After going through a gauntlet of a schedule last season that included road games at West Virginia, Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan State, the Terps find themselves with a more favorable draw in 2016. However, competing in the Big Ten’s East Division is never a cakewalk.
A new coaching staff is hoping to breathe life into a Maryland program that finished the 2015 season 3-9, and while first years can sometimes be bumpy for new regimes, there is reason to be excited for the Terps’ potential this season with a young, hungry team and what appears to be a manageable schedule.
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As always, certain games will be more challenging than others, but here’s how TSR ranks the games on Maryland’s schedule this season from easiest to hardest.
12. Howard University Bison
Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD
Head Coach: Gary Harrell
Top Returning Players: Myles Williams (RS Senior WR), Toree Boyd (Junior OL), Travon Hunt (Junior DB), John Fleck (Senior K/P)
Series Record: 0-0
Maryland and Howard will meet in College Park to kick off the 2016 regular season for what will be the Terps’ first-ever meeting with the FCS school from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This game should be nothing more than a tuneup for Maryland as the Terps embark on their first season with D.J. Durkin and Co. at the helm. The Terps will be monster favorites against the Bison and should start the season 1-0 with ease. There’s also a good chance that Maryland could pull its starters with a big lead and give its reserves some playing time.
11. University of Central Florida Knights
Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL
Head Coach: Scott Frost
Top Returning Players: Justin Holman (Senior QB), Tre’Quan Smith (Sophomore WR), Drico Johnson (Senior DB), Jamiyus Pittman (Junior DT)
Series Record: 0-0
UCF is another team that the Terps have never played against on the gridiron. Also like its season opener against Howard, this should be another inaugural meeting that Maryland wins handily. After an 0-12 season in 2015, the Knights cleared house and are now going in a new direction with former Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost calling the shots. UCF returns a lot of talent, especially on offense, so the Terps should not take the Knights likely and expect a team like last year’s winless bunch.
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10. Florida International University Panthers
FIU Stadium, Miami, FL
Head Coach: Ron Turner
Top Returning Players: Alex McGough (Junior QB), Alex Gardner (Junior RB), Niko Gonzalez (Junior DB), Tyree Johnson (Sophomore DB)
Series Record: Maryland leads 4-0
Last time the Terps and Panthers played--Aug. 31, 2013--Maryland won big 43-10 in its season opener and went on to finish the year with 7-6 record under Randy Edsall. These teams meet this time around for the second game of the season and it will be Maryland’s first test against an FBS team in 2016. The Terps will be on the road where anything can happen, so Durkin will have to make sure his team is not letting its guard down against an FIU squad looking to make its first bowl game in program history this year.
9. Purdue University Boilermakers
Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD
Head Coach: Darrell Hazell
Top Returning Players: Markell Jones (Sophomore RB), DeAngelo Yancey (Senior WR), Jake Replogle (Senior DT), Ja’Whaun Bentley (Junior LB)
Series Record: Maryland leads 1-0
Despite the Terps entering their third season as members of the Big Ten, Maryland and Purdue have only squared off once. The Terps’ 24-7 victory over the Boilermakers in the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl was the last and only time these two teams met. The Boilermakers won just two games last season and not much more is expected of them in 2016. This will kick off Maryland’s Big Ten schedule and be the Terps’ home opener against an FBS team. Purdue is 6-30 overall and 2-22 in the Big Ten under Hazell, and Maryland would like to add to that trend.
8. Rutgers University Scarlet Knights
Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD
Head Coach: Chris Ash
Top Returning Players: Robert Martin (Junior RB), Josh Hicks (Junior RB), Darius Hamilton (Senior DT), Janarion Grant (Senior WR/KR)
Series Record: Maryland leads 6-5
The arranged rivalry between the Terps and the Scarlet Knights will write another chapter this season with the two teams splitting their first two meetings as members of the Big Ten. Rutgers is another team with a new coaching staff, led by former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chris Ash. He’ll have his hands full in his first year as the Scarlet Knights head coach as Rutgers tries to overcome significant roster turnover and learn a new scheme. A close game has come to be expected when Maryland and Rutgers meet. The last two games between them have been decided by a combined eight points.
7. University of Minnesota Golden Gophers
Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD
Head Coach: Tracy Claeys
Top Returning Players: Cody Poock (Junior LB), Jack Lynn (Senior LB), Shannon Brooks (Sophomore RB), Rodney Smith (Sophomore RB)
Series Record: Maryland leads 1-0
The Gophers are another Big Ten team that the Terps have very little history with. Minnesota finished its season strong last year with a win over Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl and the interim tag has been taken off of head coach Tracy Claeys, who took over when Jerry Kill retired midseason due to health concerns. The Gophers return most of the skill players on offense and defense and are hoping to return to a bowl game in 2016. This will be Maryland’s second cross-divisional matchup in a three-week span and the Terps will certainly want to stash away another win before hitting the toughest stretch of their schedule.
