Maryland coach Mike Locksley on Indiana football: ‘We got a big challenge on our hands’

Indiana football’s disciplined approach under new coach Curt Cignetti has Mike Locksley’s attention. Locksley previewed Maryland’s showdown against the Hoosiers (4-0; 1-0 Big Ten) earlier this week. 

“The things that jumps out to me, they are not going to give us this game,” Locksley said. “They are going to make us beat them.”

The Terps 44-17 win in 2023 over IU was a cakewalk. 

Former starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw a 62-yard completion on the first play of the game to set up an early touchdown. They led 27-3 at the half and Tagovailoa finished the game with six touchdowns (five passing). 

Locksley expects this game to be a bit more of a chess match. 

“They will figure out who to take away from us, and our complimentary players are going to have to step up,” Locksley said. 

More: Indiana football: Why Curt Cignetti is familiar with Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr.

Maryland football coach Mike Locksley has deep respect for Curt Cignetti

Locksley is one of the many coaches in the Big Ten conference with a deep respect for the Cignetti family name. Cignetti’s father, Frank, is in the College Football Hall of Fame and his brother, Frank Jr., is a well-traveled coach with experience in the pros and college. 

At the conference’s media days back in July, Greg Schiano, Kirk Ferentz and James Franklin all talked about how much the Cignetti name resonated in the midwest. Locksley reiterated the point on Monday. 

“I know his family, his dad was a legendary coach at the other Indiana University [IUP], at Towson we played them every year,” Locksley said. “He comes from a football family.”

Towson was 0-4 against IUP during Locksley’s playing career white Frank Cignetti Sr. was the head coach. 

He crossed paths with Curt back in the early 00’s when the two were both assistants in the ACC. Locksley was Maryland’s then running backs coach while Cignetti coached quarterbacks at NC State. 

They both have experience coaching under Nick Sabana at Alabama as well. 

“I can just tell you, they are a well-coached team,” Locksley said, after mentioning that connection. 

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Maryland football coach Mike Locksley worried about IU’s offensive weapons 

One of the big questions Locksley has to answer this week is how to slow down an Indiana offense that’s one of just five teams currently averaging 50-plus points and 500-plus yards a game. 

“We got a big challenge on our hands,” Locksley said. 

He was complimentary of quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who he described as someone with “moxie”, a “big arm” and “playing at a high level.” He also praised IU’s stable of running backs that have averaged a combined 5.8 yards per carry and leads the FBS with 18 touchdowns. 

The player that stood out the most for Locksley on IU’s offense is tight end Zach Horton. Horton has modest numbers in the receiving game this season — seven catches for 67 yards with a touchdown — but Locksley sees him as integral to the team’s overall success. 

“He is the glue for them on offense,” Locksley said. “This is a guy that’s really talented in the run game. You get enamored in catches and production there (at receiver), but as a coach when you look at things as I think of things on offense, he’s the heart and soul of it. His style of play is what you like. I respect the way he plays.”

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.