University of Maryland Athletics

Football 8/26/2025 10:00:00 AM

Game 1: Maryland vs. FAU Preview

Maryland (0-0) vs. Florida Atlantic (0-0)

August 30, 2025

SECU Stadium

Noon

Big Ten Network

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland opens its 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 at home against Florida Atlantic. The game is slated to kickoff at noon and will be broadcast on BTN and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

season-opener success

Heading into the 2025 season, the Terps have won 13 straight non-conference openers, the third-longest streak in the Big Ten, behind only Ohio State (21) and Michigan State (14).
Maryland's streak dates back to 2010 when the Terps beat Navy 17-14 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and includes two wins over ranked Texas teams.
When excluding the 2020 shortened season, Maryland has won 14 straight season openers, the fifth-longest active streak in the FBS (Ohio State-24, Alabama-22, Air Force-17, Michigan State-15.)
Maryland opened last season with a 50-7 win over UConn, putting up 629 yards of total offense. That is Maryland's most yards in any season opener this century and was the most by a Big Ten team in a season opener since 2019 (Penn State, 673 yards vs. Idaho).
Among current Big Ten teams, Maryland has the fourth best record in season openers since 1995 with a 25-5 mark.

Maryland racked up 629 yards of total offense in last year's season opener — the most in any opener this century.

Firsts in 2025

This season will mark several firsts for the Terps ...
This season opener against marks the first-ever meeting between the Terps and the Owls.
Washington will make its first-ever trip to College Park on October 4. The first-ever Big Ten game between the Terps and the Huskies will be the second-ever meeting between the two schools, which are 2,760 miles apart. The only previous meeting was on Christmas Day in 1982 in the Aloha Bowl.
The Terps will head west on October 18 to face UCLA in Pasadena, California. It will be their first matchup since 1955, when Maryland defeated No. 1 UCLA 7-0, and their first-ever game played in The Rose Bowl.

The Terps prepare to take on FAU for the first time in program history.

Non-Conference dominance

Maryland has won 15 straight games against non-conference opponents, the longest streak in the country. Under head coach Michael Locksley, the Terps are 17-1 in non-conference games with wins over Virginia Tech, West Virginia, #23 NC State, #21 Syracuse, Virginia (twice) and Auburn. This is the longest streak for Maryland in the last 40 years.
In the Locksley era (2019-pres.), Maryland's average of 41.3 points per game in non-conference play ranks fifth in the nation, only trailing Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and LSU. The Terps have scored 30+ points in 15-of-18 non-conference games under Locksley.
Maryland's seven straight wins by at least 14 points against non-conference opponents is the longest active streak in FBS. The Terps have committed no more than two turnovers in any of their last 24 non-conference games. The only FBS teams with longer active such streaks are LSU (29) and Ohio State (26).
Maryland also owns the longest active winning streak in non-conference games vs. Power Conference teams with nine consecutive victories. The streak started with a 34-29 victory over Texas in 2018 and includes wins against Auburn, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, NC State, Syracuse, SMU and Virginia (twice).

Under Mike Locksley (2019–present), Maryland's 41.3 points per game in non-conference play ranks fifth nationally.

Signing Day Success

Maryland's 2025 signing class was ranked No. 22 nationally by 247Sports. It's Maryland's highest-rated class since 2021.
Locksley and the Terps signed eight four-star prospects and seven members of the ESPN300, marking the most for the Terps in the ESPN recruiting rankings era (dating back to 2006).

Locksley and the Terps signed eight four-star prospects, including seven ESPN300 recruits — among them Philadelphia native and four-star edge rusher Zahir Mathis.

Offensive news and notes

Last season, Maryland was one of five FBS teams to have multiple games with four or more players having at least five receptions.
Maryland is the only FBS school to rank in the top three of its conference for passing yards per game in each of the last five seasons (excluding independents).
The Terps have scored 30+ points in each of their last 12 non-conference games at home, the 4th-longest active streak in FBS behind TCU (22), Tennessee (15) and Appalachian St. (13).
Maryland led the Big Ten in 2024 for most offensive plays per game at 72.0 (10th-highest in the FBS). It was Maryland's highest single-season output in the category since 2001 (79.3).
The Terrapins have scored at least 10 points in each of their last 30 home games. That's the school's longest such streak at home since a 34-game run from September 15, 1984 to September 22, 1990.
Dorian Fleming was one of only 14 FBS tight ends to have multiple catches in at least 12 games last season, and he was the only freshman to do it.
Dorian Fleming is one of four returning FBS TEs who recorded at least 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season (Boise State's Matt Lauter, Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers and Houston's Tanner Koziol). He was the only one to reach these totals as an underclassman.
Nolan Ray had four carries of 25 or more yards last season, tied with Iowa's Kamari Moulton for the most by a Big Ten freshman. Ray rushed for a career-high 60 yards and a touchdown in Maryland's Week 1 win over UConn last season.

Dorian Fleming is one of just four returning FBS tight ends who posted at least 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season.

Boomin' Bryce

Notre Dame transfer Bryce McFerson had a big first year for the Terps in 2024, totaling 52 punts for 2,343 yards with a long punt of 64 yards.
McFerson was named to the Ray Guy Award's Ray's 8 in each of the first three weeks of the season, the only punter in the nation to do so.
He ended the season ranking fifth in the Big Ten in punting average (45.1 ypp) and he placed 21 punts inside the 20.

Bryce McFerson made a strong debut for the Terps in 2024, logging 52 punts for 2,343 yards, including a long of 64 yards.

New Faces

Head coach Michael Locksley was active in the transfer portal this offseason as Maryland football welcomes 17 transfers.
Offensive lineman Rahtrel Perry was the Terps highest-rated get in the transfer portal per 247Sports. He ranked as the No. 11 offensive tackle in the class after earning All-NEC First Team honors for Central Connecticut State last season.
Defensive back Jamare Glasker arrives in College Park after rating as a Top-20 player at his position nationally in the portal rankings. He started nine games during the 2024 season at Wake Forest, finishing the year with 37 tackles (33 solo) to go along with four pass breakups, three tackles-for-loss and an interception.
Quarterback Justyn Martin is another portal addition who ranked in the Top-20 nationally at his position. While with UCLA last season, Martin started vs. Penn State and went 22-of-30 for 167 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Martin is a former four-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals. He was ranked No. 228 overall by Rivals and the No. 14 pro-style quarterback in the class of 2022.
Wide Receiver Jalil Farooq brings a wealth of experience to College Park as he returns home for his final season. The Lanham, Maryland native played in 36 career games at Oklahoma across four seasons from 2021-24, making 25 starts. In those games, he totaled 89 receptions for 1,287 yards and seven TDs. He also made a significant impact in the return game, compiling 708 yards on 32 kickoff returns.

Coach Locksley was active in the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in 17 transfers — including Maryland's highest-rated addition, Rahtrel Perry, according to 247Sports.

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Players Mentioned

#34 Bryce McFerson: P; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#2 Nolan Ray: RB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Jalil Farooq: WR; 6' 2"; Senior

#6 Justyn Martin: QB; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#9 Dorian Fleming: TE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#14 Jamare Glasker: DB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#76 Rahtrel Perry: OL; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#9 Zahir Mathis: DL; 6' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#34 Bryce McFerson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: P

#2 Nolan Ray
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#1 Jalil Farooq
: 6' 2"; Senior
: WR

#6 Justyn Martin
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: QB

#9 Dorian Fleming
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: TE

#14 Jamare Glasker
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: DB

#76 Rahtrel Perry
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: OL

#9 Zahir Mathis
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: DL