The Maryland Terrapins football program is entering a pivotal season under tenuously tenured head coach Mike Locksley. After another definitively disappointing campaign ended in utter collapse in 2025, Locksley has fallen out of favor with a large majority of the Terps loyal fanbase and could legitimately be coaching for his job this year. With a new influx of support and financial investment from assorted affluent alumni as well as the school itself, this obstinately ostracized outfit is all out of excuses.
Luckily for Locksley, his significant skills as a recruiter might just help Maryland turn the ever-elusive corner in 2026. After shrewdly retaining most of last year’s squad, the Terrapins also added some intriguing roster reinforcements in the transfer portal this spring.
The biggest boost for the Terps is the return of starting quarterback Malik Washington for another year in College Park. Surrounded by a host of new pass-catchers, the rapidly ascending signal-caller is seeking to improve on his phenomenal true freshman showing under the guidance of first-year offensive coordinator Clint Trickett.
While Maryland’s offense is hoping to be more balanced, this young but talented defense should also take serious strides despite losing star sophomore edge rusher Zahir Mathis to a season-ending injury in fall camp.
If both sides of the ball take the necessary steps forward this year, the Terrapins possess the untapped potential to go from absolute afterthought to conference contender in a hurry.
Terps Football: 2026 Game-By-Game Schedule Predictions
September 5: vs. Hampton Pirates
Maryland needs to get off to a fast start this season, and Hampton seems happy to provide an opportunity to do just that.
The Pirates were one of the worst teams in all of FCS last year, finishing 2-10 overall and dead last in the CAA after going 0-8 in conference play. Hampton’s porous run defense allowed over 230 yards per game on the ground in 2025, a weakness Trickett and the Terps new-look offense will certainly attempt to exploit.
On the other side of ball, the Terrapins defense will be on the hunt for big plays against an unimposing Pirates offense that averaged less than 145 yards passing per outing last season.
Kicking off the year with a cupcake win can help a young team build confidence and Maryland will easily dominate in this one. Look for the Terps to be resting starters early in the second half, giving younger talent and roster depth a chance at valuable live reps.
Locksley extends his nation-leading streak of consecutive non-conference victories to nineteen in an epic Terrapins home blowout.
Prediction: Win (1-0)
September 12: at Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut cannot be overlooked.
Although currently going through their fair share of transfer portal turmoil and roster turnover after former front man Jim Mora left for Colorado State (and took a ton of talent with him); coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons, UConn is a program seemingly on the rise. Huskies new head coach Jason Candle not only brings proven winning experience from his time at Toledo, but proven productive players like linebacker K’Von Sherman that will help ease the transition.
Tennessee transfer Jake Merklinger is the favorite to start at quarterback. Meanwhile, Ky “Flash” Wilson, the diminutive but dynamic wide receiver who made the rare climb from Division II to FCS to FBS, is expected to be used in a variety of alignments and on special teams as an all-purpose weapon in Storrs this fall.
With an excellent coach like Candle leading the charge Connecticut will undoubtedly remain respectably competitive for the foreseeable future, but much like when these teams met last in 2024, Maryland eventually overwhelms the rebuilt Huskies and the Terrapins ultimately handle business on the road.
Considerably closer contest than oddsmakers currently calculate as Terps earn a hard-fought win against an underrated out-of-conference opponent.
Prediction: Win (2-0)
September 19: vs Virginia Tech Hokies
James Franklin is looking to restore Virginia Tech football to it’s former glory after his somewhat surprising firing abruptly ended his time at Penn State last season. The former Terps assistant won by the boatload as the head coach in Happy Valley, and hopes to return his upstart Hokies to winning ways in short order.
Virginia Tech boasts a collection of new faces on both sides of the ball. They will likely lean on a physical running style on offense and look to All-ACC defensive tackle Kemari Copeland to lead an otherwise lackluster defense. The aerial attack will theoretically be at least incrementally improved, with Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer penciled in as the projected starter under center.
Despite arguably having the clear edge in overall talent, the Terrapins will no doubt have their work cut out for them in this highly anticipated DMV clash under the lights.
Regardless of the outcome, this matchup will reveal realistic rest-of-season expectations for both teams. However, I’m giving Maryland a slight edge at home in the schedule’s first prove-it game.
Sophomore quarterback Malik Washington shines and Terps win turnover battle en route to third victory in a row, staying undefeated to start the year.
Prediction: Win (3-0)
September 26: vs UCLA Bruins
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Nico Iamaleava has a unique chance to reinvent himself and once again vault into national conversations. After his publicly unceremonious exit from Tennessee, the former five-star quarterback recruit struggled significantly last season as the Bruins starter.
The good news in Westwood is that first-year head coach Bob Chesney is bringing a winning pedigree and a wealth of talent with him from James Madison. Running back Wayne Knight headlines the overhaul, following Chesney to sunny California after rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and adding 40 receptions out of the backfield for the Dukes last fall.
With multiple transfers and new additions projected as starters all across the depth chart, it may take some time for UCLA to put all the pieces together.
That said, Maryland’s continuity and cohesion gives them the upper-hand in this one. Though the Terps could definitely drop a game that they shouldn’t, starting the conference slate victorious will be priority one in College Park.
The Terrapins exact their revenge for last season’s disappointing defeat, besting the Bruins in an entertaining back-and-forth Big Ten battle.
Prediction: Win (4-0)
October 3: at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Maryland’s scorching hot start to the season comes to an abrupt end in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers defense forces multiple Terrapins turnovers, while Nebraska’s offense rides UNLV transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea and a punishing ground game to pull away late, handing the Terps their first loss.
The raucous Sea of Red at Memorial Stadium will hinder clear communication and causes multiple Maryland procedural penalties in this one, seeing the Terrapins struggle with execution amidst all the noise.
The Terps suffer their first defeat of the season as a familiar feeling begins to creep in with a conference juggernaut on tap.
Prediction: Loss (4-1)
October 10: at Ohio State Buckeyes
This game could get ugly.
Ohio State has put together one of the top rosters in all of college football this season, with Heisman hopefuls in quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith leading the way. Running back Bo Jackson also returns after rushing for over one thousand yards as a true freshman and their elite defense is possibly improved even after losing seven NFL draft picks.
With enormous advantages in roster depth, talent, and coaching, the Buckeyes should have no problem handling the Terps.
Maryland likely struggles to generate any consistency on offense, while Ohio State operates as a well-oiled machine in all three phases, scoring at will in a blowout win.
After showing such promise to start the year, Maryland now loses it’s second straight, enduring an outright embarrassing loss albeit at the hand’s of one of the Big Ten’s best.
Prediction: Loss (4-2)
October 17: vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Entering a must-win conference game back at home in College Park, the Terps need to show urgency and toughness to bounce back from two consecutive losses. Maryland securing a victory over Rutgers would re-establish their footing going into a bye week, but the Scarlet Knights and star wide receiver K.J. Duff will very likely make it a close contest.
While this pseudo-rivalry game should indeed be a rock fight, look for Malik Washington to propel the Terps to a much-needed win behind the strength of a breakout passing performance by the superstar sophomore.
The Terrapins offense finally gets back on track and Maryland returns to the win column.
Prediction: Win (5-2)
October 31: vs Illinois Fighting Illini
A team getting some well-deserved mid-season rest is usually viewed as a good thing in football. Unfortunately under their current head coach, Maryland is 0-10 following a bye week, with the Terps post-bye skid extending to twelve consecutive losses program-wide dating back to 2016.
Betting on the Terrapins to break the streak against this stark historical reality is a losing proposition, especially against a perennially well-coached team like Illinois. East Carolina transfer Katin Houser takes over at quarterback for the Illini, and the experienced passer is one of the more underrated prospects in the country. Wide receiver Jayshon Platt, a key transfer portal addition from Florida Atlantic who averaged 15.7 yards per reception last season, is also a name to watch if health permits.
Expect the Terps to put up a good fight and for the game to come down to the wire, but I’m giving the Illini the slight advantage because of coaching and history.
Maryland just can’t shake their post-bye curse and loses an absolute heartbreaker at home.
Prediction: Loss (5-3)
November 7: at Purdue Boilermakers
After a significant letdown the week prior, the Terps put together their best all-around performance of the season against Purdue. Maryland rebounds in a big way with an explosive outing from the offense and a stifling showing from senior linebacker Daniel Wingate and the developing defense.
Terrapins freshman edge rusher Zion Elee erupts for multiple sacks and wreaks havoc on the Boilermakers overmatched offense all afternoon, while running back DeJaun Williams racks up over one hundred yards rushing. The Terps flat out run away from Purdue in this conference showdown of programs on opposite paths.
Maryland dominates this matchup for their second-largest margin of victory of the year, and secures a bowl berth with three games left to play.
Prediction: Win (6-3)
November 14: vs Wisconsin Badgers
The Terrapins will be riding high off of an impressive road triumph, but will quickly need to refocus for a potential trap game against Wisconsin. While the Terps should win this one handily as well, they cannot get caught looking ahead to next week’s opponent. If Maryland can remain locked in and not underestimate the Badgers, they should easily walk away with their seventh victory of the campaign.
I think the Terps get it done in front of the home crowd and head into their biggest matchup of the year with massive momentum.
Maryland defeats Wisconsin in convincing fashion, beating the Badgers by multiple scores for the second straight season.
Prediction: Win (7-3)
November 21: at USC Trojans
The good times come to an end in The Coliseum.
The Terrapins stumble early and are unable to keep up with the firepower USC possesses, falling flat against a Top-25 opponent on the national stage. Trojans quarterback and Heisman hopeful Jayden Maiava torches the Terps with freshman phenoms Trent Mosley at wide receiver and Mark Bowman at tight end en route to a blowout win.
Locksley remains stuck at just two victories against ranked opponents as a head coach all-time.
Prediction: Loss (7-4)
November 28: vs Penn State Nittany Lions
Even after an offseason of immense change in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions are not to be messed with.
New head coach Matt Campbell comes over from Iowa State and brings a ton of talented transfers with him, headlined by quarterback Rocco Becht and running back Carsen Hansen. Penn State will rely on these two productive playmakers to make their offense go, while the defense should continue to be one of the country’s top units.
While Maryland stealing an upset win would make for great television, the Nittany Lions are undeniably the more talented team and realistically should come out in front. The Terrapins could possibly make it interesting, but unfortunately end up falling short.
Prediction: Loss (7-5)
Final Thoughts
While losing two games to end the slate will without a doubt leave a sour taste in Terps fans mouths, winning seven games overall and earning a bowl berth should also give those same fans some reasons to celebrate. It’s always going to be a challenge competing with the top programs in the Big Ten on a yearly basis and Maryland simply beating the teams they should on their schedule is a small successful step in the right direction. Breaking the bye-week curse and beating a ranked opponent will just have to wait until next season.
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