With both teams licking their wounds from lookalike losses to Indiana, Northwestern and Maryland are seeking the finishing touch when they meet Friday night in College Park, Md.
Last week, the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) were poised to upset the then-No. 23 Hoosiers as they trailed by three points before giving up two touchdowns in the final seven minutes of a 41-24 loss.
Meanwhile, the Terrapins (3-2, 0-2) have had a week to stew on their 42-28 loss at the Hoosiers. The game was tied 21-all in the third quarter before Indiana (now No. 18 in the country) reeled off three straight touchdowns.
The bye week came at a good time for Maryland, which lost three of its top players.
On Tuesday, coach Mike Locksley was evasive about the status of safety Dante Trader Jr. and wideouts Tai Felton and Kaden Prather, saying two were healthy, but not identifying which ones.
“I’m thinking all three will be good to go,” Lockley said. “We did a procedure on one of the three, where it just (depends on) how it takes.”
While Felton leads the Big Ten in receptions (46) and receiving yards (642), Prather provides a secondary threat with 26 catches for 269 yards.
Coming off consecutive 8-5 seasons and three straight bowl appearances — all wins — the program has come under fire as the Terrapins appear to have regressed.
“We’ve got the transfer portal coming open here soon,” Locksley said. “The church gates are opening up here soon and we need to have positivity about the program, about the kids, about the direction.”
Northwestern also had hoped for a better start after going 8-5 last year under David Braun, who was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year.
“I think this football team is very confident that we have more within us,” Braun said.
In his third career start, quarterback Jack Lausch completed 23 of 38 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against Indiana.
“I’m so stinking excited about the progression we’re seeing out of Jack,” Braun said.
Northwestern hopes for more from its rushing attack, which has produced 152 yards on 48 carries in its two Big Ten losses. The improved health of Cam Porter should help, Braun said.
Porter was sidelined for the Wildcats’ 24-5 loss at Washington and carried just six times for 15 yards in the Indiana defeat.
Porter scored two touchdowns last year in Northwestern’s 33-27 win over Maryland, which brought the Wildcats’ record to 3-1 in the series.
–Field Level Media
