Game Information
Opponent: Virginia Cavaliers (0-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Location: SECU Stadium (51,802)
Date: Friday, September 15, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV/Radio Broadcasts: FS1, Maryland Sports Radio Network
Series Record: 44-32-2 Maryland
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Maryland will wrap up their non-conference slate with a primetime matchup against Virginia on Friday night, as they look to begin the 2023 season with a 3-0 record. The Cavaliers are still winless this year, with losses to Tennessee and James Madison on their resume. Head coach Tony Elliott is in his second season with the team after an extended stint as an assistant coach on Dabo Swinney’s staff at Clemson. This is the first time that these two teams have met since 2013, which resulted in a 27-26 victory for the Terrapins.
1. Flush That Poor Start
Last weekend’s game against Charlotte began about as poorly as it could’ve for head coach Michael Locksley’s squad. Following a blown defensive coverage by defensive back Ja’Quan Sheppard and an interception thrown by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, they found themselves down 14-0 less than five minutes in. Maryland’s offense began to wake up in the second quarter, and the defense didn’t allow any more points until the 49ers scored a garbage-time touchdown late in the game.
The Terrapins showed good poise and never panicked after the bad start, but they’ll need to prove that it was an anomaly rather than a symptom of larger issues. While Virginia has had their share of struggles so far this season, they certainly have enough talent to take better advantage of that sort of slow start than Charlotte did. Getting out to an early lead on Friday night would do wonders to calm everyone’s nerves before heading into conference play.
2. A Test For Maryland’s Secondary
Maryland’s defense hasn’t been tested all that much so far this season, but Virginia will represent the best passing offense that they’ve faced thus far. Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett is expected to return at quarterback for the Cavaliers after missing their last game due to a shoulder injury that he suffered in their season-opener against Tennessee. Backup signal-caller Anthony Colandrea threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns in his stead against James Madison. Virginia’s receiving corps is led by upperclassmen Malik Washington and Malachi Fields, with the former coming to Charlottesville as a transfer from Northwestern.
3. Pound the Rock
Despite what seemed like a clear advantage in the passing game for Maryland’s offense last weekend, it was their rushing attack which found the most success as the game progressed. As a team, they ran for 243 yards and three touchdowns, with running back Roman Hemby amassing 162 of those yards on 19 carries. The offensive line, which still presents its share of questions, opened some massive holes particularly when running to the left side behind left tackle Delmar Glaze.
Virginia’s defense has struggled to stop the run so far this season, allowing Tennessee and James Madison to rush for a combined 4.9 yards per carry and seven rushing touchdowns. If Maryland can follow up their performance on the ground from last weekend with another strong showing, it’ll be a good sign for their offensive line as they head into conference play.
4. Get Off the Field, Stay On the Field
Virginia’s offense has been one of the worst in the country on third downs so far this season. They’re converting just 29% of their third down attempts, which ranks 109th nationally. Conversely, Maryland’s defense has been the seventh-best in the country on third downs, with opponents converting just 20% of their attempts. Forcing the Cavaliers behind the chains and getting off the field will be key on Friday night.
On the other side of the ball, Virginia’s defense is allowing opponents to convert 41% of their third down attempts. While that is certainly more respectable than their offense’s performance, they’ll likely have their hands full with Maryland’s offense, who have converted 57% of their third down attempts. It can’t be expected for the Terrapins to continue dominating their third down performances on both sides of the ball in this manner all season once conference play begins, but it does point to an experienced team who has hopefully learned to limit their mistakes when it matters most.
5. Hoping For a Better “Black Out”
The last few times that Maryland has executed a “black out” game haven’t exactly gone to plan. Matchups against Penn State in 2019 and Iowa in 2021 resulted in blowouts which were both over well before halftime. While Virginia doesn’t quite represent the high-level opponent of either the Nittany Lions or Hawkeyes, this is still a local rivalry which will feature plenty of familiarity between the number of DMV-area players on both rosters. Getting off to a fast start and limiting early mistakes will be key to flipping the “black out” script.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.