Three questions for Maryland football to answer against Wisconsin

Chase King
Sep 19
5 min read

Following another undefeated non-conference slate, the Maryland Terrapins are going on the road as they attempt to break their five-game Big Ten losing streak from the 2024 season.

This will be the first time the Terps play against the Badgers since 2023, when they lost 23-10, as former QB Taulia Tagovailoa was held to only 77 passing yards.

Both the Terps and the Badgers were ranked among the bottom Big Ten teams entering the 2025 season. The Badgers are coming off a loss against No. 19-ranked Alabama and are entering the game 2-1.

Their preseason starting QB and former Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr. will be a game-time decision for the Badgers.

The Terps are entering conference play 3-0, but still have questions surrounding their roster and their historical success before their game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday.

Question 1: Can Maryland muster up a run game in Big Ten play

One of the biggest questions plaguing the Terps is whether or not they can get anything going on the ground. The Terps have been held to 3.5 yards per carry against their weaker non-conference schedule.

The Terps enter the game with a PFF run blocking grade of just 56.7 following their week 3 games.

The Terps have been using three main RBs with redshirt freshman DeJuan Williams, redshirt sophomore Nolan Ray, and true-freshman Iverson Howard. Coming into the season, Williams and Ray were both expecting a hefty workload, but in week three, Iverson Howard also emerged as a capable back. Through Maryland’s three games, each has led the team in rushing once, but none of them are averaging over four yards per carry on the season.

The Terps have yet to break out an explosive run, either, with their longest rush only being 17 yards.

Leading into conference play, the Maryland coaching staff has tried its hardest to get the run game going.

After the win against Towson, Head Coach Mike Locksley said, “In the Big Ten, it’s really important that we have the ability to have balance. Because we got a freshman quarterback… and there’s not a better compliment than being able to line up and lay and knock people off the line of scrimmage and hand it off and get positive yardage to stay in those advantageous third down situations.”

If the Terps’ rushing attack gets stuffed in Madison on Saturday, it will, in turn, ask a lot out of true-freshman QB Malik Washington and the rest of the offense to get points on the board.

Question 2: What does Malik Washington look like against a Big Ten defense?

Malik Washington has found a lot of success in his first three games as a Terp, where he has thrown for 773 yards and 6 TDs on a 62% completion percentage.

Washington has yet to face a defense of the caliber of a Big Ten team such as Wisconsin. He remains confident in his ability to perform as the game approaches. He said, “I’ve done it so many times in my life to where that no matter what that stage is, the moment, it’s not bigger than me.”

Unknown going into this game, however, is how much Washington will be asked to do. The Terps’ offense wasn’t shy in asking Washington to sling the ball in his collegiate debut against FAU, where he ended the first half with 33 pass attempts and left the game in the third quarter with 43 pass attempts.

Locksley spoke on how the run game could help Washington as the season goes on. After the win against NIU, Locksley said, “If you look at the yards per carry, it has improved, but the consistency of it is another thing that can help [Malik Washington].”

But as it stands, with the Terps’ run game still not producing big numbers, Washington might be put in a situation where he needs to throw the ball more often on first and second down.

Typically, putting more stress on a true freshman QB doesn’t bode well, but the coaching staff thinks really highly of Washington, and so do his teammates.

After Washington’s debut, Locksley said, “It's a calmness about him, the demeanor that you see, he’s a little older than his years maybe, the way he handled this thing, and the best part about him is he’s only going to get better.”

Wide Receiver Octavian Smith Jr. also spoke on Malik Washington and said, “That’s what makes him special, him being able to pick things up so fast, and you know, continue to grow. I think the greatest thing is that he’s only going to get better as the weeks go and years go on for him.”

But all eyes will be on Malik Washington as the Terps play in Madison.

Question 3: Can they stop the run against a Big Ten opponent?

In every year that Locksley has coached at Maryland, they have allowed 100+ rushing yards in their conference opener, including last year's week two game, where Michigan State rushed for 121 yards.

What Locksley said about the importance of the run game goes for the other team as well. If they can’t give themselves advantageous situations on defense by limiting the Wisconsin run game, then it will be more difficult for all layers of the defense to work at their strengths.

This year, however, the Terps’ run defense had already been tested against NIU, which holds an extremely run-heavy philosophy. The Terps held their offense to only 9 points and allowed 180 rushing yards on 48 attempts despite a 74-yard touchdown.

The Terps currently have the fourth-highest PFF run defense grade in the nation at 93.2. A big reason for that has been junior LB Daniel Wingate, who’s been playing at an extremely high level through three weeks.

Defensive lineman graduate transfer Cam Rice, junior Dillian Fontus and redshirt sophomore Eyan Thomas have also been a big part of the run game as they’ve helped swallow up holes on inside runs all year, and all three of whom have above a 79.0 PFF run defense grade.

Wisconsin has been successful on the ground this season with Maryland native Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree both having over four yards per carry at RB.

The Terps' defense has looked as confident as ever against the run, but whether or not they can perform against a Big Ten rushing attack isn’t as clear.

The Terps will get their chance to answer these questions as they play their Big Ten opener at Wisconsin on Saturday at 12 p.m. EST.

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