Ray, who had 13 rushing yards over the past two games, ended with 77 on five carries against Rutgers, which came in allowing the second most rushing yards per game in the Big Ten.

“I thought Malik’s ability in the run game … opened up the natural run game, where our backs started being able to get some positive yardage,” Locksley said. “It was good to see Malik make that point of emphasis go for us.”

Ray notched a season-high 55-yard run in the second quarter to set up a Washington touchdown pass to receiver Kaleb Webb. The Terps were outscored 21-3 the rest of the way, though.

Maryland is now even with Rutgers at the bottom of the Big Ten with 15 conference wins since the start of the 2020 season.

Locksley referenced in the week how the college football landscape is drastically different than when he took over the Terps. He’s repeated how Maryland is no longer a developmental program amid a growing NIL impact, the transfer portal and conference expansions.

Considering his results the past two years, it feels fair to question what type of program Maryland is.

The seventh-year coach said during the week he felt “pretty good” about the Terps’ chances against No. 2 Indiana on Saturday. Locksley cited Maryland’s prior three games, each one-score losses caused by self-inflicted mistakes. He thought they were correctable.

The Terps instead put together their worst performance of the season. Maryland averaged 2.2 yards a rush, allowed nearly 600 yards and held the ball for less than half the time of Indiana.

“I obviously didn’t coach well enough, the players obviously didn’t execute well enough,” Locksley said. “One of the things that I’ll continue to say is that we’re not going to be victims — we’ll get this thing corrected.”

Here are three takeaways from the Terps’ 55-10 loss.

Turnovers cost Maryland 

Maryland entered Saturday with five turnovers committed and an FBS-leading plus-1.57 turnover differential per game.

Cornerback Jamare Glasker recorded the Terps’ Big Ten-leading 15th interception on the Hoosier’s opening possession. Indiana played turnover-free afterward, while Maryland ended with five.

Malik Washington threw interceptions on consecutive second-quarter possessions, each leading to Indiana scores. The first came when the freshman quarterback tossed a pass directly at a linebacker, the next on a deep shot.

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

“We talk a lot about being able to protect the ball,” Washington said. “Today we tried to force the issue a little bit, I’ll take that on myself.”

Locksley shouldered blame for Washington’s struggles, which included a fumble in the third quarter returned for a touchdown. Senior receiver Octavian Smith Jr. lost a fumble on the Terps’ next possession and Maryland turned it over on downs on the ensuing drive. Locksley said the “wheels kind of fell off” during that stretch.

While Indiana’s second-ranked Big Ten scoring defense didn’t sack Washington, it consistently forced him to make off-balance throws into tight windows. He was also stuck in third-and-long situations for much of the contest, converting just three of 12 third downs.

Lopsided rushing numbers

Indiana finished with 330 more rushing yards than Maryland.

No Terps running back recorded a rush of more than four yards. Freshman Iverson Howard led on the ground with 12 yards. Running back DeJuan Williams paced the team in receiving for a second straight game, but notched only 10 rushing yards. Washington carried only three times after saying he wanted to use his legs more.

Locksley said Maryland needs to alleviate pressure on Washington better when he’s struggling — something a strong run game can do.

But it’s been absent all year. The Terps rank last in the Big Ten in rushing yards, rushing yards a game and rushing attempts, while Washington sits second in the conference in passing attempts.

“If you got a really talented freshman quarterback, the worst thing you can do is have him get beat up,” Locksley said during the week.

Maryland’s defense continued its own downward spiral in the ground game.

Following consecutive games allowing almost 200 rushing yards, the Terps conceded 367 yards and four rushing touchdowns to the Hoosiers. Including three nonconference games, Maryland is surrendering 186.4 rushing yards a game at SECU Stadium.

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

“That’s a lot of rushing yards,” graduate student Cam Rice said of the team’s run defense Saturday. “Especially as a defensive lineman, you never want to allow a team to rush like that on you.”

Locksley’s Big Ten woes continue 

The loss moved Locksley to 16-39 in conference play in his current Maryland tenure.

It’s tough to fault Locksley for winning only three Big Ten games across his first two seasons since he took over a program in turmoil after DJ Durkin’s abrupt firing. And despite his inability to beat the conference’s elites, Locksley led the Terps to three consecutive bowl game wins from 2021 to 2023.

But 2024 and the first five Big Ten games of this season have been a major step back.

Maryland is 2-12 in conference play since the start of last season — only Purdue, which hasn’t won a Big Ten game since 2023, boasts fewer wins in the span. The Terps lost their last five games of 2024, losing by an average of 22.6 points.

Locksley expressed belief this campaign will be different. He pointed to a strong relationship with the players, in contrast to last season, where he admitted to losing the locker room.

“Not the same old Maryland,” Locksley said.

Maryland will likely need to record two more wins to earn a bowl game berth and at least somewhat prove its coach right.

If the Terps can’t, doubts may heighten about the leadership surrounding this young, talented team — beginning with Locksley.

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 typically have two — one in the morning and another at 2 p.m. — in a cycle that repeats three times a week.

But it isn’t enough for Cam Rice.

The graduate student watches more film on a team-issued iPad alone every evening, typically on his couch or in his room. Rice met with The Diamondback to break down several of his plays this season.

Rice transferred from Ohio to Maryland this offseason and ranks second on the team with 14 hurries this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

“If you’re taking a test and you have the answers, you’re obviously going to do better,” Rice said. “That’s basically what film watching is like … it’s like a cheat sheet for the game.”

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— Jake Kauderer (@jakekaudclips) October 30, 2025

Rice uses more power moves while on the defensive line’s interior since there’s such little space between him and the offensive lineman. On this play, he sees the guard overcommitting inside and swiftly pushes the gap between the guard and tackle. As a game progresses, Rice will track offensive lineman’s tendencies to rush the opposing quarterback.

[Maryland football mailbag: where Michael Locksley stands amid Terps’ struggles]

He went through that gap to record a sack against Washington after recognizing the guard was covering the area between the center and himself for much of the first half.

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— Jake Kauderer (@jakekaudclips) October 30, 2025

He also pays attention to the offensive lineman’s eyes before snaps, which can reveal blocking assignments. If an opposing lineman is responsible for Rice, they’ll usually be facing him.

He listens to opponents’ communication, too. If they say a word that starts with the letter “R”, it typically means they’re shifting right, while “L” signals left. Other words signify protections, including max, where tight ends and running backs generally block.

“These guys talk so much and they’ll literally tell you what they’re doing — where they’re sliding, where they’re protecting to, and if you can pick up on that, it’s huge,” Rice said.

The in-game adjustments build off preparation. Maryland defensive line coach Corey Liuget sends out pass-rush reports each week with offensive lineman’s habits. Whether an opponent keeps their hands high, low or leave their chest open can dictate the Terps’ rushing strategy.

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— Jake Kauderer (@jakekaudclips) October 30, 2025

Rice said Washington’s offensive lineman, using high hands, went all out for an “initial punch.” Rice rapidly used a club-swim move to apply pressure through a different gap between the center and guard.

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

When advancing on opposing signal-callers, the 6’2’, 303-pound lineman’s background playing quarterback in middle and high school helps him. Rice said the experience gives him an extra sense of where a quarterback will scramble. It showed on his first sack of the year against Wisconsin.

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— Jake Kauderer (@jakekaudclips) October 30, 2025

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— Jake Kauderer (@jakekaudclips) October 30, 2025

Here, Rice is lined up on the edge and tasked with containing the quarterback. He is looking to grab the opposing offensive lineman’s elbow or wrist — a skill he said Maryland frequently practices — so he can manipulate their movement.

Containing the quarterback is a multi-step process. Rice avoids going too far into the backfield and focuses on staying wide.

“I like being versatile, I like to be able to play any position on the line,” Rice said. “You do have a little bit more space to work out [on the edge].”

Rice ranks second on the Terps in quarterback hits in his first season in College Park. Beyond his on-field impact, he has led in the film room for a young defensive line — one that has Maryland atop the Big Ten in sacks.

Rice wasn’t a big film observer growing up, only seriously starting when he began seeing the field more during his sophomore year at West Liberty University, a Division II college. Now, he considers himself an avid watcher and said it helps him steal a couple plays every game.

“It’s kind of like doing homework, but it’s fun,” Rice said.