Maryland (0-0) at Northwestern (0-0)
October 24, 2020
Ryan Field
7:30 pm EDT
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland will compete in its 128th season of football this fall as the Terps open up their season this Saturday at Northwestern, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on the Big Ten Network.
Head Coach
Michael Locksley will enter his second season at the helm as he brings in a top-35 recruiting class and returns three All-Big Ten performers from a year ago.
WEEK ONE STORYLINES
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
- The Terps excelled in the return game last year, leading the Big Ten with a 13.67 yard average on punt returns and standing fourth with a 22.73 yard average on kick returns.
- Maryland was the only school in the Big Ten and one of only five power five teams (Alabama, Duke, Kansas State, UCLA) to score both a kick return and punt return touchdown.
A DECADE OF OPENING DAY Victories
- The Terps have won 10 consecutive season-openers dating back to 2010, the fifth longest streak among power-five schools in the country, trailing only Ohio State (20), Alabama (19), Utah (12) and Michigan State (11), with Maryland and Alabama being the only two among the group to beat two ranked teams during the streak (Maryland def. No. 23 Texas, 2017 & 2018).
- In the 10-game streak, Maryland has outscored its opponents by an average margin of 22 points (42-20) and totaled at least 30 points in six-straight openers.
from distance
- Maryland had 14 touchdowns of 40-plus yards last season, the most in the Big Ten. The Terps scored a 40-plus yard touchdown in 10 of 12 games, including two in the final game of the season at Michigan State.
- The two 80-yard touchdowns against Rutgers were the first time Maryland has had two 80-plus yard touchdowns in the same game since at least 1977.
the big ten = big time opponents
- With the Big Ten going to an all-conference schedule in 2020, the Terps will play eight games against conference only opponents, facing six teams within the division (Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers) and two teams cross-division (Minnesota & Northwestern).
- The Terps' eight opponents were 39-33 in Big Ten games last year, a .541 winning percentage, the third-highest percentage of any team's eight opponents across the Big Ten.
- Maryland will play four of its eight scheduled games against teams in the 2020 Preseason Coaches Poll, three in the top-15 and two in top-10.
what's new?
- Maryland welcomes 57 newcomers to the fold in 2020, 39 freshmen and 18 transfers. The Terps freshmen class, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten, is highlighted by five-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and four-star standouts Peny Boone and Ruben Hyppolite II.
- The incoming transfers are highlighted by former four-star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who comes to College Park from Alabama and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Click here for this week's game notes.
