Preview: Maryland football to end 2025 season at Ford Field vs. Michigan State

diggsreport
15 hours ago
3 min read

Maryland (4-7, 1-7 B1G) vs. Michigan State (3-8, 0-8 B1G)

When: Saturday, November 29 | 7:00 PM

Where: Ford Field

Watch: FS1 Dan Hellie, Petros Papadakis

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

After losing a chance at bowl eligibility in last week’s loss to Michigan, Maryland now has to hope for a one-win improvement to end 2025 in a matchup against Michigan State. This is also a potential revenge game following the Terps’ 27-24 loss to the Spartans in week 2 last year, where quarterback Aiden Chiles threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns.

“When you look at them on offense, their quarterback, Aidan Chiles - if he's able to play - he's one of those guys that you have to account for in how you game plan,” said head coach Mike Locksley. “The guy that stepped in a week ago stepped in admirably, threw the ball well, really gave them a chance to win the game. I expect them to come in to this game much like us - wanting to end it the right way.”

Besides Penn State, Maryland and Michigan State have been the most disappointing teams in the conference for the 2025 season. The Terps were off to a 4-0 start, which included a win at Wisconsin, but have faltered since, losing their last seven games. The Spartans, meanwhile, haven’t won an in-conference game all season.

At quarterback for the Spartans, Chiles is dealing with a foot injury, so that means freshman Alessio Milivojevic could get the start again. Running back Mahki Frazier missed last week’s game against Iowa with an injury. Elijah Tau-Tolliver has only carried the ball 10+ times in a game twice this year, though against Minnesota, he rushed for 12 yards on just 11 carries.

Stopping the run has been a problem for the Maryland defense lately, giving up the third-most rushing yards in the Big Ten. Although the main concern for the defense might be wide receiver Nick Marsh. Last year, he torched the Maryland secondary for 194 yards, including a 77-yarder that tied the game in the fourth quarter.

Michigan State’s defense is one of three Big Ten teams that have given up over 30 points a game. That sounds like good news to a Maryland team that has not scored more than 20 in six of its last seven. However, during this time, they have played the other two teams, Rutgers and UCLA, so nothing is guaranteed.

This will be the last game of Malik Washington’s freshman season and it would be nice for him to finish on a high note.

“I think as a freshman that didn't play a lot during training camp, missed all of training camp due to injuries, I think that he's played pretty well for us and has given us some opportunities to win,“ Locks said of Washington following the Michigan loss.

For Maryland to show that progress is being made and the future is still bright, getting a win here would be a necessary first step.

“This will be the last time the 2025 version of the Terps will be together. I know that our team is excited to finish the right way. We talked to them yesterday a lot about some of their favorite movies all have great endings and that's what makes you want to watch again. And so for us, we've taken on we need to finish this iteration the right way, as best as we possibly can, to send our seniors out the right way. We have a chance to write our own ending to a really tough year,” said head coach Mike Locksley during his weekly press conference.”

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