Game 4: Maryland at Michigan State Preview

Maryland (3-0)

vs.

Michigan State (2-1)

September 23, 2023

Spartan Stadium

3:32 p.m.

NBC

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The University of Maryland football team will open Big Ten play at Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Spartan Stadium. The game is set to kickoff at 3:32 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

strong start

The Terps are 3-0 to start the season for the third straight season, one of only nine teams in the nation to accomplish that feat (Georgia,Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rutgers, Wake Forest). This season, there are only six FBS teams to start 3-0 and win all three games by 18-plus points (Maryland, No. 2 Michigan, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 5 USC & No. 8 Washington.
Over the last 18 games played, dating back to 2021, Maryland is 13-5, good for the fourth-best record of any Big Ten school, trailing only three top-10 teams: No. 2 Michigan (16-2), No. 6 Ohio State (15-3) and No. 7 Penn State (14-4).
Maryland has won each of its first three games of the season by at least 18 points for the first time since 1948. The only time in program history that the Terrapins did this in their first four games was in 1913. This start also marks the first time in program history that Maryland has scored 38-plus points in the first three games of the season. It is only the fifth time in program history the Terps have ever scored 38-plus points in three straight games (1951, 1982, 1984, 1994). Maryland has never scored 38-plus points in four-straight games.
Maryland currently ranks first in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 480 yards per game and second in passing offense, averaging 304 yards per game. The Terps are averaging 39.3 points per game, only trailing Penn State (43.7) and Ohio State (40.3) in the Big Ten.
The Terps completed a perfect non-conference season for the third straight season. Overall, the Terps have won 11-straight games against non-conference opponents with the last loss coming on September 15, 2019 against Temple. This is currently the third longest active streak in the FBS, only trailing Georgia (19) and Wake Forest (12).
In the Locksley era (2019-pres.), Maryland's average of 41.5 points per game in non-conference play is fifth in the nation, only trailing Ohio State, Oklahoma, Alabama and LSU. The Terps' have scored 30-plus points in 12-of-14 non-conference games under Locksley, and 10 of the last 11.

Roman Hemby and Taulia Tagovailoa have paced the Maryland offense through three weeks

rewriting the record books

QB Taulia Tagovailoa returns for the 2023 season already as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks and players in Maryland history. Tagovailoa stands as Maryland's record holder in every major career and single-season passing category.
A 2023 Preseason All-Big Ten selection, Tagovailoa has helped ascend the Terps' passing game to new heights during his three-year career. The quarterback has set Maryland career records for passing yards (8,768), passing touchdowns (56), total touchdowns (65), completions (731), completion percentage (67.3), 300-yard passing games (13), passing efficiency (147.3) and total offense (8,970).
Tagovailoa's current career completion percentage (.673) is the fourth-best of any Big Ten quarterback all-time, only trailing Dan Persa, Nebraska (.727), Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (.700) and Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin (.681).
Also on the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award and Polynesian Player of the Year Watch Lists, Tagovailoa currently stands top-15 among all FBS QBs in career completion percentage (fourth), completions per game (11th), passing yards per game (11th) and total offense (14th). Tagoaviloa currently leads the Big Ten in passing yards (889) and total offense (301.7 per game).

Taulia Tagovailoa enters his senior year as Maryland's all-time leading passer in virtually every category.

stout defense.

The Maryland defense has been fantastic for the past five games (Rutgers, 11/26/22 - pres.) dating back to last season, only allowing nine points per game. The Terps have only allowed four touchdowns over the last five games.
This season, the Terps are allowing only 13.3 points per game, the 21st-best mark in the country. Maryland has forced six turnovers, also top-25 in the nation and stands 15th in the nation in turnover margin at 1.33.
Maryland's defense hasn't allowed multiple touchdown passes in nine consecutive games, tied for the longest active streak in the FBS (Marshall – 9). No other team in the FBS has even eight-straight such games. Additionally, it is the longest such streak for the Terps since 2005 (nine straight).
Through two games, the Terps have only allowed 19 points of offense (two touchdowns, two field goals). Those two touchdowns are the only two Maryland has allowed in the last five games, all wins.
In the Terps last game vs. Virginia (9/15), Maryland forced four Virginia turnovers, all in the second half, including two interceptions by CB Tarheeb Still, the first Terp with a two interception game since Darnell Savage Jr. in 2018 (10/13 vs. Rutgers). Still became the first Terrapin to record at least five total tackles and multiple interceptions in a single game since Anthony Nixon did on November 14, 2015, against Michigan State (seven, two).

Tarheeb Still had two interceptions in win over Virginia

the roman empire

RB Roman Hemby has been one of the best running backs in the nation over the past two seasons, currently standing fourth in the Big Ten with 337 all purpose yards (243 rushing & 94 receiving). Hemby has scored a rushing touchdown in each of the Terps first three games of the season, including two last week against Virginia (9/15), the 15th-most in the nation and fourth-most in the Big Ten.
Against Charlotte (9/9), Hemby totaled 217 yards of total offense with 162 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards, adding a rushing touchdown as well. Hemby now has two games for Maryland with 150+ rushing yards and 50+ receiving yards (also vs. SMU last season). The only other Big Ten player with multiple such games this century is Penn State's Saquon Barkley (5).
Hemby was a College Football News Freshman All-American last season, standing top six in the Big Ten in both rushing touchdowns (10) and yards per carry (5.26). Hemby totaled 989 rushing yards, the 12th-most in program history and second-most ever by a Maryland freshman, on 188 carries and caught 33 passes for 298 yards in 2022.
In 2022, Hemby stood third among all FBS freshmen in yards from scrimmage with 1,287 (989 rushing, 298 receiving), only trailing Ole Miss' Quinshon Judkins (1,697) and Ohio's Sieh Bangura (1,304). Against SMU, Hemby became the first Terrapin in the last 25 years to have 150+ rushing yards and 50+ receiving in a game (151 rushing, 62 receiving).
In 2023, Hemby aims to join LaMont Jordan (1999-00) and Rick Badanjek (1984-85) as the only Terps to record 10+ rushing touchdowns in multiple seasons. Only three Big Ten players have accomplished that feat in their freshman and sophomore seasons over the last 15 years – Wisconsin's Braelon Allen and Jonathan Taylor, and Indiana's Stevie Scott III. Hemby started off on the right foot against Towson (9/2), with his first rushing touchdown of the season.

Roman Hemby was a 2022 College Football News All-American

getting it done in the second half

The Maryland defense has been especially good in the second half of games dating back to the beginning of last season, only allowing 122 points in those 16 games for 7.6 per game. This season in three games, the Terps have only allowed nine points in the second half.
Maryland has outscored opponents by a score of 67-9 (+58) in the second half of games to start this season, the fourth-best second half point differential in the FBS, only trailing Ole Miss (+77), Notre Dame (+60) and Oklahoma (+59).
The Terps have been especially good in the third quarter, only allowing 36 points in the past 16 games dating back to the beginning of last season. This is the third-fewest in the FBS, only trailing Ohio State (20) and Air Force (29).
In addition, Maryland has shut 10 of 16 opponents out completely in the third quarter, tied for the fifth-most third quarter shutouts in the FBS, trailing only Ohio State (12), Memphis (11), Michigan (11) and Penn State (11). Neither Charlotte or Virginia scored in the third quarter this season, and Towson only scored three.

Corey Dyches catches a touchdown against Towson.

responding to adversity

Maryland has trailed 14-0 in the first quarter of each of the last two games, responding to score 38-straight points against Charlotte (9/9) and then 42-straight points against Virginia (9/15). This is the first time since at least 1996 where the Terps have been down 14-0 in back-to-back games and won both of them.
It is the first time since 2003 (November 22 at Wake Forest & November 29 at NC State) that the Terps came back from any 14 point deficit in back-to-back games (trailed 21-6 against Wake Forest & 24-10 against NC State).
Maryland's 42 unanswered points during its game against Virginia after being down 14-0 were the most unanswered points it has scored in a single game since scoring 45 unanswered points against Wake Forest on October 30, 2010.
After trailing 14-0 at the end of the first quarter against Charlotte, Maryland rallied to win, 38-20. It was the first time Maryland won a game it trailed by 14+ points entering the second quarter since a 38-31 win over North Carolina State on November 27, 2010.

Jeshaun Jones vs. Virginia

last time vs. Michigan State

Behind big games from running back Antwain Littleton II and quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terps (4-1, 1-1) defeated Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) last season for the first time since 2016 in the first-ever game at newly-named SECU Stadium.
Tagovailoa continued his season-long dominance with yet another impressive outing, completing 32-of-41 passes for 314 yards and a score.
Tarheeb Still had a career-high nine tackles and Beau Brade tallied eight tackles in the win.