Oregon looked nothing like the top team in the country for most of Saturday’s contest. The Ducks were nearly 100 yards below their season average, committed a season high in penalties and quarterback Dillon Gabriel had his worst game of the season.
It still didn’t matter.
Maryland football’s 39-18 loss to No. 1 Oregon was a mixed bag. The Terps hung with the Ducks for a half, a positive sign in a down season. But the defeat also showed how far Maryland is from competing with the top schools in the Big Ten.
“When you’re playing good teams like Oregon, they do not need help,” coach Michael Locksley said. “That’s why I’m so frustrated.”
In nearly every season under Locksley, Maryland has played a game similar to Saturday. The Terps compete against an elite Big Ten team for most of the contest before ultimately suffering a double-digit loss.
The Terps were tied with No. 4 Ohio State at halftime a year ago but fell by 20. Both Michigan and the Buckeyes, top-five opponents, escaped with wins against the Terps in 2022. A season before, Maryland and Penn State made it to the fourth quarter until the Nittany Lions pulled away.
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The schools the Terps need to measure themselves against have grown. Oregon was a premier team in the Pac-12 before conference realignment. Indiana, in the first year under coach Curt Cignetti, has added another challenge.
Oregon’s high-level talent lets it overcome self-inflicted mistakes, including the muffed punt, three first quarter drops and a roughing the kicker penalty that occurred on Saturday. The Terps can’t afford to do the same.
Every time the Ducks provided leeway, Maryland needed to take full advantage. It had to play near perfect football to have a chance at an upset, a tough task for an unproven group.
“It’s like a link in the chain,” senior defensive back Dante Trader Jr. said. “[When] one link in the chain breaks, the whole thing is done.”
Maryland had chances to get off to a hot start in Eugene. The offense reached the red zone on the game’s first drive and Oregon gave advantageous field position after its offense initially went three-and-out.
But the Terps settled for a field goal on their opening possession, punted on the next and a Billy Edwards Jr. fumble soon after resulted in a defensive touchdown. The Terps quickly found themselves down 14-3. Edwards also missed wide receiver Shaleak Knotts on a slant pass over the middle during that stretch, which could’ve gone for big yardage.
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Maryland still trailed by just two scores at halftime. It even forced a punt to start the second half. But the offense merely responded with a punt of its own and failed to convert on fourth down on its ensuing drive. The rout was on after that.
“When you play a great team like Oregon … everything matters just a little bit more,” Edwards said.
Defensive coordinator Brian Williams’ unit played inspiring football against the 11th-best offense in the country. Maryland slowed down Oregon’s run game in the first half and forced Gabriel into a season-low 183 yards.
But Oregon still exceeded its season scoring average. The game never truly felt in doubt.
“For us to win, all three phases have to play complimentary,” Locksley said.
The loss was a sobering reminder that other teams in the Big Ten can play poorly against the Terps and still prevail. The same isn’t the case for Maryland.
