Maryland Falls At Minnesota

Saturday, October 26

Minneapolis, MN

3:30 PM

Maryland

4-4 , 1-4

Minnesota

5-3 , 3-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Maryland	0	10	0	13	23
Minnesota	21	13	7	7	48

10/26/2024 2:34:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

MINNEAPOLIS – Maryland football was defeated by Minnesota, 48-23, on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. Maryland is now 4-4 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play.

The Gophers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter by capitalizing on two takeaways and a turnover on downs. The lead was one that the Terps could not overcome. Minnesota later extended the score to 24 unanswered before Jack Howes connected on a 33-yard field goal to get Maryland on the board at 6:55 in the second frame.

Maryland entered the game with one of the Big Ten's top passing offenses, while Minnesota boasted one of the top defenses in the conference against the pass. Forced to air the ball out early in the contest, the Terps struggled to get back into the game as the Gophers' defensive backs honed in Maryland's passing game.

Billy Edwards Jr. passed for 201 yards and racked up 30 rushing yards. He also scored a rushing touchdown, his team-leading fifth of the season. Edward's 19 completions in the game also put him inside the program's top 10 for single-season completions. He tied Chris Turner (214 in 2008) for eighth all-time.

The Terps find the end zone before the half 🙌 @TerpsFootball #B1GFootball on FS1 📺 pic.twitter.com/XLjMgBE9i6
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024

MJ Morris entered the game in the fourth quarter, completing his first six passes and finishing 7-of-8 for 122 yards. He even threw touchdown passes to linebacker DJ Samuels and receiver Shaleak Knotts. The scores were each player's first of their career. The pass to Samuels was Morris' first in a Maryland uniform since transferring from NC State. Knotts also finished with a career-high 70 receiving yards.

Terps cut into Minnesota's lead 👀 @TerpsFootball #B1GFootball on FS1 📺 pic.twitter.com/MJhjZmg7sG
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024

Tai Felton was Maryland's leading receiver with nine catches for 104 yards. He moved up the program's leaderboard in catches and yards for a career and a single-season.

Ruben Hyppolite II and Dante Trader Jr. led Maryland's defense with six tackles apiece. Hyppolite had 1.5 tackles for loss, and Samuels added a career-best three TFLs as he played exceptional run defense.

Locksley's Take
"I'm frustrated a little bit because as a coach, it's always the toughest part for you as a coach is to have patience," head coach Michael Locksley said. "When you have inexperienced players, the experience of just having patience and understanding the consistency is always that last piece. ... It started with the two interceptions in the first quarter. We're not built to just give the other team points like that. Defensively, we did a good job stopping the run, but that Achilles heel of our inexperience on the outside, giving up the explosives."

Felton On The Team's Start
"It's more disappointment, even for myself, I could have played better today. There were some plays that I missed today, but I know how hard this team works, and I have total faith in this team, and it just disappointing to see us come out flat, kind of start out slow how we did. I love the way we fought towards the end. We started picking up things towards the end when MJ ended up getting in. ... But it's definitely disappointing when you put in this work."

Terrific Tai

Tai Felton finished his day with a stat line of nine receptions for 104 yards. Through eight games, he has 73 receptions for 907 receiving yards.
Felton moved up to ninth in career yards with 1,990. He passed Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof (1984-87) with 1,895. Next on the list is Dontay Demus Jr., (2018-22) with 2,008 yards.
Felton also moved to sixth in program history for career receptions with 149. He passed DJ Moore (146 from 2015-17). Next on the list is Stefon Diggs (150 from 2012-14).
The receiver even reached a few single-season milestones. He moved to sixth in receiving yards and fourth in receptions, passing multiple Terps.
Felton ranks first in the Big Ten in yards and receptions.

Numbers And Nuggets

1: DJ Samuels and Shaleak Knotts scored their first career touchdowns.
1: MJ Morris threw his first career touchdown in a Maryland uniform.
1: Freshman Judah Jenkins made his first career start.
2: Samuels recorded two tackles for loss on Minnesota's fourth drive of the game. He previously had just one TFL in his career up to that point.
3: Samuels finished with a career-best three TFLs.
5: Billy Edwards Jr. leads the Terps with five rushing touchdowns this season.
6: Tai Felton ranks sixth in program history in career receptions.
8: Edwards is tied for eighth in program history in single-season completions (214).
9: Felton moved into ninth place for career receiving yards.
13: Bryce McFerson has 13 punts of 50 or more yards this season.
49: Knotts caught a 49-yard pass in the game. It was the longest reception of his career.
70: Knotts recorded a career-high 70 receiving yards.

Shaleak Knotts tiptoes in for a touchdown ‼️ @TerpsFootball #B1GFootball on FS1 📺 pic.twitter.com/uOclFvkzxN
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024

Up Next

The Terps have their second bye week, but they will play at undefeated Oregon on Nov. 9. Kickoff and streaming info are TBA, but the game will also be available on Maryland Sports Radio Network.