The Nebraska vs Maryland preview starts with a 4-0 Cornhuskers team that hosts a struggling Terrapins squad Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Kickoff is 4 p.m. EDT on FS1.
Nebraska is 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big Ten, its first 4-0 start since 2016, according to CBS Sports. Maryland is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play after two straight losses.
Nebraska vs Maryland preview: game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 4 p.m. EDT
- Venue: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- TV: FS1
Nebraska’s undefeated start
The Cornhuskers are outscoring opponents by 30.5 points a game, and they have a 59-15 edge in fourth quarters. Their offense ranks fifth in the Big Ten at 482.8 yards per game, and their defense leads the conference at 233.5 yards allowed per game, FOX Sports reported.
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea has 10 passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Freshman running back Jamal Rule leads the ground game with 333 yards and five touchdowns.
Jamal Rule’s status is uncertain
Rule left Nebraska’s 31-13 win over Michigan State with an undisclosed injury, and his availability Saturday is unclear. Backup Mekhi Nelson ran for 61 yards and a touchdown in that game and would likely see more work if Rule sits, according to Sports Illustrated. Nebraska’s rushing attack managed just 92 yards against the Spartans, its first game under 200 on the ground this season.
Maryland’s two-game slide
Maryland started 2-0 but has lost two straight. The latest was a 54-3 home loss to UCLA, the Terrapins’ worst defeat since 2019.
Quarterback Malik Washington threw four interceptions in that game, two of them returned for touchdowns, and he finished with fewer than 200 passing yards for the third time in his career. For the season, he has more than 1,000 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.
Coach Mike Locksley is 39-51 in nine seasons at Maryland. “I understand the frustration our fans have,” he said, according to CBS Sports. “We know that the only way to fix is to play better.”
Key matchup: Maryland’s pass rush vs. Nebraska’s ground game
Maryland has 12 sacks and uses a 3-4 defensive front with big players up the middle, according to 247Sports. Our Nebraska vs Maryland preview expects the Terrapins to try to pressure Colandrea and stop the run after Nebraska’s slower day against Michigan State.
On the other side, Washington is 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, and he can be hard to tackle. Nebraska’s pass rush will need to contain him in the pocket. For another Big Ten matchup this weekend, see our Ohio State vs. Iowa preview and Michigan vs. Minnesota preview.
Nebraska vs Maryland preview: what to watch
This Nebraska vs Maryland preview ends with one simple point: a win would give Nebraska its first 5-0 start since 2016. For Maryland, a third straight loss would put more pressure on Locksley.
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