Game 1: Maryland vs. Hampton Preview

Saturday, September 5

College Park, MD

8 PM

Maryland

Hampton

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Maryland Terrapins Football vs Indiana Hoosiers at SECU Stadium in College Park, MD on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Allie Mize/Maryland Terrapins

8/31/2026 7:08:00 PM | Football

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Maryland (0-0) vs. Hampton (1-0)

September 5, 2026

SECU Stadium

8 PM

Big Ten Network

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland opens its 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at home against Hampton. The game is slated to kickoff at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.

Gameday Promotion:
Beach Bash Presented by: Ocean City Tourism

This Labor Day weekend, it's time to bring the beach to SECU Stadium! Step on up to the SECU Stadium boardwalk for fun, games, and all the beachy vibes. The first 7,500 fans will receive a rally towel, courtesy of Ocean City Tourism! Plus, stay in your seats throughout the game as we honor the illustrious Divine 9 organizations on UMD's campus. Fans can gear up for the Terps home opener with a ticket & t-shirt package, starting at less than $20! This exclusive offer can be purchased through this link.

season-opener success

Maryland has won 15 consecutive season openers against non-conference teams heading into the 2026 season, the third-longest streak among Big Ten members, trailing only Ohio State (25) and Michigan State (16).
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.
Maryland is a perfect 19-0 against FCS opponents since 2000, winning each game by an average margin of 33.1 points. The Terrapins allowed an average of 10.6 points per game in that span, including three shutouts.
Among current Big Ten teams, Maryland has the fourth-best record in season openers since 1995.

In the Locksley era (2019-pres.), Maryland has averaged 40.3 points per game in non-conference play, the sixth-highest mark in the FBS during that span.

returning talent

Maryland football returns 71 percent of its production from last year's roster, which ranks second nationally behind only Notre Dame.
The Terps welcome back 74 percent of their production on the defensive side of the ball, which ranks No. 4 nationally. Returners include 2025 leading tackler Daniel Wingate and freshmen All-American Sidney Stewart.
Maryland returns 68 percent of its offensive production from 2025, ranking No. 17 nationally. Returners include starting quarterback Malik Washington, All-Big Ten tight end Dorian Fleming and starting running back DeJuan Williams. Last season, both Washington and Williams set Maryland freshman records, with Washington setting the mark for passing yards and Williams setting the record for receiving yards by a running back.
Eight of Maryland's 11 All-Big Ten honorees from the 2025 season return to play for the Terps in 2026.

Daniel Wingate vs Michigan Wolverines at SECU Stadium

Daniel Wingate enters the 2026 season with a team-high 24 consecutive career starts among returning defensive players.

Non-Conference dominance

Maryland currently owns the longest active non-conference winning streak in the country at 18 games.
Under head coach Mike Locksley, the Terps are 20-1 in non-conference play, with wins over Virginia Tech, West Virginia, No. 21 Syracuse, No. 23 NC State, Virginia (twice), and Auburn. It marks the program's longest non-conference winning streak in the last 40 years.
In the Locksley era (2019-pres.), Maryland has averaged 40.3 points per game in non-conference play, the sixth-highest mark in the FBS during that span, trailing only Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU. The Terps have scored 30 or more points in 18 of their 21 non-conference games under Locksley.
Maryland has committed no more than two turnovers in each of their last 27 non-conference games. Maryland's active streak of 27 consecutive non-conference games with two or fewer turnovers ranks fifth nationally. Only Ohio State (33), Texas (32), Penn State (30) and Notre Dame (29) own longer active streaks.

DeJuan Williams breaks off a run vs. #18 Michigan

Dejuan Williams set the school record for receiving yards by a running back in a season (426 yards).

2026 season schedule

Maryland will look to build on its nation-leading 18-game non-conference winning streak when it starts the 2026 season with games against Hampton, UConn and Virginia Tech. Maryland also owns the longest active winning streak in non-conference games vs. power conference teams with nine consecutive victories.
The Terps will open Big Ten play at home against UCLA on Sept. 26, marking the first time the teams have played in College Park since 1955.
Maryland travels to USC to take on the Trojans for the first time ever in Los Angeles, on Nov. 21. The Terps defeated the Trojans in College Park in 2024.
Maryland will host Penn State for its regular-season finale on Nov. 28. It'll mark the 49th all-time meeting between the programs.

Sean O'Haire lined up for a field goal attempt vs the Wisconsin Badgers

Sean O'Haire earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2025 after connecting on 21 of 24 field goal attempts during his redshirt freshman season.

freshman year malik

Malik Washington completed 273 of 473 passes for 2,963 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025, his freshman season as he re-wrote the Maryland record book. He set Maryland freshman records for both completions and passing yards in a season.
Washington threw for more than 200 yards in 11 of 12 games and became one of only two true freshmen in Big Ten history since 1996 to finish a season with more than 2,500 passing yards and 300 rushing yards.
Washington was named Big Ten Rookie of the Week twice, selected to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List, and named to the On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American Team.
Against Rutgers, Washington rushed for 164 yards, the second-most ever by a Maryland quarterback in a single game.
He also threw for 459 yards in the season finale against Michigan State, marking the second-highest single-game passing total in school history.

Malik Washington stiff arms a Michigan State defender

Malik Washington is the first true freshman since Johnny Manziel to record a 450-yard passing game and a 150-yard rushing game in the same season.

transfer portal adds

Head coach Michael Locksley was active in the transfer portal this offseason as Maryland football welcomes 17 transfers.
The Terps added a trio of wide receivers - Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (Old Dominion), Chris Durr Jr. (Wyoming) and Ejani Shakir (Independence CC).
Defensive line was another position Maryland hit hard in the portal, adding Lavon Johnson (Texas), Derrick LeBlanc (UCF), Armon Parker and Jayvon Parker (Washington).
Other additions include RB Harry Dalton III (USC), TE Preston Howard (Auburn), DB Amari Jackson (Boston College) and OL Tellek Lockette (Texas State), RB Terrez Worthy (Temple), LB Stephen Dean III (Virginia Military Institute), QB Cardell Williams (Sacramento State), LB Jordan Williams (Rice) and QB Jack Capaldi (Fordham).

Chris Durr Jr. catches a ball at practice

Chris Durr Jr. joins the Terps after two seasons at Wyoming, bringing a 24-game streak with at least one reception.

New coaches

Maryland welcomed four new coaches during the offseason.
Clint Trickett takes over as Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach after spending the 2025 season as offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State, where he led the Gamecocks to a 9–5 record and a bowl win. His offense averaged 408.7 yards and 28.1 points per game while producing Conference USA's top rushing attack.
Matt Barnes returns for his second stint at Maryland and will serve as the Terps Special Teams Coordinator. Barnes spent the past two seasons at Mississippi State, where he served as Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach.
Former Terp greats Randy Starks and Kyle Schmitt return home as coaches. Starks will oversee the defensive line unit, while Schmitt will take over the tight ends room.