Maryland football vs. Rutgers preview

When Maryland football plays host to Rutgers over the weekend, two of the most embattled head coaches in college football will take to the sideline in a game that could be their last.

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano were both on the hot seat entering the season, according to most major sports outlets, and a combined three wins in 11 games have done little to quiet the noise surrounding their respective programs. Some reporters have suggested that at this point, it is a matter of when, not if, each coach’s tenure ends.

Locksley has maintained that his program is capable of turning things around, though. He emphasized Tuesday that the program is at a checkpoint, not a conclusion, halfway through the season.

“I’m super frustrated, like our fans,” Locksley said. “Our focus is on playing our best on Saturday. That’s been the missing piece. The work has been the type of work we need, but playing our best on game day has not been. And that’s on me as a coach. I have to own that.”

Maryland’s homecoming game against the Scarlet Knights will begin at 12:30 p.m. at SECU Stadium and be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten)

2025 record: 5-7, 2-7 Big Ten

Since head coach Greg Schiano took over in Piscataway in 2020, the Scarlet Knights have gone 31-41 and finished with losing seasons in four of six years.

Rutgers began the season on the wrong side of one of the biggest upsets in college football, losing by 16 points against a UMass team that entered the season on a 16-game losing streak. A loss the next week to Boston College, which had won just two games in 2025, intensified the scrutiny on Schiano.

A win over Howard was some light relief, but it was sandwiched by losses to conference powerhouses USC and Indiana, with the 32-point defeat to the Hoosiers coming on Rutgers’ homecoming game. Rutgers travels to Maryland off a bye week, meaning it has had two weeks to prepare for the Terps — who have shown plenty on film as to how they can be beaten.

Players to watch

KJ Duff, junior wide receiver, No. 8 — A week after holding Jeremiah Smith to four catches for 93 yards, Maryland’s secondary has just as tough a test against Rutgers’ Duff this weekend. A matchup nightmare at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Duff’s 644 receiving yards rank third and seven receiving touchdowns rank fifth among FBS receivers. Rutgers’ offense, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game, flows through him – he is responsible for almost 32% of Rutgers’ total offensive yardage.

Antwan Raymond, junior running back, No. 3 — Raymond is one of the standout running backs in college football. The preseason All-American hasn’t quite lived up to his lofty expectations thus far in the season, but his 93.8 rushing yards per game still rank 25th in the country, and he has earned them with an average of 5.2 yards per rush.

Moshood Giwa, senior offensive tackle, No. 74 — Giwa has quietly put together a solid campaign on the right side of Rutgers’ line, which has yet to allow a sack on the season. The former Long Island player allowed three pressures from Indiana’s elite defensive line last week; in the Knights’ four other games, he has been responsible for just one pressure, according to Pro Football Focus. His run blocking grade is also the best on the team.

Strength

Penalties. While opponents have been able to outgain Rutgers offensively and defensively, that has come without the Scarlet Knights spotting their opponents free yardage. Their 26.6 penalty yards against per game is the lowest mark in the country, and their 20 total penalties on the year are tied for the seventh-fewest. Maryland has gained an average of 77.5 penalty yards per game, an average that would be expected to drop following Saturday.

Weakness

Run defense. Raymond has frequently been outshone by what the Scarlet Knights allow their opponents to do on the ground. Rutgers allows 5.79 yards per run, the fifth-worst mark in FBS, for an average of just under 200 rushing yards per game. Locksley called Maryland’s star back DeJuan Williams fully healthy during the week, and that will give him a major opportunity for a breakout game.

Three things to watch

1. Which Rutgers quarterback earns the start? Dylan Lonergan has started four of five games for Rutgers this season, but backup AJ Surace — who also got the nod against Boston College — finished Rutgers’ most recent game, against Indiana. Surace went 6-of-10 for 128 yards and a touchdown, demonstrating an ability that could lead Schiano to give him the nod in College Park, even with both healthy.

2. Can Maryland stay turnover-free? Rutgers has just four interceptions and two forced fumbles on the season — two picks and a fumble came via linebacker Bradley Jones against Boston College, with the other three turnovers coming against Howard. The Terps escaped Columbus without committing a turnover after having been loose with the ball in their two previous losses, and another clean game will maximize their chances of winning.

3. Streak to be stopped. Maryland dropped its contests against Rutgers in 2025 and 2024, with each loss coming by two scores. In the 106-year history of competition between the two programs, the Terps have never lost three straight against the Scarlet Knights.