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Writer's pictureAhmed Ghafir

Maryland football in familiar territory in first ESPN FPI rankings

Maryland is among the handful of Power Five programs still in the midst of spring ball as head coach Mike Locksley and his new-look staff prepare for year five. Maryland checked in 44th in the country and eighth in the Big Ten in ESPN’s FPI index for the 2023 season. ESPN also projects a 78.9% chance that Maryland secures the sixth win needed for bowl eligibility. That’s an impressive feat considering the Terps is tasked with replacing 14 starters, seven on each side of the ball, while ESPN projects Maryland to face the fourth-toughest schedule in the country, only second to Minnesota within the Big Ten. Maryland opens the season with consecutive home games against Towson and Charlotte before traveling across the border to face Virginia, the first matchup against their longtime regional rival since 2013. Maryland also hosts Indiana, Illinois, Penn State and Michigan inside SECU Stadium and travels to Rutgers, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan State. With a six-win season this fall, Maryland has a chance to appear in their third consecutive bowl game for the first time since 2006-08. Maryland has an opportunity to win a bowl game in the third consecutive season, marking what would be the first time in program history. Maryland will look to do so in front of an expected improved home crowd this fall with season tickets on sale starting at $99. Within the first two days of season tickets, we sold 1,000…and we doubled the number of season tickets we sold compared to a year ago. And so as I’ve sat here a year ago and challenged our fans about them and helping us build this, I want to thank them for the job that you’re doing to support the vision that we have in terms of taking the next step for Maryland football,” Locksley said at media day. With several new faces on both sides of the ball, the biggest question for Maryland is replenishing the offensive line after Coltin Deery became the fifth player who started at least one game last year to depart this offseason. Maryland signed a pair of experienced linemen in Gottlieb Ayedze and Corey Bullock while DJ Glaze returns to give the room another potential future NFL lineman. Meanwhile, the defense returns its starting safety tandem along with Jaishawn Barham, Ruben Hyppolite and Fa’Najae Gotay manning the front seven Maryland is set to wrap up spring ball with the Red-White game set for this upcoming Saturday at 12 PM. Related Links Portal OL visited campus this weekend (+)

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