Lessons from Maryland football’s 27-24 loss to Michigan State

The Maryland football team entered Saturday hoping to move to 2-0 and build on their dominating performance against UConn last week, but instead the Terps suffered a bitter 27-24 loss to Michigan State.

Maryland is 1-1 for the first time since 2020. They were favored to win by more than one touchdown, but they let the victory slip away several times.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Self-inflicted wounds sealed Maryland’s fate

The Terps faced a third-and-1 at their own 44-yard line with 3:21 minutes left in the first half. Nolan Ray lined up as the Wildcat quarterback in the shotgun position. Before he could call for the snap, Dylan Wade – lined up as fullback – lost his balance. False start. Maryland went out with three attempts.

This game embodied a night in which the Terps repeatedly fell on their face.

No mistake was more costly than Jalen Huskey’s just before halftime. Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim missed wide left from 55 yards on the final play of the second quarter. But the attempt was canceled when Huskey jumped the line too early and went offside. Kim’s second attempt from 50 yards was good. That mistake gave Michigan State three free points – the same number Maryland lost by.

In the fourth quarter, Jack Howes missed a 41-yard attempt of his own. That miss cost Maryland the number of points it lost by.

On Michigan State’s final drive, Maryland forced a fourth down early, but a pass interference call against Huskey extended the drive that ultimately led to the win.

Braeden Wisloski caught a kickoff a few yards inside the end zone with 10 minutes left in the second quarter. He decided to take the ball out, which turned out to be a mistake. He was pressured at the 10-yard line and a block in the back brought Maryland back to their own 5-yard line. That drive fizzled out.

And a lack of discipline in the run defense led to a number of big gains for the Spartans. Michigan State had five runs of at least 10 yards, several times through self-created gaps. That’s not something the Terps can afford against Big Ten competition.

Maryland’s secondary school had a very bad day

Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles rushed for 363 yards and three touchdowns, a number that would have been even higher had the Spartans’ quarterback not made a number of poor throws.

Perry Fisher was questionable because of a hand injury. He played, but only in limited capacity. Freshmen Kevyn Humes and Braydon Lee, as well as junior Lionel Whittaker, were often on the field. None of them lived up to expectations.

“We have young cornerbacks and some guys who are playing for us for the first time,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “It’s about these guys growing up a little bit and learning the lessons that come with failing, like we failed today.”

Humes especially struggled, losing on several long passes, including a 77-yard touchdown to Nick Marsh that tied the game at 24-24. Marsh had 194 yards on eight catches.

Maryland did record three interceptions, but all three were essentially passed to the defense. Two of those interceptions came after poor throws. The third interception came when the ball slipped out of Chiles’ hands during a third-down windup and fell directly into Glen Miller’s lap.

With such a defensive performance, it is extremely difficult to win a game.

Billy Edwards Jr. to Tai Felton are a recipe for success

If Maryland can be proud of one thing, it’s the connection Edwards and Felton have built for the second week in a row.

Felton looked like a real star against Michigan State, consistently making plays when his number was called, creating consistent spacing before the catch and making defenders miss afterward. He finished the game with 11 catches for 152 yards and a score, a week after racking up 178 yards and two scores against UConn. Everything seems to be improving for the senior – including his NFL Draft rating.

Edwards dispelled concerns that last week was a fluke. Despite the loss, he led the offense valiantly, looked confident in the pocket and made his passes quickly and accurately. He finished the game with 253 passing yards and two passing touchdowns on a 76.4% passing percentage. He also scored a rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.

The only blemish on his record was an interception on Michigan State’s side of the field early in the fourth quarter. But Edwards did enough to win the game for the Terps. The team around him couldn’t.