Five toughest games on Maryland football's 2025 schedule

Ahmed Ghafir
Jul 2
3 min read

Maryland football is less than 60 days away from kicking off the 2025 season, and we take a look at what could be the five toughest games this fall:

Nov. 15: at Illinois

The Illini could end up proving to be the top-ranked team on Maryland’s schedule with 19 returning starters from a 10-3 finish and win vs. South Carolina in the 2024 Citrus Bowl. Luke Altmyer and Kaden Feagin return at quarterback and running back with all but one expected starting offensive line entering their senior season, giving the offense plenty of veteran experience, along with adding former Idaho tackle Ayden Knapik and his 33 career starts to the trenches. OLB Gabe Jacas, one of the conference’s best, is back to anchor a starting defense that allowed just shy of 275 yards per game in 2024. Maryland won the last matchup in Champaign and hold a 2-1 all-time series lead, but the Illini could prove to be the Big Ten’s disruptor in 2025 and will be among the most experienced teams the Terps face this season.

Nov. 1: Indiana

Breakout team no more. Indiana cemented themselves as a team to watch in year one of the Curt Cignetti era and with 16 starters back and an impressive portal haul, the Hoosiers will now look for their second straight win vs. Maryland and first in College Park since 2019. Indiana added one of the top portal quarterbacks in Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza, along with a pair of familiar faces when they come to town for Maryland’s homecoming game as RB Roman Hemby and OLB Kellan Wyatt return to College Park one last time. Indiana’s receiving unit led by All-Big Ten selection Elijah Sarratt will test what’s expected to be a vastly improved Maryland secondary, while their offensive line led by Notre Dame center transfer Pat Coogan will be a test for a revamped Terps’ defensive line. Veteran linebacker Aiden Fisher, another All-Big Ten selection, is back to lead the defense. The Hoosiers’ 42-28 win in Bloomington snapped a three-game win streak for Maryland with Indiana’s last win in College Park back in 2019. While Maryland is winless in games after the bye week under Mike Locksley, they’ll look to change that in this year’s homecoming game.

Nov. 22: Michigan

A mixed year one for Sherrone Moore as head coach, Michigan will now kick off the Bryce Underwood era in Ann Arbor as Maryland looks for its first win against the Wolverines since 2014 under former head coach Randy Edsall. Michigan added former Alabama RB Justice Haynes while Evan Link, another former top target out of Gonzaga (DC), anchors a revamped yet experienced offensive line. Former SFA Derrick. Moore returns to lead a veteran defensive line while former Maryland LB Jaishawn Barham was one of two preseason first-team All-Big Ten selections for the Wolverines, who also enter 2025 with a favorable conference slate. The last two matchups have been decided by one possession as the November matchup could end up featuring a pair of blue-chip quarterbacks out of the 2025 class.

Sept. 20: at Wisconsin

Maryland fans are likely to hear a pair of familiar names during the Big Ten opener with QB Billy Edwards Jr and RB Dilin Jones expected to take over at quarterback and running back. Edwards, a two-year backup before materializing into Maryland’s starter in 2024, will now lead the Badgers with Jones, a former top target out of Good Counsel (MD), a potential breakout name in 2025. Wisconsin will also roll out one of the nation’s top offensive lines with RT Riley Mahlman anchoring five upperclassmen along the starting five. Head coach Luke Fickell will also look to guide the program back to bowl eligibility after a disappointing 5-7 record during the injury-ridden 2024 season.

Oct. 11: Nebraska

Dylan Raiola is back for year two at Nebraska as the Huskers look to put the close losses to bed after finishing 2-5 in one-possession games in 2024. Whether they can put all the pieces together for their second consecutive winning season, the first time since 2013-14, remains the biggest question with Kentucky WR transfer Dane Key looking to be a spark in the passing game. The Huskers’ offensive line is expected to be one of the best in the Big Ten with Notre Dame transfer guard Rocco Spindler now with Nebraska as the pressure for wins begins to mount for head coach Matt Rhule heading into year three.

Related Links