Game 5: Maryland vs. Indiana Preview

Maryland (4-0, 1-0 B1G) vs. Indiana (2-2, 0-1 B1G)

September 30, 2023

SECU Stadium

3:40 p.m.

Big Ten Network

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The University of Maryland football team will host Indiana for its Big Ten home opener on Saturday, Sept. 30 at SECU Stadium. The game is set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

strong start

The Terps are 4-0 to start the season for the second time in three years, winning each game by 18-plus points. Maryland is one of only three schools in the FBS to be 4-0 and win each game by 18-plus (# 2 Michigan & #7 Washington).
Over the last 19 games played, dating back to 2021, Maryland is 14-5, good for the fourth-best record of any Big Ten school, trailing only three top-10 teams: #2 Michigan (17-2), #4 Ohio State (16-3) and #6 Penn State (15-4).
Maryland has won each of its first four games of the season by at least 18 points for the first time since 1913. This start also marks the first time in program history that Maryland has scored 31-plus points in the first four games of the season. Maryland is one of only 11 FBS teams and the only Big Ten team that are 4-0 and have scored 31-plus in their first four games (#3 Texas, #5 Florida State, #7 Washington, #8 USC, #9 Oregon, #15 North Carolina, #16 Washington State, #18 Miami, #24 Kansas and Liberty).
The Terps have won six games in a row dating back to last season's game vs. Rutgers (11/26), their longest winning streak since winning seven in a row in 2003-04. The six-game winning streak is currently the ninth-longest in all of the FBS and the second-longest in the Big Ten, only trailing (#1 Georgia - 21, #25 Fresno State - 13, #7 Washington - 11, #5 Florida State, 10, #6 Penn State - 9, Air Force - 8, Marshall - 8, James Madison - 7).
Maryland currently ranks first in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 450.5 yards per game and second in scoring offense, averaging 37.2 points per game, passing offense, averaging 283.8 yards per game and third down percentage, converting at a 50-percent rate.

Roman Hemby and Taulia Tagovailoa have paced the Maryland offense through four 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 (8,991), passing touchdowns (59), total touchdowns (69), completions (752), completion percentage (67.0), 300-yard passing games (13), passing efficiency (146.8) and total offense (9,232).
Tagovailoa has been the best quarterback in the Big Ten through four games, currently leading the conference in passing yards (1,112), passing TDs (8), total offense (1,165) and points responsible for (62).
Tagovailoa's current career completion percentage (.670 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).
Last week at Michigan State (9/23), Tagovailoa recorded his sixth career game with at least three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. All other Maryland players have combined for five such games over the past 25 seasons.
Also on the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award and Polynesian Player of the Year Watch Lists and this past week a Davey O'Brien Great 8 award winner, Tagovailoa currently stands top-15 among all FBS QBs in career completion percentage (sixth), passing yards per game (11th), completions per game (13th) and total offense (14th).

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 six games (Rutgers, 11/26/22 - pres.) dating back to last season, only allowing nine points per game. The Terps have only allowed five touchdowns over the last six games.
This season, the Terps are allowing only 12.2 points per game, the 11th-best mark in the country. Maryland has forced 11 turnovers, the second-best in the nation while also standing second in the nation in turnover margin (+8).
Maryland's defense hasn't allowed multiple touchdown passes in 10 consecutive games, tied for the longest active streak in the FBS (Marshall – 10). No other team in the FBS has even nine-straight such games. It is Maryland's longest such streak since a 20-game streak between 2003-2004.
Through four games, the Terps have only allowed 43 points of offense (five touchdowns, three field goals). Those five touchdowns are the only two Maryland has allowed in the last six games, all wins.
Maryland has allowed its opponents to score on only 60-percent of their red-zone drives this season, the second lowest in the Big Ten and 11th lowest in FBS.

Tarheeb Still has three interceptions over the last two games

turnover terps

Maryland has been one of the best teams in the nation at forcing turnovers through four games, currently standing second in the country in both turnovers gained (11) and turnover margin (+8).
Over the past two games alone, Maryland has forced nine turnovers (four vs. Virginia, five at Michigan State), its first time tallying four turnovers in back-to-back games since Oct. 8 and 20, 2005, when the Terps had three fumble recoveries and an interception at Temple and three interceptions and a fumble recovery vs. Virginia Tech.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Terps have only lost three turnovers, good for 13th in the nation and second in the Big Ten (Penn State - 0). Maryland is one of only 16 schools to not lose a fumble this season and one of only two in the Big Ten (Penn State).
The Terps stand fifth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in interceptions, tallying seven through four games. CB Tarheeb Still has three himself (two vs. Virginia & one at Michigan State), tied with 15 other players for the most in the nation. Still's three interceptions over two games are the first time a Maryland player has done that since current Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage Jr. in 2018 (one at #15 Michigan, 10/6 & two vs. Rutgers, 10/13). Against Virginia, 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) .
The last two games mark the first time Maryland has had three interceptions in back-to-back games since Oct. 11 and 20, 2001, tallying three picks each at Georgia Tech and vs. Duke.
Maryland's five turnovers against Michigan State last week are tied for its most in a conference game since joining the Big Ten (also October 13, 2018 against Rutgers). It is the most forced turnovers for the Terrapins in a conference opener over the past 25 seasons.

Beau Brade celebrates the first of three Terp interceptions at Michigan State

getting it done in the second half

The Maryland defense has been espcially good in the second half of games dating back to the beginning of last season, only allowing 128 points in those 17 games for 7.5 per game. This season in four games, the Terps have only allowed 15 points in the second half.
Maryland has outscored opponents by a score of 77-15 (+62) in the second half of games to start this season, the fifth-best second half point differential in the FBS and second-best in the Big Ten, only trailing #6 Penn State (+73), #1 Georgia (+70), #14 Oklahoma (+66) and #17 Duke (+64).
The Terps have been especially good in the third quarter, only allowing 42 points in the past 17 games dating back to the beginning of last season. This is the third-fewest in the FBS, only trailing Ohio State (27) and Air Force (29).
In addition, Maryland has shut 10 of 17 opponents out completely in the third quarter, tied for the seventh-most third quarter shutouts in the FBS, trailing only #2 Michigan (12), #4 Ohio State (12), #6 Penn State (12), #10 Utah (11), Memphis (11), and Air Force (11). Neither Charlotte or Virginia scored in the third quarter this season, and Michigan State and Towson only scored a combined nine.

Terps defense celebrates a stop vs. Virginia

atop the pro football focus rankings

TE Corey Dyches currently leads all Big Ten tight ends with a 78.4 grade via Pro Football Focus, the fifth-highest rating of any FBS tight end. Dyches has caught a pass in 18-straight games.
DL Donnell Brown is the fourth-highest rated edge defender in the FBS and the top-rated in the Big Ten, via Pro Football Focus earning a 90.0 grade. He is the best edge defender in the nation in pass coverage, earning a 93.5 grade.

Corey Dyches gets interviewed on the Big Ten Network after Towson win

last time vs. indiana

The Terps have won two-straight against Indiana, last season defeating the Hoosiers 38-33 behind back-up quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., engineerering two scoring drives in the final seven minutes of the game, the first of which brought the Terps down the field and finished with a Roman Hemby 6-yard touchdown run with 5:35 left in the fourth quarter.
Last time the Terps and Hoosiers played at home, Maryland won 38-35 behind a career-high 419 yards from Taulia Tagovailoa.
Maryland has won its last two games against Indiana with the Terrapins scoring at least 35 points in each victory. The last time Maryland scored 35+ points while beating a conference opponent at least three straight times was against Duke in four straight between 1982-1985.