As Maryland football turns the page on back-to-back four-win seasons, the 2026 schedule is now locked in-and it’s a slate that offers both opportunity and challenge for Mike Locksley in what shapes up as a defining eighth year at the helm.
The Big Ten released its full conference schedule Tuesday, and for Maryland, the journey begins with a familiar face: UCLA. The Bruins edged the Terps 20-17 last season in a heartbreaker that capped a brutal October stretch of one-possession losses. This opener gives Maryland a shot at redemption and an early litmus test for a team looking to shake off its recent struggles.
After UCLA, things don’t get much easier. The Terps hit the road to face Nebraska, another team that handed them a narrow defeat last fall. That matchup will also be a storyline in Lincoln, where Matt Rhule enters his fourth season-his first without quarterback Dylan Raiola, who’s now backing up at Oregon.
Maryland’s 2026 Big Ten schedule also features a first-ever road trip to USC, adding a new layer of intrigue to the expanded conference landscape. And then there’s the always daunting visit to Columbus, where the Terps will face Ohio State for the first time since 2023. That game, sandwiched between road games at Nebraska and a home tilt with Rutgers, will be a key test of Maryland’s depth and resilience.
The non-conference portion of the schedule gives Maryland a chance to build early momentum. The season kicks off at home against Hampton on September 5, followed by a road trip to UConn and a home game against Virginia Tech. That trio of games could serve as a much-needed springboard before the Big Ten gauntlet begins.
Here’s how the full 2026 schedule stacks up:
- Sept. 5: vs. Hampton
- Sept. 12: at UConn
- Sept. 19: vs.
Virginia Tech
- Sept. 26: vs.
UCLA
- Oct. 3: at Nebraska
- Oct. 10: at Ohio State
- Oct. 17: vs.
Rutgers
- **Oct.
24**: BYE
- Oct. 31: vs.
Illinois
- Nov. 7: at Purdue
- Nov. 14: vs. Wisconsin
- Nov. 21: at USC
- Nov. 28: vs.
Penn State
The mid-October bye week comes at a favorable time, giving Maryland a breather after a tough stretch and before a late-season run that includes Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, and the cross-country trip to USC. The regular season wraps up with a rivalry matchup against Penn State-a game that could carry major implications if Maryland is in the postseason hunt.
As for expectations, one early projection pegs Maryland’s win total at 6.5. That number feels about right given the mix of winnable games and heavyweight matchups. But with sportsbooks largely holding off on official lines until after spring ball, there’s still plenty of mystery surrounding how this team will take shape.
Locksley’s tenure in College Park has had its share of ups and downs, but 2026 presents a clear opportunity to reset the narrative. The pieces are there for Maryland to take a step forward-but as always in the Big Ten, the margin for error is razor-thin.