Maryland Terps First Loss Stings Home Fans — What’s Next After 24-20 Defeat to Washington Huskies

Saturday’s showdown at SECU Stadium started as a promising homecoming: Maryland had raced to a 20-0 lead and carried the energy of a 4-0 start into the Big Ten opener. But when the final whistle blew, it was Washington walking away with a 24-20 comeback win — handing the Terps their first loss of 2025. Despite that gut punch, this isn’t a crisis — just a moment to regroup and refocus.

A Home Game, a Strong Start, and a Heartbreaking Finish

It’s always more painful when the loss comes in front of your home crowd. This game had everything — momentum, defensive highlights, offensive bursts — until the fourth quarter when things slipped away. Maryland came in riding high, but the Huskies erased a 20-point deficit with 24 unanswered, including a late 1-yard touchdown run by Jonah Coleman with 3:21 left.

Through three quarters, Maryland looked in control. The defense forced an early interception, and the offense executed long drives.

In the end, the Terps had four possessions and only 52 yards — no points to show for it.

A dropped pass by Jalil Farooq and a failed fourth down sealed it.

What Went Wrong — And What’s Still Right

Offensive Predictability & Hesitation

Once Maryland built a lead, the offense leaned too heavily on pass plays and abandoned the running game, especially in the second half.

That allowed Washington’s defense to tighten up, take away windows, and tilt momentum. Malik Washington, though talented, grew more flustered under pressure as the lead faded.

Defensive Fatigue & Execution Under Pressure

The defense was bend-but-not-break for most of the afternoon, forcing turnovers early and keeping the Huskies in check.

But in the final frame, Washington just kept executing. Four straight scoring drives, no turnovers, and the Terps defense couldn’t clamp down.

Coaching Decisions & Game Management

Questions will be asked about play-calling in the fourth quarter, refusals to run to bleed the clock, and failure to keep the chains moving when the defense began to tire.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom:

• The defense earlier in the game forced turnovers and made plays when needed.
• The offense showed flashes, especially in its long, sustained drives in the first half.
• For a young team — featuring a true freshman quarterback and a defensive front with standout freshman play — the foundation is solid.

What Fans Should Take Away

Yes, Friday night (or Saturday) in College Park felt bitter this time. It’s hard to lose your first game at home after riding high on a perfect start. But this is not the end of the story — not even close. The Terps are still 4–1, still dangerous, and still plenty capable of making noise in the Big Ten.

Mistakes were made. Adjustments must be made. The coaching staff must re-evaluate both offensive strategy and fourth-quarter management. Players — especially the veterans — must lean into leadership, helping younger teammates learn from this. But the belief in this program and its trajectory should not waver just yet.

The schedule still offers opportunities. If the Terps shore up late-game execution and maintain the kind of intensity that got them a 4–0 start, there’s no reason to believe they can’t bounce back stronger than ever.