OTB 2026 Staff Picks: Rutgers vs Maryland

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After having a bye week last week, Rutgers football will resume its season this week down in College Park as it is set to take on Maryland. This is Rutgers first conference road game this season, as well as Maryland’s homecoming game. As is tradition here at OnTheBanks, the staff will try to guess the score of the game and give context as to why they think that way.

Andrew Rice

This game will likely be a very high-scoring matchup, partially due to the offensive talent on both teams, but mostly due to the lack of defensive talent on both teams. Maryland has struggled all year against chunk plays in the passing game, according to Testudo Times beat reporter Nolan Rogalski, and Rutgers’ offense has KJ Duff, who specializes in chunk plays in the passing game. The Knights’ defense has struggled mightily to contain mobile quarterbacks like Malik Washington, who burned them several times last year for big gains.

This game has a high likelihood of turning into a track meet. Luckily, Rutgers has some more star power to help them win said track meet.

Rutgers 35, Maryland 31

Bob Cancro

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more”

Henry V is not among us, yet, dear friends, Sir Henry of Rutgers is. Will it make a difference?

Under Greg Schiano, across his two tenures, RU has a 13-8 all-time record coming off a bye week . However, in Schiano 2.0, he’s 4-3 including 0-2 last year. Although, in 2023 RU played a very competitive game against Ohio State coming out of a bye; they actually led at the half, 9-7. Another factoid: Rutgers has started 1-4 twice under GS; they finished 1-11 in 2002 (very different times), and, well, there’s this year.

As Andrew wrote, there is a lack of defensive talent on both squads, so the scoreboard operator better limber up his fingers. Both coaches are feeling some heat; for me, the losing coach of this game will pretty much have sealed his fate and won’t be on these sidelines in ‘27.

I do believe that for all his faults and all my criticism, Greg Schiano is a better coach than Mike Locksley. I know… it’s a pretty low bar. I do think the Knights will be ready; I think they’ll be motivated. Maybe the real question is, has either coach lost the locker room? For that, I’d so no for Schiano; the players are his and they tend to be good character players. They’ll fight for him.

Rutgers 34, Maryland 24

Ryan Castellano

I cannot have a more inaccurate prediction than my whip for the Indiana game, so let’s shake off the rust!

My favorite party trick regarding Maryland football is reminding people that Mike Locksley went 2-26 as the coach of New Mexico, and somehow is still running the show for the Terrapins, barring a loss to Rutgers on their Homecoming game of course.

Homecoming in College Park has not been much of a refuge lately. Three weeks ago, Maryland lost 54-3 to UCLA in that same building, and in the two Saturdays since, Nebraska and Ohio State put up 93 points on them combined. Rutgers is not Ohio State, and nobody needs to tell me that after Indiana, but they don’t have to be. They have to run the ball. Antwan Raymond has 469 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, and Clay Thevenin has gone from three carries in his Rutgers debut to a touchdown in three straight games. A backfield that leans on both of them early keeps Maryland’s offense on the sideline and turns a their crowd into a nervous one by halftime.

New Mexico figured out what it had after 28 games. Maryland is in year eight, Locksley is 17-51 in Big Ten play, and they’re still checking. Rutgers can save them the trouble by means of a runaway victory tomorrow.

Rutgers 38, Maryland 17

Arnav Sarkar

The Scarlet Knights come out of their bye week with one of their most winnable games of the season. However, I am not so sure they pull this one out. The Terrapins limited the margin against #5 Ohio State last week in the first half and led Nebraska 23-14 in Lincoln before completely falling apart and allowing 34 straight points to lose 48-23. Additionally, the Terps scored on a pick-six as well as forcing two fumbles, which could be a problem for a Dylan Lonergan-led offense.

After putting it together against USC and Howard for two of Rutgers’ most complete performances, the Scarlet Knights looked lifeless until garbage time, being unable to crack the scoreboard until they were down 37 to nothing against Indiana two weeks ago. Coming off of rest may help, but Rutgers will be without some of their best players in the secondary in safety Kaj Sanders and cornerback Kevin Levy. In addition, starting slot receiver Jourdin Houston is listed as doubtful, as is linebacker Ty Morris and defensive lineman Rondo Porter, with several other impact players listed as questionable on the latest injury report.

Rutgers still has KJ Duff, and Maryland has their own share of injuries, including linebacker Zahir Mathis, but the Terrapins have shown more life than the Knights and will be in their own stadium for homecoming. Additionally, the Knights’ run defense has allowed 5.79 yards per run and DeJuan Williams will be fully healthy for UMD. All in all, I see the Terrapins being able to secure a victory despite Rutgers coming off its bye week and entering a must-win contest in College Park. I could be wrong as I was last year, and I sure hope I am.

Maryland 38, Rutgers 31

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