Nebraska heads into its first true road test of the 2025 season against Maryland in College Park. Both teams sit at 4–1 (1–1 in Big Ten play), and this game carries outsized importance: for Nebraska, it’s a chance to prove it can win away from home and push toward playoff relevance; for Maryland, it’s a proving ground to bounce back from a gutting collapse and maintain bowl-season momentum.
Nebraska’s Offense vs Maryland’s Defense
Despite an incredibly rough few quarters against Michigan State, Nebraska still comes into Saturday with one of the most productive and diverse offenses in the Big Ten. It will be tested greatly by a strong Maryland unit that has given up just 10 total points in the first halves of games this year and is led up front by a pair of talented freshmen pass rushers. Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis have combined for 7 combined sacks and are terrors off the edge. Stewart, especially, has been a problem for offensive lines, and his ejection for targeting late in the first half of last week’s loss to Washington, was an impetus for the Huskies’ second half scoring bonanza. With Nebraska’s offense struggling to avoid sacks the last two weeks, the Terrapin front that leads the league in sacks will provide a major challenge.
Maryland also leads the conference in turnovers forced, largely thanks to that fierce pass rush. The major recipients have been defensive backs La’khi Roland and Jalen Huskey who have two interceptions a piece. The Huskers have not turned the ball over more than once in a game this season, and if they can avoid doing so against this greedy bunch on Saturday, it should help keep the average Terps offense from denting the scoreboard.
Nebraska Defense vs Maryland Offense
Yes, the Maryland offense isn’t spectacular statistically, but it is dangerous. Leading the charge is yet another big, athletic passer in Malik Washington. The true freshman from nearby Glen Burnie has had an excellent start to the season, showing incredible poise for his age. He is not as dynamic as a runner as former Husker foes Brendan Sorsby, Bryce Underwood, and Aiden Chiles—the Terps call less designed runs—but he is a more accurate thrower than all of them.
He has two major deep threats on the outside in Ocatvian Smith and Shaleak Knotts, who both average an eye-popping 17 yards per reception. They are complimented by high volume targets Jalil Farooq and tight end Dorian Fleming. The Terp passing game does a great job of attacking all areas of the field, and will be a major test to Nebraska’s top ranked passing defense.
On the other hand, the rushing game has been problematic for Maryland. The Terps are among the worst teams in the country with just a 93.2 yard per game average. In fact, they have 20 less rushing attempts than any other team in the conference. For a Blackshirt defense that stood up well agains the run last time out, it will be important to keep that number low and force Maryland to be one dimensional. Washington does use his feet more near the goal line, so corralling him better than the Huskers did Chiles last week will also be important.
On paper, this looks to be a good matchup for the Blackshirts. It should provide an opportunity for the Husker pass rushers to take another step toward being a feared group after a good showing against the Spartans next week. With the Maryland defense also looking like a strong unit, this could turn into a low-scoring fist fight in College Park.
Game Notes
- This season marks the latest in the calendar NU has played its first true road game since 2013, when it first visited an opponents home stadium on October 12.
- Saturday’s game is just the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools, all since Maryland joined the Big Ten before the 2014 season.
- This will be just the second time the Huskers have traveled to College Park to face the Terps.
- Nebraska holds a 2-1 edge in the series, including a 54-7 victory at Maryland in 2019.
- That 47-point margin is the largest point differential in a road win since joining the league. The 54 points is also a high for conference road games.
- The last game between these two teams was a 13-10 Maryland victory in Lincoln in 2023. The Terps kicked a field goal on the game’s final play in Matt Rhules first season.
- Nebraska is the last Big Ten team to play a road game this season.
- The Huskers have 263 punt return yards this season and have held their opponents to -1. The 273 punt return yards rank 13th nationally.
Broadcast Info
TV: BTN (Guy Haberman, Jake Butt, Brooke Fletcher)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kyle Crooks, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
Internet Audio: Huskers.com
App Audio: Official Huskers App