Maryland’s 20-game nonconference winning streak is suddenly on the line, and the matchup bringing that run into focus has a little extra edge built in.
On Saturday night in College Park, Md., Virginia Tech and Maryland meet with both teams sitting at 2-0, but the story stretches well beyond the early-season records. James Franklin, in his first year guiding the Hokies, is trying to keep momentum rolling. Mike Locksley is trying to protect a streak that stands as the longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The coaches know each other well. When Ralph Friedgen took over at Maryland before the 2001 season, he kept both Franklin and Locksley on staff as young assistants. Now, 25 years later, they’re leading their own programs and crossing paths again.
For Franklin, the game is a chance to keep Virginia Tech moving in the right direction and to chip away at Maryland’s nonconference run. For Locksley, it’s a shot to strengthen Maryland’s standing in the region and get a measure of payback after a painful loss two seasons ago, when Franklin was at Penn State.
That one ended with plenty of tension. After Penn State’s reserve quarterback threw a touchdown pass on the final play of a 44-7 win, Locksley and Franklin had a heated exchange during the postgame handshake.
This week, Locksley kept the focus on the field.
"I've got a lot of respect for James. He's won wherever he's been," Locksley said.
"But this won't be about James and Locks. This will be about the players that he has and the players that I have that know a lot about each other."
Franklin, meanwhile, didn’t talk about that friction on Monday. Instead, he looked back on his time working under Friedgen.
"I learned a ton of ball in a short period of time, not only offense but just also kinda how to run a program, a tough, disciplined, hard-nosed program," Franklin said. "We won a bunch of games and had a ton of success."
On the field, Virginia Tech has looked sharp against overmatched in-state opponents VMI and Old Dominion. Ethan Grunkemeyer, who followed Franklin from Penn State, has been the trigger man. He has completed 77.4% of his passes for 551 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
The Hokies have also gotten production on the ground from Jeffrey Overton Jr., who has 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
And Virginia Tech’s pass rush has been relentless. The Hokies lead the FBS with 12 sacks, including three apiece from Penn State transfers Mylachi Williams and Cortez Harris.
Maryland has its own quarterback playing efficient football. Malik Washington has completed 73.6% of his passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
The Terrapins’ passing game has been boosted by transfers Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding and Chris Durr Jr. Gladding has 14 catches for 187 yards, while Durr has 16 receptions for 147 yards.
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Maryland Gets An Early Reality Check Against Virginia Tech
Maryland is heading into its non-conference meeting with Virginia Tech knowing the matchup comes with a little more bite than a typical September tune-up. The Terps are the slight underdog at home, and the early tape says the Hokies are bringing a defense that can make life difficult, especially up front. Virginia Techs defensive line has already stood out over its first two games, giving this game the feel of an early test for Marylands protection and patience.
There is still some wiggle room for the Terps to find answers, though, because the Hokies have not been airtight everywhere. Their corner play has shown some cracks, and their run game has been inconsistent, rolling against VMI before stalling against Old Dominion. For Maryland, the most revealing part may be whether Virginia Techs offensive line can sustain success long enough to keep the pressure off the rest of the offense, because if it cannot, the Terps will have a real chance to turn this into a much bigger statement game. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Has A Chance To Make SECU A Real Edge Again
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It would be Marylands first sellout of the year and the fourth in the last six home games, a run that suggests the place can still tilt in the Terps favor when the stands are full. For a program looking to make SECU feel like a real edge again, Saturday offers a timely test of whether the crowd can be more than atmosphere and actually become part of the advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Legends Are Giving Terps Fans Another Reason To Show Up
Long before kickoff against Rutgers on Oct. 17, Maryland fans will have a couple of good reasons to make the trip to College Park. Former NFL players Shawne Merriman and A.J. Francis are once again turning a Terrapins home game into a day of community giving, with their annual coat and canned food drives set to run alongside the matchup.
Merrimans 24th annual Lights On Foundation Coat Drive will collect cold weather gear for local families, and the timing adds another layer with his induction into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame. Francis will host his 10th annual canned food drive, gathering non-perishable items for Sarahs House in Fort Meade with support from Wegmans Food Markets, giving Terps supporters a chance to help fill a need while they file into the stadium. [Read more 🡒]