Maryland vs. Wisconsin: storylines to track on Saturday

Joseph Luber
Sep 19
4 min read

After three weeks of college football, it is finally time for conference play as Maryland travels to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers, led by head coach Luke Fickell, in the first Big Ten matchup of the season for both programs. Each team is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2024 campaign, and starting 1-0 in conference play would be a crucial step in turning things around. We take a look at what to watch for on Saturday:

Quarterback Spotlight

Maryland hasn’t opened conference play 1-0 with a true freshman quarterback in over a decade, but true freshman Malik Washington has the chance to change that on Saturday. Terps fans already know how special he is, even if the rest of the country hasn’t caught on yet, but Saturday is a chance to cement his strong start.

Washington averaged 11.9 yards per attempt in last week’s win, the highest mark by a Maryland true freshman in 30 years (minimum 20 attempts). He’s also the first Maryland QB since Scott Milanovich in 1993 to throw for 250+ yards in each of his first three career starts. On top of that, he’s just the second Power Five freshman to throw six touchdowns through three games since 2019.

Bottom line: Washington looks like a program-changing talent. As good as Taulia Tagovailoa was for Mike Locksley and the Terps, Washington is showing flashes of being on another level.

On the flip side, Wisconsin has stayed true to their pregame gamesmanship with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. a reported "game-time decision", news that broke one day after QB Danny O'Neil noted the former Maryland starter was "obviously taking more reps" in practice. Edwards will have a chance to make his first appearance since week one while capitalizing on the matchup against familiar faces, but how much the Badgers ask out of their QBs will be one to watch on an expected wet day

Familiar Starts, New Goals

Maryland sits at 3-0 after its non-conference slate, a familiar start under Locksley. The Terps are tied for second nationally for the most 3-0 starts since 2021. But Locksley knows the next step for the program is turning early-season momentum into Big Ten success. A win in Madison would be the best way to start.

Handling the Camp Randall Test

One of the biggest questions is how Maryland’s freshmen will respond to the raucous atmosphere of Camp Randall Stadium. Even in down years, Wisconsin’s home field remains one of the loudest in the nation, and it will be rocking for the Badgers’ Big Ten opener.

Locksley said this week that Washington’s poise has impressed him most. As he stated no moment has seemed too big so far. That will be tested on Saturday, and Maryland’s chances of victory could hinge on how its young quarterback handles the spotlight.

Offensive Keys

If Maryland wants to have any success on Saturday, it all starts with the run game. It’s difficult to succeed in the passing game without a strong run threat, since defenses play differently when they have to respect both. The question for the Terps: who is RB1?

Coming into the season, Nolan Ray was projected to lead the backfield, with DeJuan Williams also in the mix. Local true freshman Iverson Howard led the way in week three and paced the team with 15 carries for 60 yards in the win over Towson, though Saturday could mark the start of Maryland's hopeful one-two punch between Ray and Williams.

In the passing game, Oklahoma transfer Jalil Farooq, Shaleak Knotts, and Octavian Smith Jr. have led the way. Maryland’s senior receivers have combined for 501 yards this season, the most of any senior class in the Big Ten. Knotts’ 196 receiving yards rank third among conference seniors. But tight end Dorian Fleming is also emerging as one of the best tight ends in the country potentially.

Defensive Outlook:

Defense was a weakness in 2024, but through three weeks the Terps have shown promise. Maryland ranks 20th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11 points per game, and they’ve thrived at creating turnovers.

The Terps lead the FBS with seven interceptions, highlighted by La’Khi Roland’s 100-yard pick-six last week (the longest by a Maryland player in over 60 years). Jalen Huskey has also been pivotal, shifting from cornerback to strong safety while emerging as a defensive leader on and off the field.

Up front, the Terps’ pass rush has been fueled by true freshmen Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart. Maryland ranks 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 10 sacks. Stewart is tied for second in the league with three, while Mathis, a former Ohio State commit, has been a disruptive force on the edge.

The Badgers’ defense is coming off its road game after allowing 38 points, the fifth time Wisconsin has allowed 35 points or more since the start of the 2024 season, but the front seven will pose a challenge. Wisconsin enters Saturday tied for 16^th nationally with nine sacks with allowing just three runs over ten yards and holding opponents to under two yards per carry. That could spell trouble for a Maryland offense that has yet to establish a ground attack through three games as Wisconsin looks to hold its fourth consecutive opponent to under 75 yards rushing. Transfer OLB Mason Reiger, who missed 2024 due to a season-ending injury, and returning LB Christian Alliegro look to anchor the front seven on a roster featuring 27 players over 300 pounds.

Final Thoughts:

Maryland enters as a 10.5-point underdog, but that line feels steep. If Washington and the freshmen handle the environment, the Terps can cause real problems for Wisconsin. The keys to victory:

Establish a run game to balance the offense.
Keep Washington composed in his first Big Ten road test.
Let the defensive line disrupt backup quarterback Danny O’Neil.

If those boxes are checked, Maryland has every chance to flip the script in Madison.

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