Early look: Maryland football opens as double digit road favorites vs. UConn

Ahmed Ghafir
11 hours ago
3 min read

After kicking off the season at home on Saturday night with a 62-0 win vs. Hampton, Maryland football will look to maintain momentum on the road for the first time in 2026.

They will do so as favorites with Maryland opening as a 12.5-point favorite against UConn, though the line has since dropped to 11.5. Maryland has won six of their seven games since 2021 as the away favorite, while Maryland has won three of the four meetings between the two teams. Yet two years after opening the season with a convincing 50-7 win in the Tai Felton breakout game in 2024, Maryland will face a bit of a different challenge this season.

First-year head coach Jason Candle has kicked off his tenure following ten seasons at Toledo where he compiled an 81-44 record with seven bowl appearances, two MAC championships and two MAC Coach of the Year awards. He also kicked off year one with plenty of roster familiarity having brought several key players from his 2025 Toledo team to UConn, while the Huskies welcome 87 new players including 60 transfers. Yet after UConn opened the season with a convincing 56-7 win vs. Lafayette, we take a look at three names to know this weekend:

QB Kalieb Osborne

The Toledo transfer enjoyed a stellar UConn debut after completing over 73% of his passes, throwing for 265 yards, running for 90 yards and accounting for four total touchdowns. The dual threat quarterback is the focal point of the offense where he will test Maryland to stay gap control and keep contain in the front seven. For Maryland's front seven that saw plenty to like within the interior defensive line while DD Holmes led the outside linebackers, Osborne will serve as a quality test for a Maryland defense that will more explosive skill players through the rest of the month. Osborne accounted for three touchdowns in seven appearances at Toledo in 2025.

DL Esean Carter

The Toledo transfer was at the source of offseason debate after initially transferring to UConn, then being ruled ineligible after the NCAA deemed an invalid redshirt year. Yet that decision was then reversed, allowing Carter to make his debut this past weekend and keeping him available for the week two matchup. A third team All-MAC selection last year, Carter registered 36 tackles and three sacks where the 6-foot-3 defensive tackle has been disruptive at the point of attack. Maryland's interior offensive line struggled at points in Saturday's win, and Carter should be able to test whether the unit can make the week two jump a reality. The caveat -- Carter was barred from team activities while ineligible and didn't practice through August, adding a question how ready he will be for Saturday.

LB K'Von Sherman

The breakout season led him to become a key part of the defense where Sherman is now expected to be a key part of the defense. After playing the last two seasons at Toledo, Sherman became a first team All-MAC selection in 2025 after leading the team with 94 tackles, 14.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. The 6-foot-2 linebacker was a maintstay on preseason watch lists as Sherman has built a rep for his quickness and play recognition. Sherman was one of multiple players who posted a team-high five tackles in Saturday's season opening win.

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