After moving to 3-1 following the non-conference finale, Maryland football returns to the rest of its conference slate beginning this weekend in Bloomington to face a red-hot Hoosiers’ team.
The Hoosiers are led by Curt Cignetti, who left James Madison this offseason where he finished 52-9 (31-4) over five seasons. The Hoosiers have watched their stock elevate to open the 2024 season, taking down FIU, Western Illinois and Charlotte at home in addition to dominating UCLA on the road, 42-13, in their week three conference opener. But Saturday will very likely be Indiana’s toughest test to-date as both teams are set to resume conference play.
Maryland will look to win their fourth consecutive game against the Hoosiers, a chance to avoid falling to 0-2 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2015. We take an early look at the Terps’ next opponent:
Offense
Key Players: QB Kurtis Rourke, WR Elijah Sarratt, RB Justice Ellison
Scoring: 50.5 ppg
Passing: 288.3 ypg
Rushing: 225.5 ypg
Indiana’s offense is one of the best in the country right now. They have yet to turn the ball over and they are the nation’s fifth-highest-scoring offense (50.5) heading into week five. Indiana’s balance has made them a tough stop under offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan – no, not ‘that’ Mike Shanahan.
If you aim to stop the run, they can tear you apart in the passing game as QB Kurtis Rourke enters week five with a completion percentage (75.7%) slightly higher than Terps' QB Billy Edwards Jr (75%). This will be a litmus test for the Terps’ defense, and a matchup where winning the turnover battle becomes even bigger.
Rourke, a transfer from Ohio, has lit up opposing defenses so far this season after throwing for 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns, while also rushing for 55 yards and two touchdowns. Rourke has never had more than seven interceptions in a season and has not turned the ball over much throughout his career, but his efficiency is what’s elevated the Hoosiers’ offense thus far.
Sarratt, a St. Frances (MD) product, is one of the players who followed Cignetti from JMU after becoming a productive playmaker for the Dukes. So far this season, Sarratt has 15 receptions for 250 yards and a receiving touchdown, but one thing Sarratt does best is using his 6-foot-2, 209-pound frame to his advantage. His long arms and big frame help him have a large catch radius and it makes it much harder for defensive backs to defend against him, giving a test to a developing secondary. The Hoosiers also lead the Big Ten in sacks allowed per game (.75), giving a big test for a Maryland defensive line that Cignetti was complimentary of on Monday, and one that's drawn ample buzz through the offseason.
Ellison, like Rourke and Sarratt, is a transfer. Ellison spent his first four seasons of his career at Wake Forest where he appeared in at least eight games every season and rushed for 1,901 yards and 15 touchdowns. This year so far, Ellison has rushed for 38 attempts for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Ellison leads the Hoosiers in rushing yards and is tied for second on the team in rushing touchdowns. Ellison was the workhorse back at Wake Forest, but with Indiana’s running back by committee approach, Ellison has excelled in his new role.
Defense
Key Players: CB D’Angelo Ponds, LB Aiden Fisher, DL Mikail Kamara, DB Amare Ferrell
Scoring: 9.2 ppg
Passing: 124.8 ypg
Rushing: 74.5 ypg
Turnovers: 1.8 turnovers/game
Just like the offense, the Hoosiers’ defense has been as advertised against their competition through the first four weeks. Indiana’s defense is top ten in the country in scoring defense (9.25), total defense (199.2), rushing defense (74.5), passing defense (124.5), while tied with Maryland in turnover margin (+7). And just like the offense is leaning on its portal additions to lead the way, the defense is led by transfers in Fisher and Kamara who both followed Cignetti from JMU.
While Indiana leads the Big Ten in tackles (254), Fisher leads the team in total tackles with 38 and is also third on the team with 2.5 tackles for loss. Fisher was a third-team All-Sun Belt selection last season at JMU, and so far, has also vastly improved this season. Fisher flies around to the ball and does great to use his quickness to shed blocks from linemen when they are trying to get to the second level.
Kamara leads the team in sacks with three and tackles for loss with four. At JMU, Kamara was second-team All-Sun Belt last season and finished the season with 17.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and forced three fumbles. Kamara is only 6-foot-1, so not the usual size for a defensive lineman, but he has great quickness that he uses to beat his man off the line of scrimmage and get in the backfield.
Cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, a Freshman All-American while at James Madison, gives the Hoosiers' secondary a big boost as likely the primary cornerback going against star Maryland WR Tai Felton, a notable matchup to watch on Saturday. Yet Ferrell leads the Hoosier defense in interceptions with two so far this season. The true sophomore is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound cornerback out of Florida, one of Indiana's few key returners this season. Ferrell appeared in all 12 games last season recording just nine tackles. However, this season Ferrell has an expanded role and has started all four games for the Hoosiers so far. Along with his two interceptions, Ferrell has 16 total tackles including two tackles for loss and a sack. Ferrell is great at using his long frame to disrupt receivers and make them uncomfortable while in their route.
Just like Maryland’s defense, Indiana does a good job at forcing turnovers. Indiana’s run defense will be something to look out for in this game as they’ve been able to hold opponents under 2.6 yards per carry. While the Terps’ running back depth will be a different look for the veteran Hoosiers’ front, this will be the first big test for the run game’s efficiency as head coach Mike Locksley and his staff referenced throughout the offseason. And while the passing attack looks to find its footing, the offensive line will face its toughest test since week two against an Indiana defensive line that has registered 12 sacks through four games.
Getting the run game going will be another key for the Terps offense. If the Terps can’t run the ball, it will be a long day for Billy Edwards constantly getting rushed by the Hoosiers who have 12 sacks through four games. Maryland, though, is tied with Penn State, Ohio State and Rutgers for the second-fewest sacks allowed with just one per game while the unit looks for OT Andre Roye to return this week.
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