FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (52,929) — Bloomington, Indiana.
Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: UM 1-1, IU 1-0. Away Record: UM 2-0,
IU 1-1. Neutral Record: UM 0-0, IU 0-0. Conference Record: UM 0-0, IU 0-0.
Series Record: Indiana leads, 2-0.
GAME NOTES: The Maryland Terrapins will make their Big Ten Conference debut on
Saturday afternoon when they pay a visit to Memorial Stadium to take on the
Indiana Hoosiers.
Maryland is 3-1 on the season and is coming off last weekend’s 34-20 triumph
at Syracuse. That outcome marked the Terrapins’ fourth straight road victory
dating back to last season, their longest such streak since 2002. Following
this tilt, it will be nearly a month until they hit the road again to face
Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, Indiana is coming off a 31-27 win at No. 18 Missouri, which marked
their first victory over a top-20 team since 2006, and the first on the road
since 1987. The back-and-forth affair was ultimately decided when D’Angelo
Roberts scored his second touchdown of the game on a three-yard run with 22
seconds remaining in regulation. The Hoosiers will wrap up their non-
conference slate versus North Texas next week.
IU owns a 2-0 lead in the all-time series with the Terps, although the teams
last met way back in 1935.
Maryland’s offense is guided by dual-threat quarterback C.J. Brown, who is
averaging 208 passing yards and a team-best 61 rushing yards per game. Brown’s
eight career 100-yard rushing performances are the most all-time for a
Terrapins quarterback, and he is the only player in school history to both
pass and rush for 20 or more touchdowns.
While he continues to develop his passing skills (.558), Brown is coming off
an efficient outing at Syracuse as he completed 16-of-26 passes (62 percent)
for 280 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Stefon Diggs headlined
the receiving corps with a game-high six catches for 56 yards, and he paces
the team in receptions (23) and receiving yards (286) through the first four
games.
Maryland’s defense allowed Syracuse to rack up 26 first downs and 589 yards of
total offense. However, the Terps also came up with an interception and a
fumble recovery, and they gave up only two TDs (and a field goal) out of five
trips inside the red zone for the Orange. Syracuse was also held to 4-of-14
success on third downs. Sophomore defensive back William Likely provided a key
play late in the first half when he returned an interception (his second of
the season) 88 yards for a touchdown. He finished with a game-high nine
tackles. Andre Monroe, the team’s active leader with 17.5 career sacks, added
another to his total.
Roberts played the role of hero for the Hoosiers in their upset win over
nationally-ranked Missouri with two touchdowns on the day. His game-winning
three-yard score capped a decisive six-play, 75-yard drive in the final
minutes. But make no mistake, Tevin Coleman is the running back who will
keep Maryland’s defensive staff up at nights this week. Coleman ran for 132
yards and a score on 19 carries, marking his fifth straight 100-yard game to
tie the longest streak in the nation. His streak of 12 straight games with a
touchdown is also the longest in the nation. Coleman, who is averaging a
ridiculous 8.6 yards per carry, entered the week as the FBS leader in rushing
yards (189.7) and all-purpose yards (221.3).
Indiana’s defense got a big spark from linebacker Tegray Scales, who recorded
five tackles, one sack and a quarterback hurry to earn Big Ten co-Freshman of
the Week honors. But really, it was a total team effort as the Hoosiers racked
up 11 tackles for loss held Missouri two TDs below its scoring average while
going just 5-for-16 on third down. The Tigers made three trips inside the red
zone and managed just one touchdown. Mark Murphy added an interception for
Indiana on the first play of the second half.
It has been 80 years since Maryland last played a game in the state of
Indiana. But the Terps defense will have their hands full with Coleman, while
the Hoosiers figure to bring plenty of confidence into this home tilt after
knocking off a ranked opponent.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Indiana 37, Maryland 27
