The Terps look to capitalize on an early Big Ten skirmish.
Maryland football (1-0) cruised to an easy victory against UConn, 50-7, in its first week of action. The Terps never faltered as quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. shined, throwing for 311 yards and two touchdown passes. Wide receiver Tai Felton also enjoyed his best game as a Terp, racking up a career-high 178 yards to go along with a pair of scores.
Maryland now turns its attention to Michigan State (1-0), who it defeated handily last season, 31-9. The last time the Terps played a conference foe before Week 4 was in 2011.
Saturday’s game will begin at 3:30 p.m. and air on Big Ten Network.
Michigan State Spartans (1-0)
2023 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Head coach Jonathan Smith is in his first season at the helm, having taken over for the dismissed Mel Tucker. Previously the head coach of Oregon State, Smith led the Beavers to a 34-35 record over three seasons.
The Spartans narrowly escaped with a win last Saturday against Florida Atlantic, 16-10. They had just 114 passing yards to the Owls’ 116, but out-rushed the Owls 179-132. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, with Florida Atlantic failing to do anything with its final three drives.
Players to watch
Aidan Chiles, sophomore quarterback, No. 2 — Chiles had an underwhelming performance through the air against the Owls, throwing two interceptions. But Chiles’ dual-threat ability makes him dangerous to a Maryland defensive line that struggled to pressure the quarterback in Week 1. The former four-star recruit and transfer from Oregon State rushed six times for 28 yards and one touchdown against the Owls.
Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams, sixth year running back, No. 15 — Lynch-Adams began his career at Rutgers before transferring to UMass and finally ending up with the Spartans. He rushed for an impressive 1,157 yards last year, which ranked 27th in the FBS. In Saturday’s win, he was dominant on the ground once again, rushing nine times for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Angelo Grose, redshirt senior defensive back, No. 15 — Grose was arguably Michigan State’s most impressive player in Week 1, racking up a team-high 11 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and an interception. He’s played in 40 games over the past four seasons and was second on the team in tackles in 2023 with 72.
D’Quan Douse, sixth year defensive tackle, No. 94 — Douse recorded four tackles and a sack against Florida Atlantic. He spent the past five years at Georgia Tech and has amassed 69 tackles — 8.5 for loss — and 5.5 sacks in his collegiate career. It will be interesting to see if he has an impact on the effectiveness of Maryland’s run game Saturday.
Strength
Rushing attack. This seems kind of obvious, but Michigan State’s biggest strength is its ability to run the ball. Not only are Lynch-Adams and Chiles both dangerous from a rushing standpoint, but they both have a strong offensive line behind which to run. This includes two Power Four transfers, Tanner Miller and Luke Newman, from Oregon State and Holy Cross, respectively.
Weakness
Passing game. It was evident that Florida Atlantic’s defense had significant success against Michigan State’s offense through the air. After all, the Spartans don’t have a true dominant receiving threat. Their leading pass catcher Saturday was tight end Michael Masunas, who brought in two balls for 29 yards. He played primarily on special teams in 2023.
Three things to watch
1. Can Edwards maintain his fluid passing? UConn didn’t pose much of a threat defensively for Edwards, who calmly sliced his way down the field to the tune of 20-for-27 on completions. Now, against a Michigan State defense that held FAU to modest gains through the air and snatched two interceptions, it will be interesting to monitor if Edwards retains his precision and poise.
2. Will Nolan Ray see more touches? Ray impressed in the Terps’ season debut Saturday, rushing for a 48-yard score in the win. He looks to be currently slotted as the team’s primary backup running back, seeing action over senior Colby McDonald. Ray certainly offers Maryland a change-of-pace at the position in contrast to Hemby’s downhill, aggressive style.
“[I] had to put in a lot of work, being hurt last year,” Ray said. “Just a lot of grinding. … Playing a game with my guys, having fun, so I couldn’t ask for it to go better.”
3. Can the defensive line step up? It didn’t need to excel last Saturday against UConn, but it was an overall pedestrian performance by a unit that includes experienced veterans Tommy Akingbesote and Jordan Phillips. The group did not record a sack and had just one total tackle for loss. But if Quashon Fuller is in the lineup Saturday, the Terps could see a major boost up front. Fuller returned from injury to practice this week.
“We just want to continue to get better every day,” Phillips said. “At the end of the day, it’s Terps versus Terps.”