Final thoughts before Penn State kicks off against Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions begin their November slate of games in the Old-Line State against the Maryland Terrapins on Nov. 4.

This season marks the 47th meeting between these programs. Penn State holds a solid 42-3-1 all-time record over Maryland with three losses incurred in 1961, 2014 and 2020.

In their latest clash in Happy Valley last season, the Nittany Lions shut out Maryland 30-0 when now second-year running back Nicholas Singleton stole the show with two touchdowns and 122 yards.

Fast forward to this year where both programs had promising starts in the Big Ten Standings. Maryland went undefeated through its first five games with its first loss to Ohio State on Oct. 7.

However, the Terrapins’ defense held the Buckeyes to just 10 points in the first half, the same deficit that Penn State’s defense held Ohio State to weeks later on Oct. 21.

Scouting the Nittany Lions

Following a 33-24 victory over Indiana for Military Appreciation Day, the blue and white look to fine-tune its complementary football strategy.

Quarterback Drew Allar set an FBS record with 311 pass attempts before being intercepted for the first time this season by Indiana defensive back Josh Sanguinetti.

The tight end room has seen a significant bump in offensive production. Theo Johnson’s and Khalil Dinkins’ two touchdowns versus Indiana propelled Penn State to lead the FBS with 10 receiving touchdowns by tight ends.

Tyler Warren’s five receiving touchdowns this season places him third in the FBS in that category. Look for him to be a reliable red zone target against a Maryland secondary that ranks fourth in the Big Ten in interceptions.

When Maryland’s offense takes the field, watch for defensive end Adisa Isaac to explode off the snap. The uncertainty of Chop Robinson’s presence on the line due to injury opens the door for Isaac to take command. He currently has 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season.

Scouting the Terrapins

The Terrapins have a dangerous threat in quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, whose 275 average passing yards per game rank at No. 1 in the Big Ten.

The brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is unafraid to air out the football and spread opposing defenses thin across the turf. Penn State’s secondary is next on Maryland’s list and will look to fatigue them right out of the gate.

Wide receiver Jeshaun Jones had his third-best performance of the season versus Northwestern with 78 receiving yards and a touchdown. His chemistry with Tagovailoa could spell trouble for Penn State if not managed early.

On defense, linebacker Kellen Wyatt’s 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks lead the Terrapins roster. He could quickly become a problem area for Penn State with his ability to cut through offensive lines and pressure quarterbacks into a scramble sequence.

Even though the Terrapins are coming off of a three-game losing streak with unexpected losses to Illinois and Northwestern, Maryland should not be counted out.

Penn State will need to open up its playbook and take control of the game early to find the road win.

Emma Holtz is a fourth-year majoring in public relations. To contact her, email emma.holtz01@gmail.com.