MADISON, Wisconsin — Maryland football’s Big Ten opener was billed as freshman quarterback Malik Washington against his predecessor, Billy Edwards Jr., at Wisconsin.
Edwards played just one full drive before spending the day on the sidelines, while Washington, in his first road-start, benefitted from strong defense and special teams play — leaving his mark with three total touchdowns and a pair of decisive deep shots.
The Terps defeated the Badgers, 27-10, at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday. It marked the first time that coach Michael Locksley has defeated Wisconsin during his current seven-year stint at Maryland. The Terps (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) also beat a conference opponent while starting a true freshman quarterback for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
“We’re super proud of this team. Big Ten road wins are not easy to come by,” Locksley said. “I really love the heart of this team. I like the way we’re growing. We’re growing together [and] we still have a lot of room to grow.”
Locksley noted ahead of the game that he wasn’t preparing any differently despite his former quarterback playing for the opposition. After being labeled as questionable for the entire week with a left knee sprain, Edwards donned a bulky brace.
The graduate student tossed just three passes, including a 45-yard completion on the second play of the game. But the drive halted after freshman Zahir Mathis burst off the edge and stuffed a 38-yard field goal attempt.
Quarterback Danny O’Neil entered for the Badgers’ (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) second drive and threw an interception to safety Jalen Huskey, who returned it to the Wisconsin four-yard line. Washington followed with his second-career rushing score on a designed keeper.
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The Terps’ next block — which made them the first FBS school since 2020 to block a field goal and punt in the same quarter — set up another touchdown.
Freshman safety Messiah Delhomme deflected a punt with 11 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Starting in opposing territory, Washington delivered a nine-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Shaleak Knotts — who has scored in every game this season.
Washington put the team in kicking range at the end of the first half with a 46-yard pass to Octavian Smith Jr. Kicker Sean O’Haire’s second kick of the game put the Terps ahead 20-7 as time expired.
Smith finished the game with 113 receiving yards, a new-career high after setting one last week against Towson. The senior receiver has connected with Washington for seven catches of over 15 yards through four games.
The Badgers scored their first points with a field goal in the third quarter and didn’t score a touchdown until 28 seconds remained in the game. Maryland’s defense recorded six sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss.
“We just came into this game so confident,” Huskey said. “We wanted to show everyone that this isn’t the same old Maryland that we’ve been.”
Washington delivered a final deep-ball in the fourth quarter to his other primary target. The Archbishop Spalding product connected with Knotts down the middle for a 62-yard touchdown to cap a 99-yard drive. Knotts has five catches over 25 yards this season.
Washington became the first Maryland freshman quarterback to start against a conference foe since Tyrrell Pigrome in 2016 — with Perry Hills the last to win a game, in 2012, when the Terps were in the ACC.
“There’s something special about him,” Knotts said of Washington. “He just has the spark, has the leadership role as a young player.”
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Washington noted that the loudest environments he played in prior to the game were Maryland’s home games to start the season — with 36,780 reported spectators against Towson the most attended.
Locksley said the team piped crowd noise into practice to prepare for tougher communication, though Washington said ahead of the game that he didn’t want to focus too much on adjusting his signal-calling for the noise.
“The atmosphere was great, it was amazing. But the team — we stayed as one,” Washington said. “I don’t think [the fans] played that much of an impact at all … we have so much trust in one another when we’re all communicating.”
Wisconsin reported a turnout of 68,547 fans following the game, with fans booing and chanting to fire coach Luke Fickell throughout.
For a freshman in his first conference road game, Washington completed 18 of 34 passes for 265 passing yards. The performance emptied Camp Randall by the end of the game — a factor he didn’t need to worry about after all.
