With a chance to move to 2-0 for the ninth time in the last ten years, Maryland football squandered its chance of doing so in front of an announced crowd of 34,819. Maryland took leads into both the first and third quarter, but miscues let the Spartans come back in the closing minutes of both halves as Michigan State picked up their first win in College Park in six years. So how did the Terps squander the Big Ten opener? We take a look at five plays that loomed large in the lost.
2Q, 3:21: third-down false start by TE Dylan Wade
Staring at a 3rd-and-1 and approaching midfield, Maryland had a viable chance of extending their drive with RB Roman Hemby and TE Dylan Wade lined up in the backfield before the offense was called for its second penalty of the day. Wade seemingly lost his footing, resulting in a false start that pushed the offense back to a 3rd-and-6 as Roman Hemby picked up two yards on the next play.
McFerson helped to flip the field ahead of the two-minute stoppage, but Michigan State would capitalize as they held onto the ball the rest of the half to pick up points.
Maryland finished the day 11-of-17 on third-down, yet just 5-of-9 when facing five or more yards to go.
2Q, 0:00: Jalen Huskey’s offsides penalty on special teams
In a game that came down to three points, Maryland had a chance to change that in the closing seconds of the first half.
Spartans kicker Jonathan Kim was facing a 55-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide on his first attempt, but he’d get a chance at redemption after CB Jalen Huskey was called for an offside penalty, leading Kim to drill the 50-yard field goal to give Michigan State a 17-14 lead heading into the break. It wouldn’t be the only special teams penalty for Maryland after a delay of game pushed Howes’ attempt back in the third quarter, while the coverage unit was also called for an illegal block in the back in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
Maryland had three penalties that resulted in first downs for the Spartans in Saturday’s loss.
4Q, 10:32 left: interception by Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr.
Maryland kicked off the quarter with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to TE Dylan Wade, breaking the deadlock at 17 to give Maryland its seven-point lead once again. After Maryland’s defense forced a quick three-and-out, the Terps had a chance to tack onto their lead after Edwards connected with WR Tai Felton to get the offense into the Spartans’ territory. On the very next play, Edwards overthrew WR Kaden Prather on a slant to lead the tipped pass into the lap of Spartans CB Charles Brantley. Maryland’s defense stood tall to force a quick three-and-out, but it marked the first of several opportunities to cement the game in the final 15 minutes.
4Q, 4:26 left: Jack Howes misses 41-yard FG attempt
After a shaky 2023 season where he finished 13-of-19, Howes beat out former Oklahoma kicker Gavin Marshall to win the job again in 2024 and entered Saturday 3-for-3 to start the season. Howes was able to drill his first attempt of the day, a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 17 midway through the third quarter. In fact, Howes managed to stay poised after his initial 40-yard attempt was negated due to a delay of game penalty, but it’s the second kick that’s turned heads in College Park. With a chance to push the lead to ten, Howes' straight-on attempt sailed wide left to keep it a one-possession game.
To make matters worse, the Spartans made Maryland pay on the next play following a 77-yard touchdown to WR Nick Marsh.
4Q, 1:50 left: defensive pass interference by CB Jalen Huskey
With the game tied at 24, Maryland’s defense was tasked with buckling down one more time in hopes of giving their offense one last opportunity in regulation. After Bryce McFerson pinned the Spartans back at their own 16 just ahead of the two-minute stoppage, Maryland did exactly that after holding RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams at the line of scrimmage before forcing an incompletion on second down. It appeared the Terps would get the ball back with 110 seconds left after Chiles’ pass to WR Nick Marsh sailed wide until Jalen Huskey was called for his second penalty of the day, this time a pass interference that extended the drive. The Spartans didn’t have another negative play the rest of the drive, setting them up for a 37-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the game to shock the Terps at home.
Following week two, only Oklahoma State (340) allows more passing yards per game than Maryland (292.5) among Power Four teams.
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