Maryland (1-0, 0-0) vs. Michigan State (1-0, 0-0)
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 | 3:30 pm
Where: SECU Stadium
Watch: BTN - Jason Ross Jr., Anthony Herron, Kylen Mills
Listen: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980 AM (DC) - Johnny Holliday, Steve Suter, LaMont Jordan
Saturday marks the earliest conference game for Maryland since hosting Miami (FL) in 2011 as head coach Mike Locksley looks to guide his team to a 2-0 start for the fourth consecutive season. While the Spartans hold the edge in the all-time series lead, Maryland has won each of the last two matchups as quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. looks to move to 5-0 all-time as a starter. But what does Maryland need to do in order to get there? We take a look at three keys to a win.
Avoid Negative Plays
Florida Atlantic had seven drives of at least seven plays against Michigan State but only scored on two of them. Part of the problem was self-inflicted mistakes that cost the Owls a chance to put more than ten points on the board. On back-to-back drives they were intercepted, another resulted in a safety, and their last three ended on downs, while a missed field goal would have made it a three-point game. Protection broke down throughout the game, as the Spartans finished the game with seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and averaged less than three yards a carry.
Michigan State had its issues during the game. Making his first collegiate start, quarterback Aidan Chiles threw two interceptions with the first coming on the Spartans’ first offensive play, leading the Spartans finished with the fewest passing yards (114) of any Big Ten team in week one. One came on the first play of the game, while the other was on the Owl five that led to the only touchdown the defense gave up. Receiver Montorie Foster Jr lost a fumble and the team had 140 penalty yards on 12 penalties.
Against UConn, Maryland did a stellar job avoiding the negative plays Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is coming off arguably the best-case scenario in terms of operating the Terps’ offense, finishing with 300-plus yards passing as the offense finished without a turnover. The rushing attack also loomed large in the win, but the Terps’ efficiency on offense was hard to ignore as the Terps’ turn the page into the post-Taulia Tagovailoa era. Michigan State’s front seven poses more of a threat than UConn, but if Maryland’s offense can win the turnover battle yet again, the Terps could control the keys to the game.
Battle of the Linebackers
Michigan State and Maryland have linebacking cores that are deep. Cal Haladay is the leader of this unit that is full of experience. The senior has started 35 games for the school, led them in tackles last year, and is all over the field. Jordan Hall finished second on the team in sacks and tackles for loss as a freshman last year. Darius Snow has started ten games in four years. Wayne Matthews and Jordan Turner were brought in from the transfer portal. Matthews played the fourth most snaps for a linebacker in the FBS last year for Old Dominion and finished 2nd in the Sun Belt Conference and 11th in the nation in tackles. Turner has started 18 games in the last two years for Wisconsin.
That veteran group will be ahead of a deep Spartans defensive line, posing an early test for a Maryland offensive line that found itself under the microscope all offseason. With the addition of three offensive line coaches this fall – Brian Braswell, Damian Wroblewski, Brian Ferentz – the Terps have made strides with the new-look starting five and handled UConn’s pressure with ease in week one. Saturday could provide credence to the Terps’ development in the trenches, but winning the battles to keep Billy Edwards Jr. upright will determine whether the Terps’ offense remains as efficient as it did in week one.
On the other side of the ball, Maryland matches Michigan State with the number of guys they can rotate at linebacker, even with the loss of Jaishawn Barham and Fa’Najae Gotay. Leading this unit is senior Ruben Hyppolite, a starter since 2021 who recorded his first career interception last week. Kellen Wyatt was the team’s sack leader last year and has started 17 games in two seasons. Caleb Wheatland was second on the team in that category and is the hardest hitter in the unit. Jack Donnell Brown showed off his destructive playmaking with a knocked-down pass in week one. Behind them are young guys but talented players Daniel Wingate, DJ Samuels, and Michael Harris. Another young guy to keep an eye on is Neeo Avery, who after missing all of last year is ready to make an impact.
Whichever linebacking core comes up with more key plays could decide the final outcome of the game.
Win the Trenches
Maryland’s offensive line did amazing protecting their quarterbacks against UConn, giving up one sack with MJ Morris leading the offense. Now they get their first true test of the season, with the experience and talent of the Michigan State front seven. While linebacker seems to be the strength of the Spartan defense, the defensive line is no pushover. The unit was responsible for 5 of the team’s 7 sacks against Florida Atlantic. Accounting for 1.5 of them was defensive end Khris Bogle. The sixth-year senior transferred to Michigan State in 2022 from Florida and started five games last year. Defensive tackle Maverick Hansen has been with the Spartans since 2019 and has played in over 40 games for the team. Georgia Tech transfer D’Quan Douse had a sack against the Owls. Quindarius Dunnigan was a first-team All-Conference USA for Middle Tennessee last year. Also on the line are Alex VanSumeran and Anthony Jones.
Maryland’s front seven was a little disappointing against UConn as they didn’t record a sack and had one tackle for loss. They won’t get any favors with this Michigan State offensive line, as they gave up one sack last week and have some experience themselves. Center Tanner Miller followed head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, where he started 13 games for him last year. Left guard Luke Newman has started 37 games in the last three years. Left tackle Brandon Baldwin started 15 in the last two. The weak points of the line could come from the right side as guard Kristian Phillips and tackle Ashton Lepo are in their first year of starting.
One key factor in the game is run blocking. UConn had 8 tackles for loss as Maryland struggled to open up holes early on. Michigan State rushed for 179 yards at 4.8 yards a carry. Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams rushed for over 11 yards a carry. Both lines for Maryland need to be at the top of their game if they are going to win in the trenches come Saturday.
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