Maryland football drops second consecutive Big Ten game with 34-31 loss to Nebraska

Coming into its matchup against Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten), Maryland (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) football was looking for consistency on both sides of the ball against quality conference opponents. The Terps only got it from one unit.

Maryland dropped another Big Ten game in heartbreaking fashion with a 34-31 loss in the final minutes to Nebraska. While the offense was able to gain a total of 379 yards and three touchdowns, the defense played a game riddled with costly penalties, missed tackles and explosive plays.

“Usually when we miss tackles in space, it’s overrunning the football or overpursuing,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “We’ll take a look at it and make sure we continue to do a better job of finishing.”

Offensively, this matchup seemed like one where the Terps’ run game could finally flow. The Cornhuskers entered with the 88th-ranked rush defense in all of college football, though they also boast the best passing defense. Defensively, the Terps were looking for a full four quarters of play.

Following a sluggish offensive start to the game, Maryland finally found success in the ground game at the beginning of the second quarter when redshirt sophomore running back Nolan Ray broke a few tackles and rolled down the sideline for a 28-yard rushing touchdown. The longest rush of the Terps’ season cut the Nebraska lead to three.

Defensively, the Terps had a roller coaster first half, giving up 24 points. Running back Emmett Johson averaged seven yards a carry, and sophomore wide receiver Nyziah Hunter had two receiving touchdowns. 

However, the Terps intercepted sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola twice. The picks by redshirt junior Jamare Glasker and freshman Messiah Delhomme led to 10 points for the Terps. Ultimately, the Terps found themselves down 24-17 at the half, with both sides of the ball leaving much to be desired.

Maryland came out of halftime with excellent energy and the consistency they had been looking for. After a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a DeJuan Williams touchdown, the Terps took the lead after a 67-yard interception returned for a touchdown by junior cornerback Dontay Joyner. 

After battling for all of the fourth quarter, the Cornhuskers were able to sustain a drive and score a touchdown –  a pass from Raiola to Key – to put them up 34-31. When the Terrapins needed a stop the most, they weren’t able to get one.

The Terps offense had one final chance with 1:08 left on the clock. Freshman quarterback Malik Washington and the Terps drove to the Nebraska 49-yard line for a fourth and four. After a solid game where Washington had 249 passing yards and a touchdown, the pass to redshirt sophomore Dorian Fleming was slightly behind, which gave the ball back to Nebraska, effectively ending the game.

“I just have to keep my feet set and get my front shoulder closed and make the throw,” Washington said. “We’re gonna have to come back as a team … and not let this week carry into next week.”

Following a stop on fourth down, the Cornhuskers got on the scoreboard first. Hunter raced past the Maryland defense for a 64-yard touchdown off a screen pass. This was Nebraska’s longest touchdown of the season thus far.

In the first quarter, the Terps struggled to find their rhythm offensively. They ended the quarter with a measly one rushing yard and only 30 yards through the air.

On the following possession, Delhomme picked off Raiola, putting the Terps in fantastic field position. With 8:24 left in the second quarter,  Washington found redshirt junior tight end Leon Haughton Jr. for the first touchdown of Haughton’s career.

A huge return on the ensuing kickoff from freshman Isaiah Mozee placed the Cornhuskers offense at the foot of the endzone. Nebraska converted, as Raiola found junior tight end Luke Lindenmeyer for a seven-yard touchdown, which put the Cornhuskers up 17-14 with 7:27 left in the second quarter.

After a quick three-and-out from the Maryland offense, Nebraska quickly drove down the field and answered with another touchdown pass from Raiola to Hunter. Raiola’s third passing touchdown of the first half extended Nebraska’s lead to 24-14. The first half ended with a 37-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Sean O’Haire.

In a second half full of tough runs and solid defense, Emmett Johnson had a 50-yard run to put the Cornhuskers deep in Terrapins territory. With 8:45 remaining in the game, the Terps were able to hold Nebraska to a field goal after a costly delay of game penalty. Ultimately, the Cornhuskers would go on to score again and win the game 34-31.

“It’s all about communication,” cornerback Jalen Huskey said. “We gave up those plays and it’s plays we know we can defend and at the end of the day, we just gotta finish.”

The Terrapins struggled with penalties again this game, which has been consistent through Locksley’s tenure at Maryland. The team finished with eight penalties for 73 yards.

“Obviously those after the play penalties are critical,” Locksley said. “We’ll continue to coach our guys up on the proper way to play.”

Vast improvements in the run game and generating turnovers kept the Terps in the game. Maryland’s rushing offense came in ranked the seventh-worst in all of college football, averaging 93.2 yards per game. They finished with 130 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

The Terrapins’ defense had forced 10 turnovers coming into the game and were able to create three more. Their three pick-sixes this season are tied for Maryland’s most in a season since 2018.

Maryland will now prepare for a surging UCLA team next Saturday in Los Angeles.

Vast improvements in the run game and generating turnovers kept the Terps in the game. Maryland’s rushing offense came in ranked the seventh-worst in all of college football, averaging 93.2 yards per game. They finished with 130 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns.

The Terrapins’ defense had forced 10 turnovers coming into the game and were able to create three more. Their three pick-sixes this season are tied for Maryland’s most in a season since 2018.

Maryland will now prepare for a surging UCLA team next Saturday.