LINCOLN, NE – The Terps are headed to a bowl game for the third year in a row after beating Nebraska, 13-10, at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Maryland is now 6-4 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play as the Terps will play in bowl games in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006-08. Maryland beat Nebraska for the first time in history
Jack Howes kicked the game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired for the walk-off win. It was the Terps first walk-off win since beating Illinois on Sept. 17, 2021 on a Joseph Petrino 32-yard field goal as time expired.
Maryland's defense created five turnovers in the game with four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Both Tarheeb Still and Dante Trader each had two interceptions to key the defense, which held Nebraska to just 269 yards and shutout the Huskers in the first half. Maryland has won 15 games in a row when allowing less than 20 points. Maryland became the first team in the nation this season to have two players with two interceptions in the same game.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa finished with 283 yards on 27-of-40 passing and one touchdown.
Tagovailoa connected with Tai Felton for consecutive passes to set up the Terps' first score of the game to put Maryland up 7-0 late in the first half.
Jeshaun Jones had five catches for 86 yards. Felton finished with five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown and
Corey Dyches also have five catches for 40 yards.
Roman Hemby ran for 74 yards on the ground -- all in the second half -- as the Terps went to the ground game in the second half.
This was Maryland's first-ever win against Nebraska and first-ever win in Lincoln. Nebraska is now 5-5 and 3-4 in the Big Ten. The Huskers turned the ball over five times, four via interception and one by fumble.
Coach Locksley's Take
"We showed up and did the necessary work. We just have to continue to teach and play smarter. Today they found a way to get it done and we fought through some adversity because it wasn't pretty today. It's not easy to win on the road in the Big Ten, everybody in this league understands that. This is a tough venue and I credit Matt [Rhule] for having his team ready to play. They are a hard nosed team that has taken on his personality. Our offense made plays when we needed to make plays. Our quarterback did a tremendous job on that last drive to put us in position to go win it. I can't give enough credit to our defense, they created a bunch of turnovers. They kept playing with their backs against the wall and when we needed them to get us the ball back they got us the ball back, so credit to our defense, Coach [Brian] Williams, and his staff on having those guys ready to play. Now because of that we have an opportunity to shift focus to a great opportunity next week at home next week at the shell against Michigan. Our specialist showed up today, with Jack Howes knocking in the winning field goal and hitting an earlier field goal. Also Brenden Segovia, coming in for our injured punter and placing two inside the ten. That is exactly what we talk about when we say next man up, so I have to give credit to the specialist for executing when we needed them to execute."
Jack Howes on Game-Winning Field Goal
"So I had one my senior year of high school where we were down and one or two, it was in the State Semifinal and I nailed a 40-yarder to send us to the State Championship. This feeling is unlike anything else in sports and I kind of missed it a little bit but I'm glad it's back. I trust the operation with Ethan [Gough] as the snapper and Colton [Spangler], and the guys upfront blocking every single time and I can't thank them enough. The defense got us the ball back to put us in good scoring position and the offense did their thing.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps had the ball inside Nebraska territory twice in the first quarter but were unable to score as the teams were scoreless after one quarter.
- Maryland's defense stood tall as Nebraska drove to the Terps' 27-yard line with about three minutes left. The Huskers went for it on 4th-and-two and Ja'Quan Sheppard stopped QB Jeff Sims for a 4-yard loss giving the Terps the ball.
- The Terps finally cracked the scoreboard on back-to-back passes to Tai Felton for 53 and 16 yards – for the touchdowns – with 2:31 left in the first half. That put Maryland up 7-0. With Nebraska driving near the end of the first half, Still intercepted Sims in the end zone. Tagovailoa hit Jones for a 42-yard pass play putting the Terps into Husker territory with 17 seconds left, but the Terps couldn't find the end zone as they led 7-0 at the half.
- In the third quarter, Nebraska capitalized on a Maryland fumble to even the game at 7-7 on a 2-yard rush by Janiran Bonner with 11:35 left in the this quarter. The Huskers took their first lead of the game on a 38-yard field goal by Tristan Alvano with 8:26 left in the third quarter, making it 10-7.
- Maryland evened the game at 10-10 on a 35-yard field goal by Jack Howes with 12:42 left in the fourth quarter as the Terps finished off a drive that started with a Kellan Wyatt fumble recovery forced by Beau Brade.
- Trader's second interception of the game put the Terps in golden position to take a lead early in the fourth quarter. The Terps got down to the Huskers' 3-yard line before another fumble that was recovered by Nebraska with 9:52 left in the fourth quarter.
- The Huskers drove down to the Maryland 7-yard line, but third-string quarterback Chubba Purdy was intercepted by Still in the end zone, who returned the ball to the Maryland 19-yard line with 3:37 left in the fourth. The Terps drove down the field, keyed by Hemby's runs and won the game on Howes' kick.
Going Bowling
- The Terps will play in a bowl game for the third consecutive season with the victory over Penn State. Maryland beat Virginia Tech, 54-10, in the 2021 New Era Pinstripe Bowl and NC State, 16-12, in the 2022 Duke's Mayo Bowl.
- The last time Maryland played in three bowls in a row came in the 2006-08 seasons, winning the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl, losing the 2007 Emerald Bowl and winning the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl.
- Head coach Michael Locksley is the fourth Maryland coach to lead a team to bowls in three consecutive seasons, joining Jerry Claiborne (1973-78), Bobby Ross (1982-85), (2001-03 and 2006-08).
Taulia Adds To His Records
- Tagovailoa continued to add to his career passing yardage today with 283 passing yards in the game as he now has 10,648 in his career. The quarterback holds the Maryland career records for passing yards, passing touchdowns (73), total touchdowns (83), completions (910), completion percentage (66.8),passing efficiency (145.9) and total offense 10,900.
- He moved to sixth in career passing yards in the Big Ten with 10,648 as he passed Northwestern's Brett Basanez (10,580 from 2002-05). Next on the list are No. 5 Penn State's Sean Clifford (10,661 from 2018-22) and No. 4 Clayton Thorson (10,731 from 2015-18) with Northwestern.
- Tagovailoa is still seventh in career passing touchdowns in Big Ten history with one in the game, giving him 73 in his Maryland career. Next on the list with 77 is Trace McSorley of Penn State from 2015-18.
- He also moved up the career completions list in the Big Ten with 27 in the game, giving him 910 to stand fifth. He passed Minnesota's Adam Weber (909 from 2007-10). Next on the list at No. 4 is and Basanez (913 from 2002-05).No. 3 is Purdue's Drew Brees with 942 from 1997-2000.
- On the single-season lists, Tagovailoa is now:
- Third in single-season touchdowns with 22 behind only his mark of 26 set in 2021 and Scott Milanoich with 26 in 1993.
- Fifth in single-season passing yards (2,769). Tagovailoa is fourth on the list with 3,008 in 2022.
- Fifth in single-season completions (245). He is also fourth on this list with 262 in 2022.
- Tagovailoa has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games.
Jones In The Record Books
- Jones moved to a tie for sixth in career receptions with five catches in the game. He now has 138 in his career as he passed Frank Wycheck (1990-92 with 134). He's tied with Darrius Heyward-Bey with 138 from 2006-08. Next on the list at No. 5 is DJ Moore with 146 from 2015-17.
- He stayed at ninth in career receiving yards with 86 yards in the game, as he now has 1,860. Next on the list at No. 8 is Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof with 1,895 from 1984-87.
Defensive Highlights
- Maryland's defense created five turnovers in the game with four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
- Dante Trader had his first two interceptions of the season and is up to four in his career. He is the second Terp to have two interceptions in a game this season, as Still had two against Virginia on Sept. 23.
- Still also had two interceptions for the second time this season.
- The Terps are the only team in the nation to have two players with two interceptions in the same game this season. The last time it happened in any college game was when it occurred twice last year on Nov. 26, 2022 by Illinois (Devon Witherspoon; Sydney Brown) and Middle Tennessee (Decorian Patterson; Jakobe Thomas).
- Kellan Wyatt had a sack to give him 4.5 on the season. The 4.5 sacks are the most since Sam Okuayinonu (6.0) and Greg Rose (5.0) had more in 2021.
- Beau Brade forced a fumble, which was recovered by Wyatt on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was Brade's first forced fumble this season and and Wyatt's first fumble recovery.
Streaks
- Maryland has won 15 games in a row when allowing less than 20 points.
- Corey Dyches caught a pass in his 23rd game in a row.
- Taulia Tagovailoa has thrown a touchdown pass in each of his last 13 games.
- Delmar Glaze has started 27 games in a row on the offensive line.
Notes and Nuggets
- The Terps have now won games at eight different Big Ten opponents with their first win in Lincoln. Maryland lost its only previous game at Nebraska in 2016.
- The Terps held an opponent scoreless in the first half for the first time this season, in leading 7-0 at intermission. The last time Maryland blanked an opponent in the first half was last season's regular-season finale vs. Rutgers in a 37-0 win.
- Redshirt sophomore Brendan Segovia made his college debut punting for the Terps all afternoon as regular starter Colton Spangler, who was sidelined with an injury.
Up Next
- The Terps host No. 2 Michigan next Saturday, Nov. 18 at Noon on FOX with Big Noon Kickoff coming to College Park. The game will air on the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
