Game Information
Opponent: Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Location: Yankee Stadium (54,251)
Date: Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Time: 2:15 PM ET
TV/Radio Broadcasts: ESPN, Maryland Sports Radio Network
Series Record: 16-15 Maryland
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After earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016, Maryland will face off against Virginia Tech in the 2021 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. It’ll be the program’s first shot at a winning season since 2014, and their first chance to win a bowl game since 2010. They haven’t played the Hokies since 2013, a game that the Terrapins won in overtime on the road to clinch a bowl berth. That win snapped a five-game winning streak by the team from Blacksburg that dated back to 1993.
Like Maryland, the Hokies finished this season with a 6-6 record. They were briefly ranked in the Top 25 after upsetting North Carolina in their season opener, but a loss to West Virginia in their third game knocked them out. After nearly six seasons at the helm, they fired Justin Fuente towards the end of the year and named co-defensive line coach J.C. Price as their interim head coach. Following the regular season they hired Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry as their next head coach, but he won’t be on the sideline for this game.
1. Maryland Has the Upper Hand
Virginia Tech will be without seven starters for this game, due both to opt-outs and players who have entered the transfer portal. At the quarterback position, both starter Braxton Burmeister and backup Knox Kadum will be absent. They’ll also be missing their two leading wide receivers and two starting defensive linemen. While this isn’t all that surprising following a head coaching change, it gives Maryland a clear advantage on the personnel front. Of the twelve players in the transfer portal for the Terrapins, only linebacker Branden Jennings had started in any of their games this season.
2. An Even Matchup…On Paper
As can be expected between two teams with identical records, this looks to be a fairly even matchup. Offensively, Virginia Tech has had good success running the ball, but their passing game has been abysmal. Defensively, they’ve had some problems across the board but have been a bit better defending against the pass. On the opposing sideline, Maryland leans heavily on their electric passing game but hasn’t had much luck when they run the ball. Their defense has struggled mightily, but they’ve had some more success against the run than the pass.
3. Let Tagovailoa Sling It
When the Terrapins have the ball, there shouldn’t be much reason to alter the game plan they’ve had all season: lean on the big arm of quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. The team’s passing game is averaging 287 yards per game and is currently ranked as the 16th-best unit in the country. Tagovailoa has thrown for over 300 yards in four of his last five games, and has completed less than 60% of his pass attempts just twice all year. He’ll have every opportunity to finish off his 2021 season with another stellar performance in New York City.
4. Force Virginia Tech Behind the Chains
The Hokies will be forced to turn to their third-string quarterback in this game, junior Texas A&M transfer Connor Blumrick. He’s played in five games so far this season, and has completed 7 of his 16 pass attempts for 42 yards. Primarily a running threat, he added 41 rush attempts for 231 yards. Virginia Tech’s passing game was bad no matter who they had behind center this season, and playing without their two top quarterbacks and wide receivers certainly won’t help matters.
While Maryland’s defense has struggled for the majority of this season, they ought to be licking their chops. The Hokies will want to run the ball and put Blumrick into easy passing situations, so the Terrapins’ best chance at success will be holding them to short gains on early downs. They’ll also need to maintain their integrity on the edges, because Virginia Tech loves to run the zone-read option and give their quarterback opportunities to keep the ball for big gains.
5. Major Opportunity for a Building Program
The significance of this game for Maryland can’t be overstated. This is their first bowl berth since 2016, and they haven’t won a postseason game in over a decade. Head coach Michael Locksley has stressed the importance of making games like this the norm in College Park, and building on this to reach even greater heights as a program. Getting to a bowl game is a tangible sign of progress that the coaching staff can point to in order to sell themselves to recruits, and winning the game against a recruiting rival would be even bigger.
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.