Game 9: Maryland vs. #9 Penn State Preview

Maryland (5-3, 2-3 B1G) vs. #9 Penn State (7-1, 4-1 B1G)

November 4, 2023

SECU Stadium

3:35 p.m.

FOX

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The University of Maryland football team will host No. 9 Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 4 at SECU Stadium. The game is set to kickoff at 3:35 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

rewriting the record books

QB Taulia Tagovailoa has helped ascend the Terps' passing game to new heights during his four-year career. The quarterback has set Maryland career records for passing yards (10,079), passing touchdowns (70), total touchdowns (82), completions (854), completion percentage (66.6), 300-yard passing games (14), passing efficiency (145.8) and total offense (10,351).
Tagovailoa has been one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten through eight games, currently leading the conference and standing top-20 in the country in passing yards (2,200), passing touchdowns (19) and points responsible for (140) He leads the Big Ten and stands top-30 in the nation in total offense (285.5).
Last week, Tagovailoa became the first Terp since Jonathan Claiborne in 1977 to be named a finalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, known as the "Academic Heisman", given annually to the premier scholar-athlete that is the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. One of just 16 finalists in the nation and three in the Big Ten, Tagovailoa has a 3.61 GPA in the classroom, graduating last December, earning a degree in Family Science. He is currently working towards his master's degree in African American studies.
The redshirt senior is one of only five FBS quarterbacks with at least 19 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns this season, along with Kaidon Salter (Liberty), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma) and Caleb Williams (USC).
Tagovailoa's current career completion percentage (.666) is the sixth-best of any Big Ten quarterback all-time, only trailing Dan Persa, Northwestern (.727), Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (.700), Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin (.681), Jack Coan, Wisconsin (.668) and Aiden O'Connell (.667). He stands seventh all-time on the career Big Ten passing yards list with 10,079. Last week, he passed Penn State's Trace McSorley and his 9,899 yards. Next on the list is No. 6 Brett Basanez (10,580 from 2002-05) from Northwestern. He is tied for ninth in career passing touchdowns in Big Ten history with 70 in his Maryland career. He passed Iowa's Nathan Stanley (68), Purdue's David Blough (69) against Northwestern and is now tied with Penn State's John Navarre (70). Next on the list at No. 8 is Michigan State's Connor Cook with 71.
Including the Terps' last game against Northwstern (10/28), Tagovailoa has now thrown multiple touchdown passes in 22 career games, the most of any active Big Ten player. Maryland has gone 15-7 in those games.
Last week against Northwestern, Tagovailoa became the first Maryland over the past 25 seasons to record at least 45 passing attempts and three passing touchdowns in a road game with 47 and three. The last Terrapin to do this regardless of location was Caleb Rowe on October 26, 2013 against Clemson with 46 and three.
Also on the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award and Polynesian Player of the Year Watch Lists and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after a 24-for-34, 352 yard performance vs. Indiana (9/30), Tagovailoa currently stands top-15 among all FBS QBs in career completion percentage (sixth), passing yards (11th), completions (10th) and total offense (13th).

Taulia Tagovailoa stands top-two in the Big Ten in every passing category

sack exchange

The Terps currently rank 12th in the FBS and second in the Big Ten (#9 Penn State with 32) with 26 sacks this season. Maryland has at least three sacks in five straight games (at Michigan State, 9/23; Indiana, 9/30, at #4 Ohio State, 10/7, Illinois, 10/14 & Northwestern, 10/28), the Terps longest single-season streak since at least 1996. The last time the Terrapins had such a streak, it spanned over two seasons between November 12, 2011 - September 8, 2012.
The Terrapins have recorded at least five defensive sacks in back-to-back conference games (Illinois, 10/14 & Northwestern, 10/28) in the same season for the first time over the past 25 years. They are the only Big Ten program to have done this so far this season.

Ruben Hyppolite records a sack at Northwestern

offensive nuggets

Over the last two-plus seasons, Maryland tight ends have combined for 183 receptions, 1,899 yards and 17 touchdowns, the most receptions, receiving yards and second-most touchdowns of any tight end unit in the Big Ten over this time span. TE Corey Dyches currently leads all Big Ten tight ends with 29 receptions and stands second with 301 yards. Dyches currently stands second in the Big Ten and seventh in the FBS among tight ends with an 80.4 receiving grade via Pro Football Focus.
Three offensive lineman: G Corey Bullock, T DJ Glaze and C Aric Harris rank among the top offensive linemen at their respective positions in the Big Ten and nation according to Pro Football Focus. Bullock is the second-highest rated guard in the conference with a 75.6 grade, Glaze is the highest rated pass blocking tackle in the Big Ten and fourth-highest in the FBS with a 90.9 grade and Harris is the second-highest rated center in the league with a 75.0 grade.
Maryland is one of three Power 5 teams this season (North Carolina, UCLA) with three players with at least 200 rushing yards and six players with at least 150 receiving yards.
Maryland has four players with at least 25 receptions and 300 receiving yards this season (WR Kaden Prather, TE Corey Dyches, WR Jeshaun Jones, & WR Tai Felton), tied for the most in the FBS with Colorado State.
Maryland has converted on 81.8-percent of it's fourth down attempts this season (nine-of-11), the fifth-best percentage in the country and second-best in the Big Ten (Minnesota, 90%). The Terps have at least one fourth down conversion in six of eight games (not #4 Ohio State or Northwestern).
Maryland has recorded at least 15 points while committing two or fewer turnovers in 11 straight games, the fifth-longest active streak in the FBS. This is the longest such streak for the Terrapins over the past 25 seasons.

Roman Hemby leads the Terps with 441 rushing yards this season.

OTHER NUGGETS

Maryland has the second-toughest remaining schedule in the FBS entering this week based on its opponents' current records, tied with Rutgers (.813). The only FBS team with a tougher remaining schedule is USC (.875).
P Colton Spangler has established himself as one of the best Maryland punters of all time. Spangler stands third all-time in program history with a 43.0 career punting average, narrowly trailing long-time NFL punters Brooks Barnard (43.7) and Adam Podlesh (43.1). Spangler broke the single-season record with a 45.5 punting average in 2021 and stands 10th all-time in program history with 7,306 career punting yards. Spangler is 13th among all active FBS punters in career punting average (43.0) (over 150 punt minimum).
DL Donnell Brown is the eighth-highest rated edge defender in the FBS and the top-rated in the Big Ten, via Pro Football Focus earning a 87.9 grade. He is the fifth-best edge defender in the nation in pass coverage, earning a 91.5 grade.