NFL
Two games into the 2026 season, Maryland football has accomplished what every program hopes to accomplish in September: It has won both games and given itself room to grow.
The Terrapins opened with a dominant victory over Hampton and followed it with a 38-14 road win at UConn. Through two games, Maryland has scored 100 points and surrendered only 14.
Those numbers have created an encouraging opening for a program entering another important season under coach Mike Locksley.
Still, there is a difference between starting quickly and proving that the early success can last.
For Maryland, that next question arrives Saturday night.
The Terps Have Wasted Little Time Finding Their Rhythm
Maryland’s season opener against Hampton was never in serious doubt. The Terps controlled the game from the start, giving the coaching staff valuable playing time to players who could become important contributors later in the season.
The trip to UConn proved more revealing.
The Huskies entered the game after a 56-7 victory over Lafayette, but Maryland responded with a balanced performance that eventually put the game away. The Terps finished with a 24-point victory and returned to College Park with a 2-0 record.
For a team still developing its identity, the first two games have provided an ideal introduction.
Maryland has built confidence without having to survive a one-score game in the opening weeks.
By the Numbers
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Record: 2-0
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Points scored: 100
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Points allowed: 14
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Sacks against UConn: 5
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Next opponent: Virginia Tech
The numbers are impressive, but Maryland knows the level of competition is about to change.
Washington Gives Maryland a Steady Hand at Quarterback
Quarterback Malik Washington has emerged as one of the season’s early storylines.
Washington completed 24 of 27 passes for 347 yards against UConn. After an inconsistent beginning, he found his rhythm and completed 18 straight passes during one stretch.
That efficiency is particularly valuable for a Maryland offense trying to develop continuity.
A quarterback does not have to make every spectacular play to control a game. Avoiding unnecessary mistakes, getting the ball to playmakers and keeping the offense on schedule can be just as important.
Washington has shown those qualities during the opening weeks.
The challenge will be maintaining them as Maryland faces defenses with more depth and experience.
Defense Gives the Terps Another Foundation
Maryland’s defense has been just as encouraging.
Through two games, the Terps have allowed only 14 points. Against UConn, Maryland’s defensive front consistently disrupted the Huskies’ offense, producing five sacks and limiting UConn to 2.2 yards per carry.
That performance could prove significant as the season progresses.
The Big Ten is built on physical play, and Maryland will eventually have to face some of the conference’s strongest offensive lines and running games.
If the Terps can continue creating pressure without sacrificing coverage in the secondary, the defense could become an important part of the team’s identity.
For now, though, the early statistics are only a starting point.
There Is Still Work to Do on Special Teams
The opening two victories have not been perfect.
Maryland missed a field goal against UConn, one of several details the coaching staff will want to clean up before conference play.
Those mistakes can be easy to overlook when a team wins comfortably.
They become much harder to ignore when the opponent can match Maryland possession for possession.
Field position, kicking and coverage units could become especially important during the Big Ten portion of the schedule, when games are likely to be decided by smaller margins.
The Terps have time to address those issues. Their schedule, however, is moving quickly.
Virginia Tech Offers Maryland Its First Real Measuring Stick
Virginia Tech will visit SECU Stadium on Sept. 19 for Maryland’s final nonconference game.
The matchup is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on FS1.
The game lets Maryland do more than add another win to its record.
It also gives the Terps a chance to see how the pieces fit against a tougher opponent.
The Hampton game demonstrated Maryland’s ability to overwhelm an opponent. UConn showed that the Terps could travel and handle a more competitive environment.
Virginia Tech should provide another layer of information.
How will Washington respond when the defense applies more pressure? Can Maryland’s offensive line maintain its protection? Will the defense continue to control the line of scrimmage?
Those answers could be more meaningful than the final margin.
Then Comes the Big Ten
Maryland’s conference opener is Sept. 26 against UCLA at SECU Stadium.
The schedule becomes even more demanding from there, with Nebraska and Ohio State among the opponents waiting later in the season. Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin are also on the conference schedule.
That makes these early weeks particularly valuable.
Maryland has a chance to identify reliable players before the stakes rise. Coaches can experiment with personnel, young players can gain experience, and the offense can establish an identity.
Once Big Ten play begins, there will be less room for experimentation.
The Questions Maryland Must Answer
The Terps’ early record has answered some questions, but it has also created new ones.
- Can Washington remain efficient against better defenses?
- Can Maryland protect him when opponents increase the pressure?
- Will the running game remain consistent?
- Can the defense produce the same pressure against stronger offensive lines?
- Will special teams become more reliable?
And perhaps most importantly, can Maryland maintain its discipline when games become significantly closer?
Those questions will define the next stage of the season.
A Promising Beginning, With Plenty Left to Prove
Maryland has no reason to apologize for how it has started.
The Terps are 2-0. They have scored 100 points. Their defense has surrendered only 14. Washington has provided an efficient presence at quarterback, while the defense has shown it can pressure opposing offenses.
But the season is not decided in September.
Virginia Tech represents the final nonconference hurdle before Maryland turns its attention to UCLA and the Big Ten.
The early victories have given the Terps something important: momentum.
Now they need to determine what that momentum is worth.
Saturday night’s game will offer the first opportunity.
And after that, the schedule gets serious.
For Maryland, the 2026 season has started exactly the way it wanted.
The challenge now is to make sure the fast start becomes more than a promising beginning.
