Maryland’s trip to Nebraska on Saturday may be the first Big Ten road game of the season, but the bigger story is sitting on the sideline. Mike Locksley’s future has become the center of gravity around the program, and after a 9-point loss to Virginia Tech was followed by a 51-point beatdown from UCLA, the sense is that the question is no longer whether a change is coming, but when.
Director of Athletics Jim Smith appears intent on waiting until the bye week before making anything official. That would give Maryland a cleaner path to an interim setup and, as the source put it, less time for other programs to circle the roster in hopes of poaching talent.
If the Terps stumble through Nebraska and then Ohio State, the path to that decision only gets clearer. ESPN Analytics gives Maryland a 7.3% chance to beat Nebraska and just a 1.9% chance to beat Ohio State, and barring something stunning, they’d head back to College Park at 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten before Homecoming against Rutgers.
That timing matters because, even with five games left after the October 18th date mentioned as a possible flashpoint, the move would already be late in the season. Jeff Ermann said on Inside Maryland Sports (IMS) Radio’s podcast earlier this week that the interim coach options he could see were Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, Matt Barnes, or Kyle Schmitt. Schmitt would stand out most, since he coached quarterback Malik Washington at Archbishop Spalding High School.
For all the uncertainty around Locksley’s job status, Maryland still has football to play. The program has eight games left in its 2026 season, and the roster is full of players who are at least fighting for pride and whatever opportunities come next.
Locksley said in his press conference earlier this week that the offensive staff would simplify things for Washington after his four-interception game against UCLA. Washington has flashed ability, but the same issues that showed up as a true freshman have resurfaced: slow reads, sloppy footwork, and shaky accuracy, especially on short and intermediate throws.
The running game has become another problem area. Locksley and offensive coordinator Clint Trickett talked before the season about wanting a strong rushing attack, but that hasn’t materialized.
Maryland opened with 365 rushing yards and six touchdowns against Hampton, then managed only 228 yards and four touchdowns on the ground over the last three games combined. Injuries have thinned the backfield badly enough that backup quarterback Cardell Williams has been used there repeatedly, and the offensive line hasn’t done enough to create space either.
That’s not a new issue for Locksley. The 2021 season was the only year in the past eight when Maryland could really count on the run game.
In most other seasons, the offense has leaned heavily on the quarterback, first Taulia Tagovailoa, then Billy Edwards Jr., and now Washington. That kind of setup can work against Hampton or UConn, but it becomes a tough sell once conference play starts stacking up.
The defense hasn’t exactly offered much relief. Against Virginia Tech, Maryland missed 19 tackles, and the Hokies made them pay with explosive plays.
Ted Monachino’s defense has also allowed the 70th-most yards per game in the country, and that was before the middle of the Big Ten schedule really hit. Penalties have been another recurring issue, with the Terps ranking 59th in penalty yards per game.
Smith and Maryland’s boosters invested heavily to keep much of last year’s young core together and gave Locksley a chance to build on that foundation heading into 2025. Four weeks into the season, though, the whole thing is already wobbling. The only unknowns left are how rough this stretch gets on the field and when Smith finally decides to make the move.
In Other News...
Malik Washington Suddenly Faces A Bigger Maryland Concern
Malik Washingtons latest outing against UCLA was the kind that can reshape how a quarterback is viewed, even when the bigger body of work still looks encouraging. After a poor performance that included no touchdowns and four interceptions, CBS Sports dropped the Maryland signal-caller to No. 31 in its latest Quarterback Power Rankings, a sharp reminder of how quickly things can change when the numbers turn sour.
Even so, Washingtons season has not been defined by one rough afternoon. He has already topped 1,000 passing yards, thrown six touchdowns and completed 65.6 percent of his passes, signs that his development is still moving in the right direction. Maryland also has reason to value him beyond the box score, given the national recognition he has received for leadership and community involvement, but the bigger concern now is whether the recent slide becomes a pattern. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands First Big Ten Road Test Brings A Serious Nebraska Warning
Marylands first Big Ten road trip of the season arrives Oct. 3 at Memorial Stadium, where Nebraska will offer a sharper early test than the records might suggest. The game, set for FS1, comes with plenty of context attached, from the Huskies? No, from a Nebraska team that has found more pop on offense and more stability overall as the season has moved along.
Anthony Colandreas mobility has helped energize the Cornhuskers, Kwazi Gilmer has become a reliable target in the passing game, and the defensive line has taken a step forward. Even with that progress, Nebraska has still had issues with penalties and handling tempo offenses, which makes this one a useful measuring stick for Maryland and for Matt Rhules broader rebuild, one that still may not reveal its full shape until November. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Just Got A New Wrinkle In Nebraskas Offensive Outlook
Nebraskas Week 5 injury report has added a little more uncertainty to the matchup Maryland is preparing for, and the biggest name on it may be freshman running back Jamal Rule. The Cornhuskers also listed junior wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. as questionable and junior offensive lineman Brendan Black as probable, giving the Terps a better sense of which parts of the offense might be adjusted by kickoff.
The more significant development is at tight end, where junior Carter Nelson is out and expected to miss an extended period. For Maryland, the practical question is how much Nebraska can lean on the rest of its offense if those personnel notes hold, and whether the Terps will see a different-looking attack than the one they spent the week studying. [Read more 🡒]