Maryland-Nebraska Preview: Is There Any Bounce-Back Left for the Terps?

By Charles Harris — Ravori Sports

It is only the first week of October, and somehow it already feels like Maryland football is playing out the string.

That is the feeling surrounding the Terrapins as they head to Lincoln to take on Nebraska Saturday afternoon. Maryland is 2-2, 0-1 in the Big Ten, and coming off one of the most embarrassing losses of the Mike Locksley era — a 54-3 destruction at the hands of UCLA. The Terps did not just lose. They were dominated, particularly after halftime, and now they have to travel to Nebraska to face a Cornhuskers team sitting at 4-0 and coming off a 31-13 road victory over Michigan State.

And somehow, Mike Locksley gets to coach another game.

That is not speculation about what Maryland's administration will ultimately decide about his future. It is simply the reality heading into Saturday. Locksley is still the head coach, and now he gets another opportunity to get his team ready to play. For Charles Harris and Ravori Sports, the question is simple:

Is there any bounce-back left?

Because after watching Maryland get embarrassed by UCLA, that is the question that matters more than the standings.

The Terps do not need to convince anybody that they can suddenly turn into a championship contender. They need to show that they still have some fight.

They need to show that the UCLA game was a disaster — not a preview of what the rest of 2026 is going to look like.

And they need to show it immediately.

Maryland travels to Lincoln Saturday for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on FS1. The Terps are 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while Nebraska enters the game 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play.

The UCLA Game Changed the Conversation

Let's not sugarcoat this.

Losing to UCLA is one thing.

Losing 54-3 at home is something else entirely.

Maryland entered that game with a chance to build momentum. Instead, UCLA ran through the Terps and exposed problems that have been building.

The Bruins rushed for 266 yards, while Maryland managed only three points. Malik Washington threw for 142 yards, and the offense never found enough consistency to make the game competitive.

That type of loss changes the conversation.

Now Maryland has to answer questions about toughness, execution, leadership and whether this team has enough left to make the season meaningful.

That is where the Ravori Sports perspective comes in.

Charles Harris is not asking Maryland to suddenly become something it is not. The question is whether this team can respond when things have gone badly.

That starts Saturday.

Mike Locksley Gets Another Shot

Mike Locksley gets to coach.

That sentence alone is significant considering the frustration surrounding this program.

Maryland has lost two straight games, including the UCLA embarrassment, and now Locksley gets a road opportunity against a Nebraska team that is playing with confidence.

The matchup also brings another chapter in the Locksley-Matt Rhule coaching rivalry.

Maryland defeated Nebraska 13-10 in Lincoln in 2023, forcing five turnovers and winning on a Jack Howes field goal as time expired. Nebraska returned the favor last season, rallying for a 34-31 victory in College Park.

Now they meet again.

And this time the circumstances are different.

Nebraska is 4-0 for the first time since 2016. Maryland is trying to stop a two-game losing streak before October gets away from it.

That puts the pressure squarely on Maryland.

Malik Washington Has to Respond

Malik Washington has already shown that he can produce.

Against Virginia Tech, Washington threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns.

Against UCLA, he was held to 142 passing yards.

That difference tells the story of Maryland's season so far.

Washington needs protection. He needs help from the running game. He needs his receivers to make plays. And Maryland needs to create situations where its quarterback is not constantly trying to save the offense.

Nebraska's defense is coming off a game in which it recorded six sacks and forced three turnovers against Michigan State.

That is a problem Maryland cannot ignore.

If Nebraska can consistently pressure Washington, Maryland could be looking at another long afternoon.

The offensive line has to give him time.

The coaching staff has to create easier opportunities.

And Washington has to make the big throws when they are there.

Chris Durr Jr. Is a Major Weapon

Chris Durr Jr. has been one of the most consistent weapons Maryland has.

He has recorded at least six receptions in every game this season.

Nebraska knows that.

Matt Rhule specifically mentioned Durr when discussing cornerback Andrew Marshall and the challenge Nebraska's secondary will face against Maryland's outside receivers.

That should tell Maryland everything it needs to know.

Get Durr involved.

Do not wait until the second half.

Do not let Nebraska dictate the matchup.

Move him around. Get him targets. Make Nebraska account for him on every possession.

If Maryland wants to keep this game competitive, Durr needs to be part of the offensive game plan from the opening whistle.

Nebraska Is Not Waiting Around

This is where the matchup gets difficult.

Nebraska is 4-0, and the Cornhuskers are playing balanced football.

Nebraska is averaging 236.5 rushing yards and 246.3 passing yards per game while scoring 42.5 points per game. The Huskers also have 26 offensive plays of at least 20 yards through four games.

That is not a team Maryland can afford to give extra possessions.

The Terps have to tackle.

They have to limit explosive plays.

They have to create turnovers.

And they cannot allow Nebraska to control the line of scrimmage.

Because if Maryland falls behind early, the pressure on Washington becomes even greater.

Nebraska is playing like a team that expects to win.

Maryland needs to play like a team that refuses to accept another embarrassing performance.

Is There Any Bounce-Back Left?

Yes.

There is still a bounce-back available.

But it has to start Saturday.

Maryland is 2-2. The season is not over. There are still Big Ten games remaining, and a strong response in Lincoln could completely change the tone around this team.

But another blowout would make the questions much louder.

That is the reality.

This is not just about Nebraska.

It is about whether Maryland still has enough pride to fight.

It is about whether the players believe in each other.

It is about whether the coaching staff can make adjustments.

And, ultimately, it is about whether Mike Locksley can get his team ready after the worst loss of the season.

This Is Bigger Than Nebraska

Charles Harris and Ravori Sports have talked about this Maryland program throughout the season, and the biggest concern now is not simply the record.

It is the direction.

A team can lose football games and still show something.

It can lose and compete.

It can lose and fight until the final whistle.

That was not what Maryland showed against UCLA.

That is why Saturday matters.

Maryland needs to show some fight.

Protect Washington.

Get Durr involved.

Establish something resembling a running game.

Create turnovers.

Limit Nebraska's explosive plays.

And, most importantly, play with some urgency.

Because it is October.

There is still time.

But there is not unlimited time.

The Ravori Sports Challenge

Here is the challenge from Charles Harris and Ravori Sports:

Show some fight.

That is it.

Maryland does not have to win Saturday to prove everything is fixed.

But the Terps need to look like a football team that still believes it can accomplish something.

They need to look organized.

They need to look physical.

They need to look prepared.

They need to look like they actually learned something from the UCLA disaster.

Maybe Maryland is playing out the string.

Maybe UCLA was the breaking point.

Or maybe — just maybe — that 54-3 loss was the wake-up call this team desperately needed.

We are about to find out.

The Terps do not need a miracle.

They need a response.

They need toughness.

They need execution.

They need leadership.

And they need their head coach to have this team ready to play.

Because if Maryland walks into Lincoln and gets pushed around again, the questions are not going away.

They are only getting louder.

Mike Locksley gets to coach the game.

Malik Washington gets another chance.

Maryland gets another chance.

Now let's see if the Terps have anything left.

Because if there is a bounce-back coming, Saturday against Nebraska is the time to show it.