Harbaugh’s Ravens at a Crossroads, While Maryland’s Locksley Gets One More Shot
Let’s start in Baltimore, where the Ravens are once again in the playoff mix - but the buzz around this team feels more muted than it should. And that says a lot about where things stand with John Harbaugh and this franchise.
Harbaugh’s tenure in Baltimore has been long and, for much of it, successful. Since taking over in 2008, he’s turned the Ravens into a perennial playoff team.
But the last time he led them to a Super Bowl? That was back in the 2012 season.
Since then, the postseason results have been underwhelming: a 13-11 playoff record overall, with nine of those wins coming during the Joe Flacco era. With Lamar Jackson at quarterback, Harbaugh’s playoff mark stands at just 3-5.
That includes a tough loss with Tyler Huntley under center in Cincinnati back in January 2023.
Now, as the 2025 regular season winds down, the Ravens are still in the hunt. But confidence in a deep playoff run?
That’s harder to come by. Both the offensive and defensive lines have been inconsistent, and Jackson - a two-time MVP - hasn’t looked like himself while battling through injuries.
The result is a team with talent, but one that hasn’t quite played up to it.
There’s also a growing sense among fans that GM Eric DeCosta’s decisions haven’t panned out the way many hoped. But make no mistake - the final say on Harbaugh’s future doesn’t rest with DeCosta. That call belongs to owner Steve Bisciotti, and if history is any indication, Harbaugh’s job remains safe as long as Bisciotti is in charge.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the coaches who’ve come and gone from the Ravens’ building - or passed them by entirely - and found success elsewhere. Mike Macdonald, Baltimore’s former defensive coordinator, has revitalized the Seahawks in a competitive NFC West.
Mike Vrabel took over a 4-13 Patriots team and turned them into an AFC contender. And Ben Johnson?
He’s flipped the switch in Chicago, helping Caleb Williams and the Bears become relevant again.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh’s Ravens have felt stuck in neutral. And with Jackson in the prime of his career, the clock is ticking. There’s a real question of whether this franchise is maximizing its window - or letting it slip away.
Down the Road in College Park, Locksley Gets Another Year to Prove It
Shifting to the college scene, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley is coming off back-to-back 4-8 seasons. That’s not the kind of momentum you want heading into a new year - especially in a Big Ten that’s only getting tougher.
Locksley’s overall record at Maryland stands at 36-44, and that doesn’t include his brief 1-5 stint as interim head coach in 2015. But when you zoom in on the four seasons he had with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (2020-2023), the picture looks a little brighter: a 25-19 record and three consecutive bowl wins. The only losing season in that stretch was the COVID-shortened 2-3 campaign in 2020.
Still, despite some recruiting gains in recent years, Maryland’s talent level remains a step below the Big Ten’s elite. And now, with Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC joining the conference, the challenge just got steeper. Add in the ever-evolving world of NIL and player compensation, and it’s clear that schools like Maryland are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to resources.
Locksley has tried to shake things up, making several coaching staff changes aimed at improving discipline and execution. But the results haven’t followed. Penalties, mental mistakes, and emotional breakdowns in key moments have plagued the Terps - and they’ve paid the price in the win-loss column.
The eight-game skid to end the 2025 season was a gut punch. But new athletic director Jim Smith decided to stick with Locksley for 2026.
It’s a pragmatic move, especially with Locksley under contract through 2028. And to his credit, Locksley just landed the highest-ranked recruit in program history: edge rusher Zion Elee from Saint Frances.
Smith also made it clear he plans to invest more in the program’s infrastructure. That’s a necessary step if Maryland wants to compete in the new-look Big Ten.
But it also raises the stakes. Because make no mistake - Locksley is on the clock.
The Blueprint Is Out There - Just Ask Indiana
If you’re looking for a reason to believe a turnaround is possible, look no further than Indiana. Historically, the Hoosiers have been one of the Big Ten’s weakest programs.
From 1957 to 2023, they posted a .378 winning percentage and never had a head coach finish with a winning record. That list includes names like Lee Corso, Sam Wyche, and Cam Cameron.
Then came Curt Cignetti.
Since taking over ahead of the 2024 season, Cignetti has completely flipped the script. Indiana has gone 24-2, capped off by a gritty Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State.
That’s not just a turnaround - that’s a full-blown transformation. And it shows what’s possible when the right coach, culture, and support system come together.
Maryland doesn’t have to become Ohio State overnight. But if Indiana can rise from decades of mediocrity to Big Ten champions in two seasons, there’s no reason the Terps can’t aim higher than mid-tier bowl games.
Smith knows that. And while he’s giving Locksley one more shot, the expectations are clear.
This can’t be another season of “almosts” and “what-ifs.” The bar has been raised - and a celebratory mayo bath in a minor bowl game won’t cut it anymore.
Locksley has the opportunity. The question now is: can he make it count?