Pinstripe Bowl preview: Maryland takes on regional rival Virginia Tech in quest for seventh win

Maryland (6-6) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)

When: Wednesday, Dec. 29 || 2:20 p.m. ET

Where: Yankee Stadium || Bronx, NY

Watch: ESPN – Matt Barrie (pxp), Roddy Jones (analyst), Sam Acho (sideline)

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

It’s the final gameday of the 2021 season as Maryland is set to take on regional rival Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl. Virginia Tech has come out on top in five of the last six matchups, but it was Maryland who secured the last win in the series after CJ Brown punched in the game-winning overtime touchdown back in 2013. Fast forward to today and Maryland now has a chance to secure their first seven-win season since 2014 and first bowl victory since 2010.

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley was pleased with the bowl’s proximity to campus with a chance for fans to make the trip into New York City. “To be able to go up to New York, which to be able to play in Yankee Stadium is a great honor for us as a team, but even more so for our fans to have the opportunity to drive up and come up and support, you know, our football program,” he said back on December 5. “And so, this is a win-win for our football program as well as our fans as we take the next step that we often talk about.”

The spread swung from Virginia Tech to Maryland and enters Wednesday with the Terps favored by 3.5 points, and the Hokies’ absences play a hand as to why. That’s not to say that Maryland hasn’t suffered their own attrition, but the number of key Hokies unavailable gradually grew.

Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister became the latest key Hokie to announce his intention to transfer, making him unavailable against Maryland along with wide receivers Tayvion Robinson and Tre Turner, defensive linemen Amare Barno and Jordan Williams, cornerback Jermaine Waller, cornerback Devin Taylor and interior lineman Darrell Bailey. Running back Raheem Blackshear, offensive tackle Luke Teneta and offensive guard Brock Hoffman have since declared for the Draft but will still suit up against Maryland, but the unknowns leave room for uncertainty in the game plan.

Former Texas A&M quarterback Connor Blumrick will make his first collegiate start against Maryland with true freshman Tahj Bullock splitting first-team reps leading into the bowl game. Even without at least seven starters against Maryland, Hokies interim head coach J.C. Price downplayed the depth impact during Tuesday’s press conference. “I think you’re going to see that impact more on special teams than you will on offense or defense,” he said. “I think offense and defense, it’s been a little bit blown out of proportion.”

Maryland is 2-14 under Locksley when allowing 30 or more points per game and to limit that, Virginia Tech running back Raheem Blackshear becomes a bigger focal point in the Terps’ defensive game plan. The former Rutgers star is a big reason why the Hokies are averaging over 300 rushing yards per contest over the final five games. Blackshear, now the Hokies’ top active receiver, took practice reps as a slot receiver as Price looks to put his veteran star in space against Maryland’s defense.

On the other side, Maryland fans will watch tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo for the final time after he announced his intention to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. “Thank you to all of the fans that supported his journey for the past four years. Thank you for sticking up with us as we built this program up through the years,” Okonkwo included in his announcement. Though Maryland’s wide receivers carried the offensive optimism heading into the season, it was the Okonkwo-Taulia connection that helped the Terps fight through the final stretch of the season.

As for Tagovailoa, he’ll likely return in 2022 but Wednesday’s game will give a chance to put the finishing touches on a historic season. Entering the game, Tagovailoa will need just two touchdowns to tie Scott Milanovich with 24 passing touchdowns in a single season, which would be the latest accomplishment for the second-year quarterback. Tagovailoa already holds the single-season completion and passing yard record and has thrown for seven 300-yard games this season. “The more experience I get, really the more comfortable I get whether it’s good or bad,” Tagovailoa said last week. He’s thrown for one touchdown in 15 consecutive games, but Wednesday isn’t about the accolades for him.

“It’s a blessing mainly for our seniors,” he added. They’ve been here for a long time and haven’t had the opportunity to play in a bowl game. For this team to give them the opportunity to wear the Maryland jersey one more time, I think it’s just really cool.”

While Maryland will get guys like Deshawn Holt against Virginia Tech, head coach Mike Locksley has also been transparent about the younger players that will see an increased role.

“They all have really been benefited from it and I've been really pleased with the development of these young guys and, and like I said, whether it's special teams’ roles, or roles within the offense or defensive system, we feel very confident that we'll have some of these guys be able to contribute,” Locksley added.

But the cherry on top of Locksley’s third season as head coach with a seventh win wasn’t lost on him. It was the exact benchmark that so many had for the Locksley era heading into the fall season and despite the key injuries heading into conference play, the prize is now for the taking. For a program that’s struggled with consistent success in the decade leading into this season, Locksley wants his team to keep building as he prepares his squad for the 2022 season.

“For us obviously, sitting here at 6-6 and trying to find a way to have a winning season, I think that impact. We haven’t had a winning season around here in some time and the fact that we’re having an opportunity to play a meaningful game in December with that on the line, a chance to have a winning season to me shows the progress is being made with our program as we continue to set the standard of becoming a yearly bowl-eligible team. That then allows our fanbase to get even more excited.

Kickoff is set for 2:20 PM.