Takeaways from Maryland football’s 48-23 loss to Minnesota

After a promising win over USC last Saturday, Maryland football could not replicate its success against Minnesota.

Instead, the Golden Gophers jumped out to a quick 24-0 lead and did not surrender it, dominating the Terps in every facet of the contest.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Billy Edwards Jr.’s worst day as a Terp

Saturday marked Edwards toughest outing yet in a Maryland uniform. Just a week after torching USC’s secondary with a 39-of-50 passing performance for 373 yards and two touchdowns, Edwards stumbled significantly.

He posted season-lows in completions (19), yards (201) and completion percentage (54.3%), along with two interceptions, leading to his fourth-quarter replacement by MJ Morris.

Edwards showed early promise, connecting with wide receiver Tai Felton on a 26-yard pass in Maryland’s opening drive. However, that drive ended scoreless, and the next one ended worse. Looking for Shaleak Knotts along the right sideline, Edwards underestimated Minnesota’s cloud coverage, which read the play with ease. Defensive back Justin Walley jumped the route and returned it for a pick-6.

Head coach Michael Locksley, visibly frustrated with Edwards on the sideline, later emphasized his desire for Edwards to avoid fixating on his primary read.

“It all goes back to not predetermining, making decisions about going through your process,” Locksley said.

Edwards’ struggles continued beyond the pick-6. On the next drive, he threw another interception under pressure from Minnesota’s defensive line, the pass wobbling out of his hand. Throughout the rest of his time on the field, Maryland struggled to build any momentum, and when the Terps did, it slipped away.

A promising drive that reached fourth-and-8 just outside the red zone stalled after Edwards scrambled out of the pocket, attempting to gain the first down himself rather than targeting a receiver. He was flipped onto his back, ending another fruitless drive.

Maryland’s secondary took a huge step back

The Terps’ struggles extended to their defense, particularly the secondary, which faced issues on multiple fronts. Injuries to key players Glen Miller and Brandon Jacob left a gap, but Dante Trader Jr. returned after missing two games. Minnesota’s quarterback Max Brosmer exploited the weakened secondary, posting season-highs with 320 passing yards and four touchdowns.

“We gave up 14 explosive [plays] and two in the run game,” Locksley said. “We’ve got to continue to find the answers … this week, our guys didn’t play as well with the ball in the air.”

This has become a recurring issue for Maryland, as Brosmer joins Big Ten quarterbacks like Aidan Chiles (Michigan State) and Jack Lausch (Northwestern) in exposing the Terps’ secondary, despite their teams’ generally average passing games.

Brosmer faced minimal resistance on his first two drives, propelling Minnesota to a quick 14-0 lead, while completing 9-of-11 passes for 99 yards. His favorite target was wide receiver Daniel Jackson, who not only scored the game’s opening touchdown but consistently found space, including a critical first-down catch on Minnesota’s second drive.

Communication issues plagued Maryland as well, particularly on a long touchdown pass in the third quarter where Elijah Spencer was left uncovered. Brosmer’s precision, reflected in his 78% completion rate, further exposed Maryland’s defensive lapses, including several well-placed throws over the middle, one narrowly out of reach of linebacker Caleb Wheatland.

The Terps’ offensive line struggles persist

Maryland’s offensive line issues, which have been apparent all season, became even more glaring on Saturday. The line failed to open running lanes consistently, resulting in only three explosive rushes: a late 24-yard run by DeJuan Williams, a 13-yard gain by Roman Hemby and a 12-yard scramble from Edwards.

Maryland’s first drive set the tone, stalling on a fourth-and-1 run by Hemby, as the offensive line failed to generate any push. This early failure foreshadowed a challenging day on the ground.

Without a productive running game, pressure mounted on Edwards, compounding his struggles. The Terps’ lack of ground support showed again on Edwards’ second interception, where pressure forced him to throw off-balance, sending the ball high over Felton and into the hands of Minnesota’s Koi Perich.