Takeaways: Maryland loses sixth straight after yet another fourth-quarter collapse

21 hours ago

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Maryland punted the ball away with just under six minutes in the fourth quarter in a tie game. Illinois wouldn’t let Maryland see the ball again and converted a 13-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a game-winning kick as time expired.

The Maryland Terrapins (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) fell 20-17 to the Illinois Fighting Illini (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) in interim head coach Aazar Abdul-Rahim’s debut at SECU Stadium on Saturday.

Maryland controlled the game for the first three-quarters and only trailed after a 64-yard Illinois touchdown opened the fourth quarter.

Maryland tied the game with a 46-yard field goal on the first of their two fourth-quarter drives. They had a chance to take the lead after forcing a three-and-out, but their last drive stalled after two unsuccessful runs caused a third-and-long.

But Maryland still put together their most competitive conference matchup of the season with Abdul-Rahim at the helm. This was the first time this season that Maryland led at any point in the fourth quarter.

A simpler game plan led to positives all across the board

Interim head coach Aazar Abdul-Rahim said he would condense the offensive and defensive playbook. It showed in his first game as the head coach.

“If you want young men to play fast, carefree, you do have to condense what they have to think prior to the snap,” said Abdul-Rahim.

Maryland had less defensive packages on defense. It led to fewer breakdowns and more quick stops. Illinois averaged just 3.4 yards per carry in the first three quarters, before breaking open some big runs in the fourth.

“It allowed us to play fast. It allowed people to not think too much about their job,” said safety Lavain Scruggs. “Not too much thinking, everybody was playing fast and physical.”

On offense, Maryland had simpler pass concepts and relied more on the ground game to make it easier on the players. They finished with nearly 300 total yards and were just a couple of mistakes in Illinois territory away from a much stronger scoring performance.

Sophomore quarterback Malik Washington finished 19-for-29 with 190 passing yards, an interception and added five rushes for 25 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Redshirt sophomore running back DeJuan Williams added 57 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown.

Fourth quarters continue to be an issue for Maryland

Maryland’s defense allowed just 72 rushing yards through three quarters against an Illinois team that averaged 155.3 yards on the ground this season. Illinois ran the ball 12 times for 112 in the fourth quarter, including the 64-yard touchdown by freshman Javari Barnett that gave Illinois a 17-14 lead.

In the last drive of the game, Maryland allowed nine rushes to running back Jordan Anderson for 49 yards. In Maryland’s last stand, Anderson slipped a tackle from senior linebacker Daniel Wingate–and the game slipped away from Maryland.

The offense got the ball twice in the fourth quarter and left with just three points.

“[We have to] make the most of our possessions; we can’t come out there in the fourth quarter, go three-and-out and expect the defense to continue to hold every single time,” said Washington.

Maryland has been outscored by 54 points in the fourth quarter in Big Ten play.

The team looks more energized under Abdul-Rahim

Maryland came out of the gates with a ton of energy. On just the fourth play, sophomore safety Messiah Delhomme recorded his third interception of the season, which put Maryland in a position to take an early lead.

Throughout the entire game, you could tell that the defense's intensity was alive. Defensive linemen Sidney Stewart, Lavon Johnson and Eyan Thomas were causing problems in the run game. Safeties Scruggs and Delhomme were flying around the field making tackles along with linebackers Carlton Smith and Daniel Wingate.

“The guys brought a lot of energy today, all over the place. Special teams brought some energy, offense, defense, guys on the sideline,” said Washington.

Abdul-Rahim started the season as a defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. He took over the defensive coordinator job after Ted Monachino was fired following the loss to Rutgers. He then rose to interim head coach just three days later after former head coach Mike Locklsey was fired.

“It was cool to see how he really took on the job. It was a lot throughout the week,” said Scruggs, “him being able to change everything and getting us ready for the game is amazing.”

He also added that the locker room has gotten closer. “Brothers telling each other you love them. Two weeks ago, three weeks ago, it would have been guys cussing and all this and that,” said Scruggs.

Maryland still can’t get over the hump in Big Ten home games

Maryland fired Locklsey and was hosting the Fighting Illini, who were just a 2.5-point favorite. On top of that, Maryland was giving away free tuition for a semester to a random student who stayed until the fourth quarter. Despite all of that, the stadium felt empty– including the student section.

Why is that? It could be because Maryland hasn’t won a conference home game in over two calendar years. You have to go back to October 19, 2024, to find their last home win in a miraculous homecoming comeback. Maryland fans have gotten used to mediocrity and losses over the past stretch.

They have now lost back-to-back winnable home games against Illinois and Rutgers–whom Maryland entered as 5.5-point favorites against. They haven’t won a Big Ten game since September 20, 2025. Progress is nice, but Maryland needs to give fans a reason to show up, and it starts with wins.

“I encourage all fans to continue to support us, support these young men,” said Abdul-Rahim. “We appreciate all the fans; we appreciate all the fans that came this week.”

They’ll have a chance to break their 13-game conference losing streak on the road against 3-4 Purdue on Saturday, November 6. They will have a chance to snap their nine-game home conference losing streak the following week against Wisconsin–whom they beat in their last Big Ten win.

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