Preview: Maryland football looks to extend win streak to three at Indiana

Maryland football resumes conference play on Saturday, traveling to undefeated Indiana (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) and looking to build on its two-game win streak.

The Terps (3-1, 0-1) are coming off a 38-20 win against Villanova where the duo of Billy Edwards Jr. and Tai Felton broke records.

Felton’s 14 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown marked his fourth straight game with over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. 

The senior’s touchdown catch marked his 39th reception of 2024, breaking former Terps tight end Frank Wycheck’s school record for most receptions in the first four games of a season.

After the performance, Felton remains on top of the Big Ten in receptions (41), receiving yards (604) and yards per game (151). His five touchdowns have him tied for second with Washington’s Denzel Boston.

“[Indiana will] figure out who to take away from us and our complimentary players on offense, somebody’s going to have to step up and play big for us,” coach Mike Locksley said. “We gotta continue to find a way to keep Tai [Felton] involved, keep Kaden [Prather] involved.”

Despite an interception that bounced off a receiver’s hands, Edwards played a clean game, completing 87.5% of passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. His completion percentage broke Taulia Tagovailoa’s single-game school record – 87.1% against Charlotte in 2022.

Edwards now leads the Big Ten in completions (102) and passing yards (1155) and is tied for second in passing touchdowns (8).

“Offensively, the success that we’ve had has just been about executing and just taking what the defense gives us, not forcing things in the run game – if they load the box, spit it out to a receiver and let them make a play,” Edwards said. “We try to just stick to our rules and execute the play call that’s given to us.”

Also with eight touchdowns is Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke. The Hoosiers are coming off a dominant 52-14 win against Charlotte where Rourke threw for 258 on 16-for-20 completions with two total touchdowns.

The senior quarterback has also played very disciplined and has yet to throw an interception. Rourke welcomed UCLA to Big Ten football with 307 yards and four passing touchdowns, giving Indiana a 42-13 win.

All of Indiana’s wins have been by 24 or more points and the defense allows just 9.25 points per game.

Despite Rourke’s stellar start to the season, the Hoosiers get most of their points rushing. They are averaging 225 rushing yards per game on 5.7 yards per carry with 18 total touchdowns. In the win against Charlotte, six of Indiana’s seven touchdowns came on the ground.

The offense features four running backs with over 100 yards and three with four or more touchdowns. The group is headlined by senior Justice Ellison and his 294 yards with four touchdowns.

The Maryland defense allows 3.3 yards per carry this season and has allowed just two touchdowns.

“For us, the challenge will be, not Indiana, but us. Will we do the things to execute the way we have to because they are not gonna allow the explosives down the field?” Locksley said, “We’re gonna have to put together some drives and block people and not just out “big-play” people.”

If the Terps can limit the run game and use different offensive weapons, they can secure their first conference win of 2024. The game begins at noon on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.