Maryland football vs. UConn preview

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While some concerns remain, Maryland football’s season opener couldn’t have gone much better.

The Terps returned to SECU Stadium Saturday night and dominated an outmatched Hampton squad, 62-0. DeJuan Williams and Iverson Howard led the way on offense while a defensive line platoon carried the weight to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard.

However, Maryland will need to put the impressive result – along with several off-the-field issues – in the rear-view mirror; the Terps now hit the road to face a UConn team that has repeatedly proven its ability to win difficult football games.

Maryland will get another chance to prove itself Saturday at 3:30 ET in Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.

UConn Huskies (1-0)

2025 record: 9-4

After being just three overtime wins away from a perfect 2025 regular season, former head coach Jim Mora resigned, leaving a gaping hole in Connecticut football. The Huskies brought in then-Toledo head coach Jason Candle in an effort to calm the turbulence among the roster and coaching staff. Candle coached the Rockets for 10 seasons, most recently steering them to a comfortable 8-4 record last season.

However, Mora’s departure caused many players to abruptly exit the program. Over the offseason, UConn added 64 new players to the roster – with 57 of them arriving via the transfer portal – after 49 players opted to follow their former coach out the door.

This leaves the Huskies in uncharted waters despite their massive success less than a year ago. It also leads them into a matchup with a Maryland team that had a completely different offseason – over 70% of last year’s Terps returned for another ride in 2026.

Players to watch

Kalieb Osborne, junior quarterback, No. 7 – Following Candle to East Harford as one of many Toledo transfers on UConn’s roster, Osborne may be one of the most crucial pieces on this new-look team. The quarterback had solid numbers in a backup role last season and will provide an additional threat on the ground. Osborne totaled 355 yards from scrimmage against Lafayette in the season opener and could be a fresh challenge for Maryland’s defense.

K’Von Sherman, senior linebacker, No. 0 – While Sherman won’t be able to receive any conference honors this season, his 94 tackles and 4.5 sacks for Toledo in 2025 were more than enough to earn him a spot on the All-MAC First Team. His dominance in the box is the icing on the cake for the Huskies’ well-reconstructed front seven. Maryland head coach Mike Locksley personally singled him out during Tuesday’s press conference.

“Zero is the guy that we have to make sure we know where he is. He does a great job in the blitz game as a pass rusher and in their interior blitz and pressure,” Locksley said. “So, gotta do a really good job to keep those guys out of our quarterback.”

Esean Carter, graduate student defensive tackle, No. 3 – Carter rounds out the trio of talented Toledo transfers on this roster. The lineman has proven to be elite in run-stopping situations, while he also put up a serviceable three sacks and 36 tackles in his senior season. Carter will look to make a big jump in his final season of eligibility.

Strength

The run game. The Huskies have cobbled together a running back room that could prove to be a scary sight for opponents in 2026. With Kenji Christian leading the way and Cyncir Bowers and Trey Cornist providing crucial support, UConn rushed for 301 yards and five touchdowns in week one; those numbers nearly mirror the Terps’ 374 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns against Hampton.

Weakness

The unknown. There is simply not enough film out there to form a solid and coherent diagnosis of this team. With so few returning players sticking around – and even fewer talented enough to see the field – the Huskies remain largely unproven after their 56-7 win over Lafayette. Aggressive rebuilding can often force expedited coaching and connection building, both of which can easily cause issues on the gridiron.

Three things to watch

1. What is the status of Dontay Joyner and Josiah Teasley? Many questions still surround Maryland’s decision to keep Joyner and Teasley rostered despite exterior concerns. Fans have heard Locksley comment on the pair on multiple occasions, but some players have their own stories to tell.

“Well, Coach Locks has meetings around every year with women coming in teaching us about stuff,” defensive tackle Eyan Thomas said Tuesday. “Yes, we don’t condone it, but we do believe in our brothers. We believe in second chances.” 

2. Did Malik Washington hit the tape? The sophomore quarterback looked spotty at times during the first quarter Saturday but ultimately cleaned it up before being relieved of his duties. Fans will likely get to see a more complete Washington against UConn if he is given more playing time and a longer leash.

3. DeJuan Williams’ status unknown. Williams served as Maryland’s lightning rod in the season opener, but was quickly removed from action after tweaking his knee during the first half. Due to UConn’s front seven skill, the Terps are likely doing everything in their power to get their star rusher back into playing shape.

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