Jan. 20, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland athletics department and Atlantic Coast Conference officials announced today the Terrapins' football schedule for 2005. The slate is highlighted by seven schools that participated in bowl games in 2004 and the first season that the ACC will have divisional play.
The 2005 home schedule will be five games against teams that were bowl-eligible in `04. Byrd Stadium will play host to non-conference rival West Virginia, 2004 ACC Champion Virginia Tech, regional ACC rival Virginia, Clemson and the conference's newest member, Boston College. BC's trip to College Park will be its first since 1986 while Virginia Tech's will be its first since 1990.
Maryland kicks off the `05 season with a September 3rd game against the Naval Academy at M&T Bank Stadium. The Terrapins and Midshipmen -- fierce annual rivals in the `50s and `60s -- are meeting for the first time since 1965 with the game coming on the heels of a 10-win season for Navy, a mark which tied a school record (last accomplished in 1905).
Overall, six of the 11 opponents for the Terps in 2004 finished with at least eight wins last season. Every home opponent on the Maryland schedule finished with a winning record last season with BC and Virginia Tech winning nine games.
"Once again, it is a very challenging schedule considering the fact that we play Virginia Tech and Florida State back-to-back and with three of our last four games on the road," said head coach Ralph Friedgen. "It is a great home schedule for our fans and I am sure it will excite our football team as well."
The upcoming football season will be the first for the ACC as a 12-team league and utilizing a divisional format. The Terrapins will be in the Atlantic Division along with Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, NC State and Wake Forest. Their annual "primary crossover" game will be against Virginia and this year's other game out of division will be against North Carolina. Atlantic and Coastal Division champions will meet in the first-ever ACC Championship game in Jacksonville on Dec. 3rd.
Five Maryland opponents in 2005 finished last season ranked in the final polls with four of those teams being opponents the Terrapins take on in state (Virginia Tech, BC and Virginia at home; Navy in Baltimore).
Fans can now place deposits on new season tickets online at www.umterps.com or by calling the Terrapin Ticket Office at 301-314-7070 or 800-IM-A-TERP. Complete information on season ticket packages, including the availability of Navy tickets, will be released on Monday, January 24th.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| Sat. Sept. 3 | vs. Navy# | Baltimore, Md. | TBA |
| Sat. Sept. 10 | CLEMSON* | Byrd Stadium | TBA |
| Sat. Sept. 17 | WEST VIRGINIA | Byrd Stadium | TBA |
| Sat. Sept. 24 | at Wake Forest* | Winston-Salem, N.C. | TBA |
| Sat. Oct. 1 | VIRGINIA* | Byrd Stadium | TBA |
| Sat. Oct. 8 | at Temple | Philadelphia, Pa. | TBA |
| Oct. 15 | OPEN |
| Thu. Oct. 20 | VIRGINIA TECH* (ESPN) | Byrd Stadium | 7:45 p.m. |
| Sat. Oct. 29 | at Florida State* | Tallahassee, Fla. | TBA |
| Nov. 5 | OPEN |
| Sat. Nov. 12 | at North Carolina* | Chapel Hill, N.C. | TBA |
| Sat. Nov. 19 | BOSTON COLLEGE* | Byrd Stadium | TBA |
| Sat. Nov. 26 | at NC State* | Raleigh, N.C. | TBA |
| Sat. Dec. 3 | ACC Championship Game^ (ABC) | Jacksonville, Fla. | 1:00 p.m. |
Home games indicated by ALL CAPS; *Atlantic Coast Conference game; # = M&T Bank Stadium
