Maryland football was dominated from whistle to whistle in a 37-10 loss to Northwestern at SECU Stadium. It was a performance that raises a plethora of questions about the program’s trajectory.

The Terps entered Friday night rated as 10.5-point favorites by ESPN Bet. They had a chance to secure their first Big Ten win against a team they were expected to beat. Instead, Maryland seemed like it didn’t belong in the conference.

Here are three takeaways from a disappointing night for the Terps.

Maryland missed its best chance at a Big Ten win

On paper, Northwestern was the Terps’ weakest remaining opponent. A cruel remainder of the conference awaits them.

Maryland’s remaining opponents are USC, Minnesota, No. 3 Oregon, Rutgers, Iowa and No. 4 Penn State. As of Friday, all of these teams have two things Maryland doesn’t: a winning record and a Big Ten win.

The Terps face a real possibility of finishing the season 3-9 and winless in Big Ten play. That would be head coach Michael Locksley’s worst record since 2019, his first season at Maryland and his first season without a conference win.

USC, Oregon, Iowa and Penn State are established conference powers. A road trip to Minnesota and a home game against Rutgers are Maryland’s most winnable games on paper.

They are 0-2 on the trip to Minnesota under Locksley, but have won their last three games against Rutgers. Rutgers is coming off wins over Washington and Virginia Tech this season, while Minnesota defeated then-number one. 11 USC a week ago.

“This week we are going to find a way to turn this frustration into something positive and productive. It starts with the next game,” Locksley said. “We have a good team.”

Locksley took over offensive play calling duties

Locksley called offensive plays for the first time this season. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has been the play caller since Gattis was hired in 2023.

Locksley’s play-calling debut did not go as planned. The Terps averaged 4.2 yards per play, and 10 points was their fewest game total since November 2022. The offense turned the ball over three times: quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw an interception and fumbled the ball away, finishing tight. Preston Howard also lost a fumble.

The offense was at its best when the ball was moved methodically. The Terps’ two scoring drives lasted 16 plays and 18 plays, and featured a series of quick throws and run-pass options.

“(The methodical approach) wasn’t designed that way,” Locksley said. “Our goal is to find ways to get (players) the ball where they can make those explosives … we weren’t able to make that one guy miss, and that’s something that we recruit from the type of players that have that skill.”

Maryland’s offensive attack was balanced until the time of the fumble, with Locksley calling plays. In the first three quarters, it ran the ball 32 times and threw it 30 times. Edwards recorded 14 carries on the season.

There was a defensive brawl in the middle of the match

Only 17 points were scored between the two teams in the second and third quarters.

The Terps racked up 221 yards in those middle two quarters, but a missed field goal and turnover on downs limited their point total (7).

Northwestern struggled to move the ball at all during that same period, recording just 64 yards in the second and third quarters combined – all through the air. The Wildcats’ 11 rushing attempts during that time culminated in zero yards. Maryland dominated the line of scrimmage and held Northwestern to a third-down conversion in those middle quarters.

The Wildcats pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter, winning that frame 20-3, buoyed by three Maryland turnovers.