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University of Maryland Athletics

Malik Washington passing vs. Michigan State
28
Maryland UMD 4-8 , 1-8
38
Winner Michigan St. MSU 4-8 , 1-8
Maryland UMD
4-8 , 1-8
28
Final
38
Michigan St. MSU
4-8 , 1-8
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UMD Maryland 0 7 21 0 28
MSU Michigan St. 7 17 7 7 38

Game Recap: Football |

Washington Sets School Records As Maryland Finishes Season With 38-28 Loss To Michigan State

Malik Washington set the school record for passing yards by a true freshman in a game and a season in the Terps' final game of 2025

DETROIT, MI — Despite Malik Washington setting several school records, Maryland's season came to a close with a 38-28 loss to Michigan State at Ford Field on Saturday night.

Washington had the best passing game of his career and threw for 459 passing yards, the program's second-highest all-time mark, and three touchdown passes, but Michigan State (4-8, 1-8 Big Ten) held on to win the shootout and defeat the Terps (4-8, 1-8 Big Ten) on the final Saturday of the regular season. 

Washington finished his freshman season with a career-high 459 passing yards — which marked the most in a game by a freshman in program history — as he set the school record for passing yards by a true freshman in a single season with 2,963. His passing yardage total was the highest for a Big Ten true freshman in a game since Danny Etling threw for 485 for Purdue in 2013, and the most passing yards in a season by a true freshman among Power Conference quarterbacks since 2019, when Kedon Slovis had 515.  His 38 completions on 61 attempts were both record numbers for Maryland freshman quarterback.  His 38 completions were also the most by a true freshman quarterback in the Big Ten since at least 2008 and the fourth-most all-time by a Terp.

Washington threw for 200+ yards in 11 of his 12 games as a freshman, becoming the first freshman to do so in the Big Ten since Ohio State's C.J. Stroud in 2021. His completion total for the season of 273 is the most by a Power Conference quarterback since Kedon Slovis had 282 in 2019.

Shaleak Knotts led all receivers with a career-high eight catches for 139 receiving yards and a score. Jalil Farooq had a career-high 10 catches for a career-high 110 yards and two touchdowns. Out of the backfield, DeJuan Williams had seven catches for 69 yards as he set the school record for receiving yards for a running back in a single season. Kaleb Webb also had his career high with seven catches for 77 yards. After trailing at the half, the Terps started the second half strong with a 21-point third quarter. Williams found the end zone on the ground before both Knotts and Farooq brought in touchdown receptions to pull Maryland closer. Defensively, Daniel Wingate became the first Terp to hit 100 tackles in a season since Tre Watson during his All-American season in 2018. Jamare Glasker grabbed a late interception to push Maryland's Big Ten-leading total to 19. How It Happened:
1st Quarter:
  • Maryland won the toss and deferred, sending MSU on offense first.
  • The Spartans scored on their first drive with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to take an early lead.
  • Washington found Jalil Farooq for a 19-yard first down to move the chains for the first time.
  • Michigan State led 7-0 after 15 minutes of action.
2nd Quarter:
  • Maryland held the Spartans to three points on the opening drive of the second quarter with a red-zone stand.
  • Michigan State punched in its second touchdown of the day midway through the quarter.
  • Washington connected with Kaleb Webb for 18 yards and a 1st down.
  • Washington picked up 14 ground yards to put the Terps in the red zone. 
  • Farooq brought in a seven-yard touchdown to put the Terps on the board. 
  • A series of 1st down completions moved the chains for Maryland in the closing minutes.
  • MSU punched in a last-minute score to take a 24-7 lead into the break.
3rd Quarter:
  • Maryland opened the second half with a strong, 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that Williams capped off with a five-yard rushing score. 
  • Washington hit Knotts in stride for a 23-yard gain on 3rd down to cross midfield.
  • Knotts brought in a 25-yard touchdown pass to bring the Terps back within three.
  • MSU returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. 
  • A 40-yard Williams rush put the Terps right back in a scoring position.
  • Washington hit Farooq for a 24-yard touchdown for the Terps' third touchdown of the third quarter. 
  • MSU took a 31-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter:
  • A missed Maryland field goal kept MSU ahead by three with eight minutes to play. 
  • A big MSU run pushed the Spartans across midfield as they looked to add to their lead. 
  •  Glasker snagged an interception to give Maryland the ball back with just over three minutes to play.
  • Michigan State put the finishing touches on its with win a 4th-down touchdown strike. 
  • MSU held on for the 38-28 win.
Malik's Marvelous Freshman Season:
  • Washington threw for 459 yards, marking the 11th time in 12 games, he threw for 200+ yards. He's one of four FBS true freshmen to have 11 or more games with 200+ passing yards in his first season. He joins UCLA's Josh Rosen in 2015, UCF's Dillon Gabriel in 2019 and Cal's Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele this season. 
  • Washington's 273 completions ranks tied for fifth in Maryland's single-season history with Billy Edwards, who had 273 last season. Washington already holds the school record for completions by a freshman, breaking Danny O'Brien's record of 192 in 2010.
  • His 273 completions is now 16th in career completions in Maryland history. 
  • Washington finished the season with 2,963 passing yards — a new school record for passing yards in a season by a freshman, breaking the record held by Danny O'Brien with 2,438 in 2010. That mark also ranks sixth in a single-season overall. 
  • On the career charts, Washington finished the season 19th in passing yards with 2,963 
  • Washington's 17 passing touchdowns in a season is tied for ninth with John Kaleo  in 1992 and Alan Pastrana in 1966.
  • With his 473 pass attempts, Washington is now third in single-season pass attempts. That also set a record for most pass attempts by a freshman in a season. 
  • Washington is now 16th in career pass attempts. 
  • Washington finished eighth in single-season rushing yards by a quarterback with 302.
Record Book Watch 
  • In addition to Malik Washington's mark, several other Terps etched their name into the record book: 
  • Wide Receiver Octavian Smith Jr.: 
    • With 107 career receptions, Smith finished tied for 17th all-time in Maryland history. He's tied Corey Dyches, who had 107 from 2020-23 
    • With 1,210 receiving yards, Smith finished 25th in a career at Maryland. 
  • Wide Receiver Jalil Farooq:
    • With 58, Farooq tied for the 11th-most catches in a single season in Maryland history with Frank Wycheck with 58 in 1990. 
  • Wide Receiver Shaleak Knotts
    • With 717 receiving yards, he finished with the 18th-most yards in a single season.
  • Kicker Sean O'Haire
    • With 21 field goals, O'Haire set a school record tied for third in single-season field goals with Brad Craddock in 2013. He set the school record for field goals by a freshman, surpassing the former mark of 18 by Nick Ferrara in 2009. 
    • His 21 field goals stands 15th in a career for a Terp. 
    • With his 87.5 field goal percentage. O'Haire now holds the school record for field goal percentage in a career with a minimum of 20 attempts. He broke the school record of 82.6. Set by Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland in 2023, when he went 19-for-23. 
    • O'Haire's 87.5 field goal percentage finished second for field goal percentage in a single season behind Brad Craddock's record of 94.7 (18-of-19) in 2014. 
    • With 92 points this season, O'Haire finished tied for 12th in single-season points. His scoring total set a school record for points by a freshman, breaking the mark of 89 by Nick Novak in 2001. 
  • Punter Bryce McFerson 
    • With a 44.6 average McFerson now holds the all-time career punting average mark in Maryland history for punters with two or more seasons. He passed the mark of 43.7 by longtime NFL punter Brooks Barnard (43.7 from 1999-2002). 
    • McFerson's single-season punting average of 44.2 finished as the sixth-best single-season average in school history. 
  • Defensive Lineman Sidney Stewart 
    • Set the school record for tackles for loss in a season by a freshman with 10.5. He broke the record of 8.0 by Mike Corvino in 1979. 
  • Running Back DeJuan Williams 
    • Set the school record for receiving yards by a running back in a season with 426, passing Bruce Perry's record of 359 set in 2001. 
    • Finished second in catches by a running back in a season with 45. He finished just behind Allen Williams (51 in 1994) passing Bren Lowery (44 in 1987), Roman Hemby (40 in 2024) and Bruce Perry (40 in 2001).
Michael Locksley's Takaways:
  • "I want to thank my seniors. They did a tremendous job keeping us together during this eight-week stretch."
  • "We've got some valuable young players to build a foundation on."
  • "We don't quit. One of our core words was 'relentless'."
  • "The clock hits zero. Our 2026 season starts now. I'm confident that we'll get this program bounced back to where we want it to be. I promise I will leave no stone unturned to get us to that."
Malik's Lessons:
  • "I'm extremely blessed to have gained so much experience this season."
  • "My line did an amazing job all season. They're one of the most well-oiled groups."
Numbers to Know:
  • 10: Farooq became the first Terp with 10 catches in a game since Tai Felton had 14 vs. Villanova last year
  • 19: Maryland's 19 interceptions this season lead the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally.
  • 100: Wingate became the first Terp to hit 100 tackles in a season since Tre Watson, during his All-American season in 2018. 
  • 100: Maryland had multiple wide receivers mark 100+ yard games since Felton (134) and Jeshaun Jones (121) did so against Indiana in 2023.
  • 459: Washington's 459 passing yards marked the most by a true freshman quarterback in a game in Maryland history, passing a mark previously set by Perry Hills (305 in 2012).
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