Maryland-Northwestern moved to Friday night on FOX

Maryland football is set for Friday night lights again in 2024.

With games from the Big Ten, Big 12 and Mountain West on the upcoming fall schedule, FOX announced its Friday night schedule for the 2024 season with Maryland’s home game against Northwestern included. The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, will now be played on Friday, Oct. 11 and is set for an 8 PM kickoff at SECU Stadium.

Maryland has won four of its last five games on Friday night, including a 42-14 win vs. Virginia to close out the 2023 nonconference schedule.

After firing longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern promoted David Braun to permanent head coach after the Wildcats finished 8-5 in 2023. Northwestern’s seven-wins improvement from 2022 to 2023 marked the largest win improvement by any FBS program in the country, setting the stage for Braun to be named consensus Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Northwestern has won three of the four all-time matchups, though Maryland won the last matchup in College Park, 31-24, as Billy Edwards Jr. made his first career start while Roman Hemby’s 75-yard touchdown proved to be the difference.

More via release:

Maryland football’s 2024 home game against Northwestern will be played on Friday, Oct. 11 at SECU Stadium, it was announced on Wednesday.

The game, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, will kickoff at 8 p.m. and be broadcast on FOX.

Maryland returns four starters on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, including All-Big Ten selections in running back Roman Hemby and wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather. The high-powered Terrapins offense ranked Top 5 in the Big Ten in points per game (29.7), yards per game (387.3) and passing yards per game (278.9) last season.

Seven starters return for Maryland’s defense, which allowed just 22.5 points per game in 2023, the fewest points allowed per game for a Terps defense since 2010 (22.2). Returners include Third-Team All-Big Ten selection Ruben Hyppolite II and Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection Quashon Fuller.

An updated 2024 Maryland football schedule can be found here.