Malik Washington completed his final two throws before halftime at UConn, then his first 16 afterward. He finished Maryland's 38-14 road win with 347 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 34-of-41 passing. Maryland sustained four consecutive scoring possessions of at least 71 yards across the second and third quarters, making the Huskies defend entire fields before collecting three rushing touchdowns and a field goal.
Now Virginia Tech visits Saturday, September 19, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on FS1. Fan Watch gives Maryland a 65% chance to win. It is a game to approach with confidence, with plenty of room for a difficult evening. No outside result carries enough benefit to warrant a rooting detour this week. The interactive guide and methodology have the model details.
Washington's rhythm came from a deliberate plan. Michael Locksley said Maryland opened pass-first and used tempo to get its quarterback moving, then let the passing game create opportunities to run. That fits Clint Trickett's move toward a more aggressive spread after Maryland simplified the offense during Washington's freshman season. The new targets are helping. Old Dominion transfer Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding caught eight passes for 130 yards at UConn, while Wyoming transfer Chris Durr Jr. caught 10 for 103. Each scored a touchdown. Washington has more than one receiver who can keep a possession moving.
Virginia Tech can interrupt that rhythm. Maryland's game notes list the Hokies with 12 sacks through two games, first nationally, and the Terps with 10, tied for fourth. Watch whether Maryland gives Washington time to distribute the ball before the rush turns an ordinary second down into a passing emergency. Maryland allowed just one sack at UConn; preserving that protection matters more this week than chasing another completion streak.
The running game still has work to do. Maryland gained 125 yards on 36 rushes at UConn, with Washington contributing three yards on three attempts. Trickett plans to use Washington's legs more, but Maryland got little rushing help from him at UConn. Iverson Howard started and gained 55 yards; Harry Dalton III added 48, and together they scored three rushing touchdowns. DeJuan Williams had no offensive touch, though he played on kickoff coverage and made a tackle. That participation does not establish an offensive role against Virginia Tech. Fans should welcome productive early-down carries from whoever gets them, without counting on Williams to supply the missing yards.
Maryland can also make the other quarterback uncomfortable. Derrick LeBlanc had two of the Terps' five sacks at UConn; Zion Elee added one and forced the fumble DD Holmes recovered. With Zahir Mathis out for the season after a training-camp injury, Maryland needs LeBlanc and Elee to keep getting to the quarterback. Sustaining pressure would help keep Washington from having to answer every possession with points.
And if Saturday stays close, Maryland will face something UConn never demanded. The Terps entered that fourth quarter with a three-possession cushion, leaving their close-game finishing unresolved. In 2025, fourth-quarter leads against Washington, Nebraska and UCLA became losses on last-minute touchdowns. This week, watch what Washington does after an incompletion or a stuffed run. Take the available gain, keep third down manageable and give Maryland a chance to finish the possession without asking its protection to hold forever.