Preview: Maryland football hosts Washington, look to continue strong start to open 2025

diggsreport
Oct 3
3 min read

Maryland (4-0, 1-0 B1G) vs Washington (3-1, 0-1 B1G)

When: Saturday, October 4 | 3:30 PM EST

Where: SECU Stadium

Watch: BTN - Guy Haberman, Jake Butt, Brooke Fletcher

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

Betting: Maryland +6.5 | O/U: 52.5 (DraftKings)

After the first bye week of the season, Maryland football will return to action for the first of two consecutive 3:30 PM kickoffs when they host the Washington Huskies. Saturday marks the first meeting between the two teams since the 1982 Aloha Bowl, while it also marks the first matchup as Big Ten teams. Maryland will look to capitalize on the chance to move to 5-0 for the second time under Mike Locksley – and second time since 2001 – while moving to 2-0 in Big Ten play for just the second time.

Mike Locksley will also look for his first win coming out of the bye since taking over as Maryland’s head coach, a stat he was made aware of ahead of Saturday’s kickoff.

“I didn’t realize it was that bad. It was terrible, 0-9. You guys also realize that we play really good teams in the Big Ten after a bye weekend as a team that has been developing, we’ve faced some tough teams coming off of a bye, and it's no different this week. So yeah, I've looked at what we need to do differently.”

Maryland, one of three teams nationally who have yet to trail in a game in 2025, will do so tasked with slowing down a Washington offense filled with firepower between QB Demond Williams Jr., RB Jonah Coleman and WR Denzel Boston. Maryland’s defense ranks third in the conference in points per game and has given up less than 100 yards on the ground, but Jonah Coleman presents the toughest challenge to-date. The senior running back has the fourth-most rushing yards in the Big Ten and is tied for the national lead in touchdowns with nine. It will be up to the Maryland front seven, led by Daniel Wingate and Eyan Thomas, to make life difficult for Coleman and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. The sophomore passer is completing over 75% of his passes and has not thrown an interception through four games.

Washington’s offensive line could without starting left tackle Carver Willis, which would cause former Terp Max McCree to get the start. One player the Terps hope to see back after missing the Wisconsin game is cornerback Jamare Glasker. Edge rushers Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart have been one of the best pass rushing duos in the nation to start the year and were named to ESPN’s standout freshmen earlier this week, spearheading a front seven that leads the country in sacks per game (4).

Joining them on the list is quarterback Malik Washington. Through four starts, he has only turned the ball over twice, while making some NFL-style throws with his 1,038 passing yards marking the second-most by a true freshman in four games since 2019. Drops have been an issue in the receiving core, but the offensive line has done well in pass protection.

Washington edge rusher Zach Durfee left last week’s game early and his status is up in the air for Saturday, though the Huskies are expected to get CB Tacario Davis back after missing consecutive games. While the passing game has been strong, the running game has continued to be a struggle for Maryland. The Terps have yet to record a rush over 20 yard and are averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Things won’t get easier for them, as Washington has given up an average of 83.8 yards on the ground in 2025. Safety Alex McLaughlin leads the team in tackles with linebacker Deven Bryant right behind him, Mclaughlin also has two of the team’s four interceptions.

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