Rutgers (2-9, 0-8)
at
Maryland (5-6, 2-6)
November 26, 2016 || Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium || Noon
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland football program returns to Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium Saturday as it welcomes Rutgers for a noon kickoff on ESPNews. The Terrapins will be honoring the careers of 22 seniors as they celebrate Senior Day.
Quick Hitters
- Saturday's matchup marks the 12th game in history between Maryland and Rutgers, with the Terrapins holding a narrow 6-5 advantage. The programs first met in 1920 and have split the series, 1-1, since becoming Big Ten foes.
- Maryland erased a 21-point deficit to defeat Rutgers, 46-41, last season in Piscataway. The Terrapin offense accumulated 656 total yards, including 401 rushing yards in the effort. It was the most yards in a single game for the Terps since 2004. In Maryland's two meetings with Rutgers as Big Ten foes, it has averaged 341 rushing yards and 566 yards of total offense.
- The Terrapins are looking to earn their 27th bowl appearance and third in the past four seasons with a victory against Rutgers. Maryland has played the 14th-toughest schedule in the country (.590 win pct.), including three straight games against AP top-20 teams.
- Maryland has started seven true freshmen in 2016 with quarterback Max Bortenschlager earning his first career start against Nebraska. The seven true freshmen starters is tied for the most in all of FBS with South Carolina. The Terps have also had 20 players make their first career start this season, which is tied for 11th-most in the FBS.
- Sophomore wideout D.J. Moore caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season against Nebraska, marking the most touchdown catches in a season since Stefon Diggs had six in 2012. Moore's 92-yard touchdown catch against the Cornhuskers was tied for the second-longest in school history.
Maryland Offense: By the Numbers
1 - True freshman quarterback Max Bortenschlager made his first career collegiate start under center at No. 19 Nebraska, completing 14-of-29 passes for 191 yards in the game. Bortenschlager's big play came on a 92-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore, which was tied for the second-longest pass in Maryland history.
3 - Maryland has made its red zone chances count in 2016, ranking third in the Big Ten and 18th nationally by scoring at a 91 percent clip. Additionally, the Terps have scored a touchdown on 67 percent (22-of-33) of its trips to the red zone.
6 - Sophomore D.J. Moore caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season against Nebraska (11/19), tying for the 11th-most in a single-season and most since Stefon Diggs had six in 2012. Moore also tied Vernon Davis (2003-05) and two others for 15th in Maryland history with nine career touchdown grabs.
7 - Sophomore Ty Johnson has made a habit of breaking loose for huge plays in conference play, totaling seven plays of at least 40 yards or more in eight league games. Including a 66-yard rush most recently against Indiana, six of the seven big plays have been rushing attempts. Johnson averaged 10.9 yards on 13 carries against Indiana, becoming just the eighth player in Maryland history to average 10 yards/carry in a single game (min. 10 carries).
7 - Senior wide receiver Teldrick Morgan caught a season-best and game-high seven passes against sixth-ranked Ohio State two weekends ago, totaling 56 yards. The New Mexico State transfer currently leads the Terps with 40 receptions, including at least four receptions in four of his last six games.
19 - Sophomore D.J. Moore currently leads all Maryland receivers with a reception in 19 consecutive games dating back to Oct. 3, 2015. It is the longest streak for a Terrapin receiver since Torrey Smith pieced together a 30-game streak from Nov. 6, 2008 to the final game of his career on Dec. 29, 2010. Moore totaled 124 reception yards against Nebraska (11/19), marking his second 100-yard game of the season.
66.7 - Senior quarterback Perry Hills continues to lead the Big Ten Conference in completion percentage (66.7) and passing efficiency (150.1). He is 5-for-7 over his last two games as he has battled with injuries, including sitting out the Nebraska game. Hills currently ranks seventh in Maryland history in touchdowns responsible for (37), eighth in touchdown passes (27), 10th in total offensive yards (4,245), 12th in completions (289) and 13th in yards (3,562).
124 - Senior wide receiver Levern Jacobs' recent success has vaulted the veteran up Maryland's career receptions chart, moving ahead of Russ Weaver (1992-94) with 124 career catches. Jacobs also moved into 13th in career reception yards (1,436), most recently passing Russell Davis (1981-83).
Maryland Defense/ST: By the Numbers
1 - The Terrapins are one of just three teams in the Big Ten Conference (Michigan, Indiana) with at least two blocked punts this season. Both blocks happened to be at the hands of Maryland's top running backs, with Ty Johnson blocking a punt against Howard and Lorenzo Harrison notching a block against Penn State.
7 - True freshman quarterback Max Bortenschlager made the first start of his career against No. 19 Nebraska, becoming the seventh true freshman to start for Maryland this season - tied for the most in all of FBS (South Carolina). This mark does not include starting punter Wade Lees, who is also a true freshman and has started all 11 games. Bortenschlager joins Elijah Daniels, Terrance Davis, Tino Ellis, Lorenzo Harrison, Qwuantrezz Knight and Tyrrell Pigrome. Harrison, Davis and Ellis are all products of nearby DeMatha Catholic High School.
8.0 - The Terrapin defense had success disrupting the backfield at No. 19 Nebraska last weekend, totaling 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in the game. The eight tackles for loss was the most since week five of the season, when the Terps had 11.0 tackles for loss against Purdue (10/1) in the Big Ten opener.
8.9 - Junior linebacker Shane Cockerille totaled 11 tackles against No. 19 Nebraska to maintain his position as the Big Ten Conference's fourth-leading tackler with 8.9 tackles/game. Cockerille has continued to impress in his first season on the defensive side of the ball, totaling at least seven tackles in eight of his last nine games. He also had a career-high two sacks against the Cornhuskers, moving him into a tie for third on the team in tackles for loss (7.0).
13 - Senior safety Jarrett Ross recorded a career-high 13 tackles in his second career start against No. 19 Nebraska, including seven solo stops. Ross has appeared in 45 career games primarily on special teams, but has stepped into a prominent role with injuries taking a toll on the defensive backfield. Ross' previous career-high was three tackles.
21 - After posting a career-high 10 tackles against No. 6 Ohio State two weekends ago, sophomore safety Darnell Savage one-upped himself the next weekend against No. 19 Nebraska with 11 tackles. With 21 tackles over his last two games, Savage now ranks third on the team with 50 tackles this season despite missing one game due to injury.
217 - The Maryland defense is allowing just under 217 passing yards/game this season, which is on pace to be the fewest allowed since holding opponents to 208 passing yards/g in 2012.
-TERPS-
