Maryland heads into its first road test of 2026 with momentum, but also with a few things still to clean up.
The Terrapins opened the year exactly how they wanted, rolling Hampton 62-0 in a game that showcased a dominant defense and a ground attack that overwhelmed the opposition. Week 2 brings a different kind of challenge: Maryland’s first FBS opponent, its first trip away from home, and a UConn team that won’t be treated like a pushover.
The Terps are heavy favorites again, but this one has more substance than the opener. UConn comes in with enough balance to make things interesting, and Maryland can’t lean only on the run game the way it did against Hampton. The offense looked a little out of sync in that opener, and that’s why this feels like a key spot for Malik Washington to settle in before the schedule gets tougher.
Washington’s early-season numbers don’t tell the whole story, but the expectation here is clear: he needs to get back to the kind of form that made him one of only two quarterbacks to have at least 200 total yards in each game last season. If Maryland is going to control this matchup the way it expects to, the passing game has to be part of the equation.
The ground game should still matter plenty. DeJuan Williams is the name that keeps coming up as the best bet for a breakout performance, and for good reason.
Maryland ran for 374 yards against Hampton, with Williams going for 116 and Iverson Howard adding 66. UConn gave up just 64 rushing yards in its opener, but it didn’t face a back with Williams’ burst, physicality, and ability to create yards after contact.
That makes the run game a major piece of the script again. If Maryland can establish it early, everything else should open up behind it.
Defensively, the Terps have a chance to dictate the game with their front seven. That unit is expected to be the real difference, especially against UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne, who is making just his third career start.
His previous two came in a bowl game and against FCS Lafayette. Maryland’s edge pressure will be important from the start, because Osborne showed against UConn’s opener that he can make plays with both his arm and his legs, throwing for 265 yards and rushing for 92 more.
The Terps will need discipline on the edges as much as speed off them. If they can keep Osborne rattled and force UConn out of rhythm, the rest should follow.
There’s reason to believe this game won’t be the same cakewalk Maryland had in the 2024 meeting, and there’s also reason to think the Terps can still pull away. UConn is no longer a simple win, even without Jim Mora, and both teams arrive after dominating inferior opponents in Week 1.
Both showed balance. Both flashed the ability to overwhelm when things are clicking.
Still, Maryland’s deeper roster and defensive edge give it the upper hand. The expectation is for the Terps to absorb a few early punches in their first road environment, take control in the second half, and finish with enough cushion to rest some starters in the fourth quarter.
One more name to watch is tight end Dorian Fleming, who is projected for a productive day with 5+ catches and over 50 receiving yards. If Washington gets into a groove and Maryland spreads the field, Fleming could be one of the beneficiaries.
The bottom line: Maryland should leave Saturday with a win, and a double-digit one would say plenty about where this team thinks it can go.
In Other News...
UConn Just Landed A Five-Star Piece Dan Hurley Really Needed
UConn added a major building block to its future this week when NaVorro Bowman Jr. committed to the Huskies, giving Dan Hurley the first pledge in the programs 2027 recruiting class. The five-star guard from Notre Dame High School in California arrives with plenty of upside and plenty of attention, a combination that has become increasingly familiar for a UConn staff that keeps landing elite talent.
Bowmans commitment is also another sign that Hurleys recruiting reach remains national, not just strong in the Northeast, and it adds to the list of five-star wins the Huskies have stacked since 2023. For a program that has spent the past few years chasing another high standard, getting an early cornerstone in place for 2027 gives UConn a different kind of momentum, even if the rest of that class is still waiting to be built. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Already Has A Big East Test That Could Change Fast
Before UConns 2026-27 Big East slate even takes shape, one matchup already stands out as the kind that can define a winter. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported that the Huskies and St. Johns are expected to meet in conference play on Jan. 29 and again on March 2, with the early one likely set for Madison Square Garden. Since Rick Pitino took over in Queens, the two programs have split their regular-season meetings, and St. Johns has carried the more recent league hardware after winning the last two Big East titles.
The interesting part is how quickly the balance around this rivalry could shift again. Both teams are facing the usual roster churn that comes with college basketball now, and St. Johns in particular is waiting on NCAA eligibility decisions for several possible rotation pieces. Even with the Red Storms recent run and UConns standard place near the top of the league picture, the look of these games could change a lot before the teams ever get to tip off. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Added Another Elite Piece For Dan Hurleys Next Wave
UConns next wave of talent got a major boost with the commitment of NaVorro Bowman Jr., a five-star guard who already looks like the kind of prospect Dan Hurley loves to stockpile. The son of former NFL All-Pro NaVorro Bowman, the 6-foot-3 point guard arrives with plenty of pedigree and the kind of national profile that tends to turn recruiting battles into early tone-setters for the future of a program.
Bowman Jr. has been one of the most coveted names in the 2027 class, drawing interest from several major programs before choosing UConn. He also brings international credibility after helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup, another sign that the Huskies are not just loading up on upside, but targeting players who have already proven they can compete on a big stage. [Read more 🡒]