Maryland handled its business in Week 2, and that was the good news out of East Hartford. The Terrapins beat UConn 38-14 on Saturday to move to 2-0, keeping their own start clean while plenty of other Big Ten teams ran into chaos.
The biggest shock came at the top of the sport. No.
1 Ohio State looked in control for three quarters against No. 4 Texas, carrying a 23-3 lead into the fourth.
But Texas kept hanging around despite an offense that had been bogged down by stalled drives, dropped passes, and one especially shaky interception. Then Arch Manning took over, guiding the Longhorns to three straight touchdown drives and a 24-23 win that turned the game completely on its head.
The Buckeyes also had a missed field goal that would have gone a long way toward closing it out, and head coach Ryan Day’s clock management came under fire as the comeback unfolded. Ohio State fell to No. 6 in the AP rankings after the loss, and the result only sharpens the spotlight heading toward Maryland’s Week 6 trip to the Shoe. The Terps are not walking into a team that can afford to drift, especially with a second loss threatening Ohio State’s shot at a first-round Playoff bye.
Oregon joined Ohio State in the upset column. The Ducks were beaten 39-31 by Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon, and the final margin makes it look closer than it really was.
Oregon was outplayed badly by a team that had lost by 14 to Tulsa the week before. Oklahoma State piled up 554 yards to Oregon’s 281, and the Ducks only kept it from becoming a runaway by turning a pair of gift interceptions into touchdowns.
After that result and last week’s tight call against Boise State, Oregon suddenly has real questions to answer before conference play starts. The Ducks dropped to No.
Michigan also helped reshape the Big Ten picture. After a shaky opener, the Wolverines bounced back and stunned No.
11 Oklahoma 17-10 in the Big House. That win pushed Michigan back up to No. 19, three spots below where it began the season.
Elsewhere, four more Big Ten teams stayed ranked after Week 2 wins, although Washington was bumped to No. 25 behind Virginia.
Maryland still did not receive any votes, but the next test is already lined up. Virginia Tech, which sits just outside the rankings with 11 votes, beat Old Dominion 44-21 and will come to College Park for a 7:30 matchup on Saturday.
In Other News...
DJ Moore Already Looks Like A Huge Part Of Buffalos Offense
Week 1 of the NFL season offered a strong early showing for Maryland football alumni, with 14 former Terrapins appearing in games across the league. One of the most notable debuts came from DJ Moore, who stepped into Buffalos offense and immediately made an impact in a win over the Houston Texans, finishing with five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.
For Maryland fans, it was another reminder of how much pro production continues to flow out of the program. Moore was hardly the only Terp to make a mark, either, with Nick Cross, Stefon Diggs and Deonte Banks also contributing in their own spots while others spent the day inactive or on practice squads. Still, Moores first game in Buffalo stood out as an early sign that he could become a major piece of what the Bills are trying to build. [Read more 🡒]