Villanova (3-0) at Maryland (2-1)
When & Where: September 21 • Noon • SECU Stadium • College Park, MD •
TV: BTN – Mark Followill • Anthony Herron • Dannie Rogers
Radio: 105.7 FM (DC) • 980 AM (Balt) • Sirius XM 372
Betting: Maryland -17.5 (FanDuel)
Maryland will look to pick up its 15th consecutive non-conference win and move to 14-2 in September over the last four years when they welcome FCS opponent, Villanova, to College Park. Maryland will also look to move to 8-0 against FCS teams since joining the Big Ten as they look to pick up their tenth consecutive win vs. Villanova. The Wildcats, though, have managed to remain competitive against FBS competition with ten of their last 26 games decided by a touchdown or less.
Saturday will also serve as a family reunion of sorts as Maryland WR Zeke Avit and Villanova RB David Avit reunite on the field for the first time in college. With that, we take a look at three storylines to watch.
Maintain momentum on offense
The turnover margin has turned heads through three weeks as the defense leads the country in the category (+9) thanks to its ten takeaways, tied for the most in the country, and six interceptions, tied for third-most nationally. But the reason the Terps lead the category is tied to their efficiency on offense.
“Billy the Kid is playing really clean, good football, man,” head coach Mike Locksley said heading into the Villanova game.
Edwards’s lone interception came as the Terps approached the redzone in the fourth quarter of the Big Ten opener, but the offense seemed to really hit its stride in week three. After turning in the first points of the game in the final minutes of the first half, Maryland closed out the week three road win by scoring on four of their final five drives as QB Billy Edwards Jr. and the offense continue to prove their efficiency.
And for all the questions about the Terps’ passing attack, it’s lived up to par statistically thus far as Maryland sits 27th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten in total passing offense (299) through three weeks while Edwards sits 15th nationally in completion percentage (71.2%).
They’ll face a unique, yet stingy Wildcat defense that leads the CAA and sits third among FCS teams in points allowed per game (11) and are tied for third in red-zone defense (50%) – an area the Terps have been good at with points on all 12 trips inside opponents’ 20-yard line.
Step forward in run defense
Through three weeks, Maryland has allowed 11 of opponents’ 90 carries to go for ten or more yards while allowing nearly 3.7 yards per carry, just over the goal for co-defensive coordinator Brian Williams. Maryland’s run defense is expected to be a strength with ample experience in the front seven, but they’ll look to improve on that beginning Saturday after sitting 46th nationally and 12th in the Big Ten in the category.
Of course, that’ll be tested against a Villanova rushing attack that leads the CAA and sits 13th nationally as they average over 200 yards per game on the ground. In his sixth-year with the program, Connor Watkins became the sixth quarterback to eclipse 1,000 career rushing yards, doing so in the Towson win but he isn’t alone. Redshirt freshman RB Isaiah Ragland leads the way and is coming off his second Rookie of the Week honor after posting 141 yards on 17 carries vs. Towson, setting new career-highs. The rotation seems to be rounded out with freshman David Avit, the younger brother of Maryland WR Zeke Avit, as he’s averaging north of five yards per carry.
Who steps up at WR aside from the senior duo?
On3 somehow excluded Tai Felton among the best receivers in the country despite his stellar start to the 2024 season, entering week four in the top three in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. Wide receiver Kaden Prather has a chance to build off his first touchdown of the season as he and QB Billy Edwards establish the deep ball, but week four gives the wide receiver room a chance to develop heading back into conference play.
Octavian Smith enters week four with 58 yards on seven catches and 11 targets, but other than that, no receiver has more than either five catches or 50 receiving yards. Third-year wideout Shaleak Knotts was tabbed as someone who could break out after flashing during spring ball and he’ll look to break out vs. an experienced ‘Nova secondary after recording three yards on a pair of catches in three games.
But of course, fans will look to see whether Felton can put together yet another highlight play as he entrenches himself as the offense’s top playmaker.
“I've always said Tai Felton was a talented player,” head coach Mike Locksley said this week. “He got over-looked recruiting wise because of the injury his senior year. Prior to that, he was a guy that was a national recruit and we got lucky to get him, because of injury and because of our loyalty to him. And as I've said, he had opportunities a year ago other people came knocking and he decided to stay because he understands what our offensive system offers a guy like him.”
Health & experience for the two-and-half deep
The biggest goal in matchups like these besides winning is coming out of it with no major injuries. Maryland got a scare last week when left tackle Andre Roye went done late in the game yet came out with no long-term concern about his injury. Besides Roye, others have dealt with injuries early into the year, like tight end Preston Howard, who was hurt against UConn and missed the following week but was back for Virginia. Linebacker Neeo Avery is another question mark for this week after being inactive for the week three road win.
Of course, Saturday also gives Maryland a chance to develop its depth potentially similar to the week one matchup. That includes plenty of guys in the trenches like Ryan Howerton, Michael Hershey and Terez Davis who have consistently been with the second-team offensive line since the second week of fall camp. While guys in the front seven like Dillan Fontus, Lavon Johnson, DJ Samuels, Daniel Wingate and Michael Harris also look to capitalize, the extra reps for a young secondary working to gain experience will also loom large. “Kerm” Humes, Judah Jenkins and Jonathan Akins have played in all three games with Braydon Lee suiting up in both games as assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim builds his depth in his first season back with the program.
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