Maryland Prepares To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night With “Los Terps” Football Helmets
The Terps will don special helmets to honor the DMV’s diverse demographic against Virginia Tech on Sept. 19.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
8/24/2026
“I might be a little biased, but it might be the best gear we’ve ever gotten.”
Maryland defensive lineman Daniel Owens — like so many others — is bubbling with excitement for the Terps’ Hispanic Heritage Night on Sept. 19. When the SECU Stadium lights come on, they'll shine bright on Maryland’s new “Los Terps” helmet as the football team, University of Maryland, and DMV community celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month as the Terps take on Virginia Tech.
The DMV is such a diverse area and I consider myself lucky to have lived in it most of my life. For us to be able to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night with our ‘Los Terps’ helmet during a primetime home game is an honor. We’re excited to represent Maryland’s rich Hispanic population and do it in the right way on the field.Head Coach Michael Locksley
One of the first collegiate football programs to don Spanish writing on a helmet, Maryland will catch the eyes of the nation on that upcoming September Saturday night. A primetime game provides a prime opportunity to flex the many cultures and stories that make up not only College Park, but the nation as a whole.
“When you’re walking around campus, or anywhere in Prince George’s County, you’ll see so many Hispanic people,” Owens said. “I feel like they’re the backbone of this area, and this country to be honest. A lot of their work goes unnoticed, but they do the hard labor that nobody else wants to do. I think the Los Terps night will be one moment where they can have the spotlight, instead of supporting everyone else in it.”
Maryland plays two home games during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The Terps will host UCLA on Sept. 26, but the excitement surrounding the game on the 19th provided the ideal platform for the Terps to maximize their audience as they celebrate the Hispanic community within the DMV.
It's an exciting opportunity. It's setting up to be the game that you want to be there for. Everybody’s circling that game. My girlfriend's family, my family, everybody and their mama wants to come to this game and support this. I’ve had more people ask for tickets for this game than I’ve ever had in my four years of playing college football.Daniel Owens
Growing up in a half-Black, half-Columbian household, Owens has spent his entire life celebrating diversity. He — like so many others — found a true appeal in the DMV’s rich diversity, and soaks in the everyday opportunities to learn more about his community.
“I love talking to anybody and everybody,” Owens said. “I love hearing stories from every walk of life. I want to learn all the information I can from everybody, and I feel like the DMV is just such a diverse area. I can find joy and hear new stories and perspectives from everybody I’m talking to.”
To make Hispanic Heritage Night possible, the Terps teamed up again with El Tiempo Latino, an independent Latino Media company headquartered in Washington, D.C. Maryland Athletics worked with the group last year to promote men’s basketball’s widely successful Hispanic Heritage Day.
A trusted source for news in the Latino community, El Tiempo Latino jumped at the opportunity to help bring Hispanic Heritage Night to life. Vice President Zulema Tijero is a University of Maryland alumnus, and spoke about the impact and importance of the upcoming game.
“I’m incredibly proud to be a Maryland alumna, and it’s especially meaningful to see Maryland celebrate and recognize the Hispanic community that is such an important part of the DMV with this Hispanic Heritage Night,” Tijero said. “Seeing ‘Los Terps’ on the football helmets is a powerful symbol of that connection and a celebration of the many Hispanic students, alumni, families and fans who proudly call Maryland home. It’s something I’m truly proud to see as a Terp and as a member of this community.”
The helmet will also appear in EA SPORTS College Football 27 as a selectable uniform option when playing as Maryland. The “Los Terps” helmet will appear in the game on Sept. 3., continuing to make the Terps’ wardrobe one of the best in the game.
Maryland’s “Los Terps” hat giveaway at the basketball game last spring instantly became one of the program’s most-popular promotions, and Maryland Athletics is proud to announce that the the hats are back for fans that purchase select tickets, and the first 7,500 fans will receive “Los Terps” mini helmet keychains on Hispanic Heritage Night.
Throughout the course of the night, fans will also be able to celebrate Hispanic culture in many ways. The first 2,000 students will receive a Los Terps t-shirt, 500 Los Terps pennants will be given away at Terpsville Fan Fest, the Mighty Sound of Maryland will perform a Hispanic music show at halftime — featuring a Latin dance group — and exclusive Los Terps t-shirts will be on sale at SECU Stadium. One of the first programs nationwide to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night in such a large capacity, Owens and many others are excited to play a role in the groundbreaking game.
“I start smiling just thinking about it,” Owens said. “It's an honor that I'm not fit to carry, but I'm honored to be a part of it.”
We have a really big Hispanic community in the DMV. A lot of my friends growing up were Hispanic, and I was able to learn so much from them. Being able to celebrate and show our support for Hispanic heritage is really big for me and the Terps.Quarterback Malik Washington
For many, the night will be about more than what happens between the lines. It will be a chance for Maryland’s Hispanic community to see itself reflected under the lights — and know that, on this night, the Terps are celebrating with them.
