Maryland vs. Illinois: three storylines to watch

Ahmed Ghafir

8 hours ago

4 min read

Maryland (2-5, 0-4 B1G) vs. Illinois (4-3, 2-2 B1G)

When: Saturday, October 31 | 12:03 p.m. ET

Where: SECU Stadium

Watch: FS1, Noah Reed, Mark Helfrich

Listen: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980 AM (DC) - Johnny Holliday, Steve Suter, LaMont Jordan

Spread: Maryland +2.5 • O/U: 54.5 (DraftKings)•

After a bye week and coaching change, Maryland football is set to return to action on Saturday when they face Illinois on Halloween. The two teams have split the four all-time meetings since 2018, though the Illini took a 24-6 finish in Champaign, Il. during the 2025 season, one of eight consecutive losses to end the year. Can Maryland fare differently this time? Will Maryland pick up its first win against a Power Four team in 2026? We take a look at three things to watch on Saturday afternoon:

Limiting WR Collin Dixon

Maryland has had to gameplan for several elite receivers already this season after taking on KJ Duff and Jeremiah Smith, yet Saturday will present another challenge.

Dixon enters Saturday as one of only four players nationally to rank inside the top 15 in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with his ten scores ranked fourth-most nationally. Though Chris Durr also ranks among the top, Dixon ranks tied for fifth nationally with 54 catches through seven games. That includes three games with over 100 receiving yards this season, including 166 yards and three touchdowns on 11 catches in the week two loss against Duke. Yet the Illini enter the meeting with questions on offense given QB Katin Houser remains sidelined after suffering a broken hand vs Michigan State, though Dixon recorded at least 60 receiving yards and one touchdown on six catches in each of his last two games.

Still, that posses a question mark for a Maryland secondary that ranks among the worst against the pass among FBS teams, in addition to allowing over 453 yards of total offense per game. Whether Jamare Glasker or Dontay Joyner draw the tag to limit the 6-foot-1 receiver will be what cornerbacks coach Will Likely works through on Saturday, but the secondary has a chance to earn respect it lost over the last month.

Maryland's Front Seven vs. Illinois OL

The Illini struggle to generate their own pressure as they rank among the worst teams in the country in sacks through the first half of the season, but both teams enter Saturday ranked among the best in the country protecting their quarterback. Maryland ranks tied for second in the conference with Minnesota and 13th nationally with just seven sacks allowed, but the Illini aren't far behind with just eight allowed through seven games.

That's an impressive feat given the Illini have adjusted through four different starting OL combinations in seven games, compared to just two for Maryland with Amory Hills replacing Tellek Lockette at left guard after the first game.

Senior RG Brandon Henderson is a seasoned vet within the program behind 23 starts over the last three seasons, though the anchor is Rimington Trophy Watch List and seventh-year transfer center Jake Renfro arrived after three seasons at Cincy then Wisconsin to start in every game in 2026. Renfro was also tabbed a Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. Brandon Hansen is a converted guard now stepping in at right tackle with five starts in 2026, while JuCo signee Maika Matelau has started the last four games at left guard and 6-foot-7 Nathan Knapik at left tackle, totaling eight starts over the last two seasons since transferring in from Idaho.

How defensive coordinator Zac Spavital calls the defense differently to create pressure and win the battle in the trenches poses the challenge coming out of the bye week. Maryland edge rusher Zion Elee enters Saturday as the only freshman in the country with three forced fumbles and ranks 11th in the Big Ten with 2.5 sacks. Will Elee be the one to spearhead the front seven in week nine? After a breakout freshman year, Sidney Stewart has amassed one sack and two TFLs since week three with that production coming in the road loss against Ohio State.

First Game Under Aazaar Abdul-Rahim

Sidney Stewart described the coaching style under Maryland's interim head coach: violence, technique, effort. How that materializes into a change on the field will be worth watching in game one.

With a focus on intent with the practice time, Abdul-Rahim stressed a condensed call sheet in all phases with Spavital calling the defense and Clint Trickett calling the offense. After stabilizing the locker room through the bye week, the chance for Maryland to turn the period of turmoil and changes into production starts Saturday as Abdul-Rahim looks to set a new tone under the interim staff.

Maryland went winless in games after the bye week under Mike Locksley -- can Abdul-Rahim fare differently?

Bonus: Penalties

The Illini enter Saturday among the most disciplined teams in the country, averaging just 36.5 penalty yards in conference play while ranking seventh in the country in fewest penalties per game. Maryland, on the other hand, ranks third in the Big Ten in penalty yards in conference play, a continued sore spot through the Locksley era. Yet in the first game without Locksley, does Maryland's pre-snap execution improve out of the bye week?

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