LIKE! Maryland Football on Facebook

LIKE! Maryland Athletics on Facebook

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After making their first road trip of the season and falling just short against 13th-ranked Georgia Tech, the Maryland Terrapins are back home to face another top-15 foe.

The Terps (2-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) are set to take on the eighth-ranked Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0) Saturday evening in Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, a game which will serve as the annual Homecoming contest.

Head coach Randy Edsall hasn't needed to say much this week to get his players attention since they are facing an undefeated team which possesses the 19th-ranked offense (472.3 yards per game) and 24th-ranked scoring defense (19.5 points per game) in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

"I think every week the guys are fired up to go play," Edsall said on his Thursday conference call with reporters. "It's opportunity No. 6 in the season. It's homecoming. It's against the No. 8 team in the country. You shouldn't have any problem being fired up and ready to play for a game like this."

The Terps concluded this week's practice schedule Thursday evening with a 90-minute workout at the on-campus facility.

"I know our guys will be ready to play and ready to go out there and work to get a win on Saturday night," Edsall said. "It should be a great atmosphere. Hopefully we'll go out and play to the best of our ability."

Last week, Maryland's defense performed well against the high powered triple-option attack of Georgia Tech, which came into the game ranked first in the nation in rushing offense and second in total offense. The Terps held the Yellow Jackets well below their season averages in points (21 - GT averaged 51.6 ppg); rushing (272 - GT averaged 378.2 pg); and total offense (386 - GT averaged 587 pg).

The Tigers possess a more balanced attack, but they are just as dangerous on offense, as well as defensively.

"Every week is a different," Edsall said. "Every week is different personnel. Most of the time it's going to be a different scheme. That's where you have to focus in. You have to learn maybe a different game plan or tweak in the game plan and I think we've been able to do that so far this week."

Saturday's game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be telecast nationally on ESPNU. The game can also be heard over the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (TSRN) which includes ESPN 980 in Washington, D.C. and 105.7 FM in Baltimore.

Terp Notes:

Scout Team Players of the Week: Each Thursday during the season Edsall will announce the scout team players of the week. This week's honorees are running back Jeff Hernandez (offense), defensive lineman Clarence Murphy (defense) and running back Brandon Ross (special teams).

Flag Bearers: Trenton Hughes (American) and David Mackall (Maryland) will carry out the flags during Saturday's introductions.

Inside Maryland Football: The fifth edition of Inside Maryland Football will air at 11 a.m. Saturday on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. The 30-minute coaches show goes behind the-scenes with the team. The first four shows are available on Terps TV Premium. The show airs each Saturday during the regular season until Dec. 3 (there was no show on Sept. 17 due to a bye the previous Saturday).

Injury Report vs. Clemson: Out for the Season: OL Andrew Gonnella, DB Matt Robinson, DL Isaiah Ross, TE Dave Stinebaugh; Out for the Game: DL Justin Anderson, OL Justin Gilbert, LB Demetrius Hartsfield, LB Garrett Lederman, DL Andre Monroe, LB Shaquan Virgil; Doubtful: LB Kenny Tate; Questionable: LB Darin Drakeford; Probable: WR Marcus Leak