Preview: Maryland football to host Virginia in Friday night blackout contest

A historic rivalry is revisited for the first time in 10 seasons when Maryland football (2-0) hosts Virginia (0-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. in College Park.

The Terps will debut their all-black uniforms for the blackout-themed affair which, because of the short distance between the two schools, should warrant a packed house.

Maryland has played more games against Virginia than any other program in its history, including battles every year from 1957 until Maryland’s departure from the ACC after the 2013 season. The Terps lead the all-time series 44-32-2, but the Cavaliers have taken 16 of the last 25 contests.

When coach Michael Locksley was in high school in Washington, D.C., Maryland was at the tail end of a period in which they defeated Virginia 16 consecutive times, from 1972 to 1987. He spoke fondly of the memories the historic rivalry brought him.

“I was here obviously as a youngster out in the parking lots of, back then, Byrd Stadium,” Locksley said. “When Virginia came into play, it was always one of those games that … was competitive.”

The Terps are 4-1 against ACC opponents since they joined the Big Ten, including a bowl victory each of the last two years in Virginia Tech and NC State.

Virginia’s starting quarterback, senior Tony Muskett, is expected to start after missing last week’s contest against James Madison. He suffered a shoulder injury during the Cavaliers’ season opener — a game where he was 9-for-17 through the air for 94 yards before exiting the game in the fourth quarter.

In Muskett’s absence, the Cavaliers fell in a shootout to the Dukes. James Madison gashed them on the ground, as four backs carried the ball six or more times and the team averaged just under five yards per carry.

A week prior, No. 11 Tennessee put up an even greater rushing total against Virginia, piling up 287 rush yards on 52 attempts.

The Cavaliers brought in two skill-position transfers over the offseason — both with blazing speed that will challenge the new-look Maryland defense in only its third game together. 

Senior running back Kobe Pace — a productive piece at Clemson for three years before transferring  — torched the Dukes’ defense for a 75-yard touchdown last week, showcasing the big-play ability he brings to the group.

Graduate receiver Malik Washington joined the Cavaliers after compiling 1272 receiving yards over his junior and senior seasons at Northwestern. He broke out against James Madison last weekend, racking up 119 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches.

The Terps struggled to run the ball in the first half against Charlotte, but once they dug themselves out of an early hole, things changed. They exploded for 220 second-half rush yards at an absurd 8.5 yards-per-carry clip.

If the group led by redshirt sophomore running back Roman Hemby can get going again, the Terps could easily make it a long night for the Cavaliers.

But Maryland would be naive to ignore the start of that contest — one that saw mental errors spiral into a 14-0 deficit just minutes into the game. It likely can’t afford to get off to a similar start against Power Five competition like Virginia.

“I’d rather us play to our standard and not be up and down the way we were today,” Locksley said after the Charlotte game. “What we got to do now is get this behind us quickly, figure out what went wrong, and then make the necessary adjustments.”

Virginia’s 2023 season holds a lot of weight to a program still grappling with the mass shooting that killed three of its players last November. It’s not lost on Maryland that the Cavaliers will play with passion and heavy hearts. 

“They come out blazing, they finish the game blazing and you know, they’re a good football team,” junior receiver Kaden Prather said. “They’re coming out, they have something to play for. They have a lot to play for.”