Running back Brandon Ross celebrates his touchdown with teammates during Maryland’s 31-30 loss to Penn State at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Oct. 24, 2015.
Game: Wisconsin
Stadium: Byrd Stadium, College Park, Maryland
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
Terps fashion: Red uniforms, red pants, hand-painted helmets
Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Gametime weather forecast: Cloudy, 59 degrees with 15 percent chance of precipitation
Captains: Amba Etta-Tawo (offense) A.J. Hendy (defense), Avery Thompson (special teams)
Flag bearers: Center Evan Mulrooney (USA), Defensive tackle Azubuike Ukandu (Md.)
Momentum: The Terps have lost five in a row, but maintain they haven’t given up on the season. The team needs to win all of its remaining games to qualify for a bowl game. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is second in the Big Ten West Division and is angling for a high-profile postseason bowl.
Three Terps to watch
Right tackle Derwin Gray will make his first career start saturday and join a unit that’s helped quarterback Perry Hills rush for 100 yards or more in three consecutive games. Mental errors have been a problem for Gray, but if he can eliminate those mistakes, he has the talent to hold his own.
Cornerback Will Likely has been a bright spot in the terps secondary. While he doesn’t have any interceptions, the junior leads the Terps with 10 pass breakups, seven more than the second-highest total on the team. Likely’s explosiveness in the return game could prove crucial Saturday against a Wisconsin team that’s first in the nation in scoring defense.
Kicker Brad Craddock has come a long way since his freshman homecoming when he missed a 33-yard game-winning attempt against N.C. State. The reigning Lou Groza award winner competes in his final homecoming Saturday against Wisconsin.
READ MORE: Craddock has become one of the nation’s best kickers
Three Badgers to watch
Running back Corey Clement returned from a sports hernia injury last week and rushed for 115 yards on 11 carries against Rutgers. Clement, who is listed as the backup on the depth chart, might have limited touches Saturday. But Clement is a big-play threat, as he’s averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season.
Linebacker Joe Schobert is third in the Big Ten in sacks (9.5) and second in tackles for loss (14.5). The former walk-on leads a Wisconsin team that ranks third in the nation in total defense. The senior is also second on the Badgers with 56 tackles.
Wide receiver Alex Erickson is a crucial part of the fourth-best passing offense in the Big Ten. The redshirt senior is third in the conference with 6.4 receptions per game and fourth in receiving yards with 83.1 per game. The former walk-on is coming off one of his best receiving performances of the season, a 6-catch, 103-yard day against Rutgers.
For updates: Follow beat writers Joshua Needelman (@JoshNeedelman), Phillip Suitts (@PhillipSuitts), columnist Ryan Baillargeon (@RyanBaillargeon) and DBK Sports (@DBKSports) on Twitter for in-game news and commentary.
Related readings:
[ READ MORE: Preview: Terps prepare to test Wisconsin’s No. 1 scoring defense ][ READ MORE: THE MISS ][ READ MORE: BAILLARGEON: A formal apology to Maryland kicker Brad Craddock ][ READ MORE: Terps’ Yannick Ngakoue turns lessons from “pash-rush guru” into success ][ READ MORE: Derwin Gray hopes to bring strength to Maryland OL against Wisconsin ][ READ MORE: NOTEBOOK: Maryland has the worst turnover margin in the country ]
