COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team travels to East Lansing, Mich. for the first time since 1950 to face the 14th-ranked Michigan State Spartans at Noon ET on ESPN2. The Terps are just 1-5 all-time against the Spartans in a series that dates back to 1944, with their lone win coming in the last meeting at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 7, 1950.

Live Coverage

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at noon ET. Beth Mowins (pbp), Anthony Becht (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline) will call the action. The game can also be heard on the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Johnny Holliday (pbp), Tim Strachan (analyst) and Scott McBrien (color) on the call. The game is also available on Sirius Radio channel 135, XM Radio channel 195 and SiriusXM channel 195, and via the TuneIn App.

By THE Numbers

1 - Junior defenive end Yannick Ngakoue ranks second in the nation with 10.5 sacks through eight games, the eighth highest single-season mark in program history. As a team, the Terps have totaled 28.0 sacks, the program's highest total through eight games since 2000 (29.0).

5 - Michigan State is the fifth opponent in Maryland's last six games that currently sits in the Associated Press top-25, including four teams currently in the top-15. Those six teams currently have a cumulative record of 48-8.

55 - Junior Yannick Ngakoue became the first Maryland player since 1985 to total 11.0 sacks with a half sack against Wisconsin. He needs just 2.0 sacks to tie the Maryland single-season record (13.0) which is held by Mark Duda (1982) and Bruce Palmer (1978).

65 - Maryland's last trip to East Lansing was 65 years ago, when it defeated the second-ranked Spartans 34-7 on Oct. 7, 1950. The Washington Post noted that the Terps used a 25-MPH wind to their advantage, causing MSU's Al Dorow to throw six interception on 3-for-20 passing.

398 - Then-sophomore William Likely set a Maryland record with 228 kick return yards on seven attempts last season against Michigan State, breaking Torrey Smith's record of 204 yards set in 2009. Likely nearly broke his own record this season against #10 Iowa, totaling 220 kick return yards.

A LIKELY STORY

After standout freshman and sophomore seasons in College Park, many wondered what junior cornerback and return specialist William Likely would do for an encore as a junior in 2015. The short answer is everything, including making a start on both offense and defense against Wisconsin. He started the season with a bang, gobbling up a Big Ten record 233 punt return yards in the season-opener against Richmond before running back his second punt return for a touchdown in as many weeks against Bowling Green. In 2015, he has twice been named Big Ten Specialist of the Week (Week 1, Week 9) and Paul Hornung Honor Roll (Week 1, Week 3). Likely has the top-2 single-game kickoff return yardage marks in school history, including a 220-yard performance at #10 Iowa that included a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Likely's Maryland Records:

• Single-game punt return yards (233 vs. Richmond, 9/5/15) - also a Big Ten record
• Single-season interception return yards (170 - 2014)
• Single-season interceptions returned for TD (2 - 2014)
• Single-game kickoff return yards (228 vs. Michigan State, 11/15/14)
• Co-single-season yards per kick return (31.0, 2014)
• Co-longest kickoff return (100 yds vs. Stanford, 12/30/14)
• Current career yards per kickoff return (26.6, 2013-pres.)

On The Offense

TERPS ON THE RUN

• The Maryland rushing attack is averaging 176.2 yards per game, including a pair of performances that exceeded 240 yards in two of its last four games.

• Through nine games in 2015, the Terps are averaging 5.0 yards per carry. 

• Junior quarterback Perry Hills is averaging 83.8 rushing yards over his six starts this season, including three-straight 100-yard performances against Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa.

• He was the first Maryland player to rush for 100 yards in three straight games since Lance Ball in 2005.

• Senior Brandon Ross became just the 12th player in Maryland history to surpass the 2,000 yard milestone at No. 1 Ohio State on Oct. 10.

• Maryland has had a 100-yard rusher in four of its last six games.

MARYLAND CAREER RUSHING LIST

1. LaMont Jordan (1997-00) 4,147
2. Charlie Wysocki (1978-81) 3,317
...
7. Davin Meggett (2008-11) 2,411
8. Da'Rel Scott (2007-10) 2,401
9. Louis Carter (1972-74) 2,266
10. Alvin Blount (1983-86) 2,158
11. Willie Joyner (1980-83) 2,140
12. Brandon Ross (2012-) 2,100

YOUTH MOVEMENT

• The Terps have been the beneficiaries of a youth movement at offensive skill positions this season, as four different true freshmen have scored a touchdown: Avery Edwards, Ty Johnson, D.J. Moore and Jahrvis Davenport.

• It is the first time in Maryland history that four true freshmen have scored a touchdown in the same season.

• Moore is the first Maryland true freshman to catch three TD passes since Stefon Diggs in 2012.

• Davenport caught his first career pass against West Virginia and took it 46 yards to the end zone for the touchdown.

O-LINE CONSISTENCY

• Maryland features strong consistency on the offensive line, specifically tackle Michael Dunn and guards Ryan Doyle and Andrew Zeller. The trio has combined for 99 starts over their careers along the offensive line. 

• Dunn, a former walk-on, leads the offense with 34 consecutive starts after starting every game since the start of the 2013 season.

On The Defense

GETTING TO THE QB

• The Maryland defense has racked up 32.0 sacks through its first nine games, ranking second in the conference and fourth nationally.

• Junior defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is ranked second nationally and in the Big Ten with 1.1 sacks/g, posting 11.0 so far on the season.

• Ngakoue currently ranks tied for fourth in Maryland single-season sacks, and needs just 2.0 more sacks to tie the single-season record set by Mark Duda (1982) and Bruce Palmer (1978).

CARTER LEADS TACKLERS

• Sophomore linebacker Jermaine Carter, Jr. ranks fourth in the Big Ten Conference with 8.7 tackles/g, despite totaling just 15 total tackles over his last three games.

• Carter also ranks third in the Big Ten with 5.7 solo stops per game, while Sean Davis is second in the category with 5.8/g.

EXPERIENCED SECONDARY

• Maryland's secondary has tremendous experience, featuring four players that have combined for 123 career starts: Sean Davis, A.J. Hendy, William Likely and Anthony Nixon.

• The grouping of Davis, Hendy, Nixon and Likely has started all nine games this season.

• Sean Davis is second in the nation with five forced fumbles, having posted one in five of nine games this season. He also intercepted two passes against USF.

MEDIA INFORMATION

For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to www.umterps.com on the Internet.

-Maryland-