3 biggest keys to Nebraska football beating Maryland

For the first time this season, Nebraska football will play a true road game on Saturday when it heads to Maryland to take on the Terrapins.

It will be a matchup of 4-1 teams, who have identical 1-1 records in the Big Ten. At this point, even a team like Maryland can dream of a playoff berth. A 10-2 mark for most Big Ten teams will be good enough to get them in.

Maryland blew a 20-0 lead last week against Washington, so the Terps will be hungry to get back in the win column. Nebraska football is a touchdown favorite on the road.

That tells us something. Nebraska football should win this game. Here are three keys to doing it.

Protect the quarterback

Maryland has 19 sacks in five games. 10 of those sacks came in non-conference play against cupcake teams. However, the Terps had five sacks against a Wisconsin team that allowed Michigan to sack its quarterack just once last Saturday.

The Terps also notched four sacks against Washington. Through two Big Ten games, it’s been a major issue for Nebraska. Whether it’s on Raiola or the offensive line, sacks kill drives.

Negative plays, whether that’s a penalty, a tackle for loss, or a sack, are all drive killers. Nebraska football has had too many of those.

The Huskers have allowed 12 sacks in two Big Ten games. It will take everyone, but it needs to be fixed, or it could be a recipe for Maryland to pull an upset.

Win the turnover battle

Football is a pretty simple game, really. If you take care of the ball better than your opponent, you will win most of the games you play.

Nebraska understands that better than most. The Huskers haven’t had a positive turnover ratio over the course of an entire season since 2016, when they went 9-4. That’s not a coincidence.

One of the biggest reasons Nebraska is 4-1 is its ability to limit turnovers. Nebraska has just three turnovers in five games. Dylan Raiola only has two interceptions. He’s on pace to throw about five.

In an extremely competitive league, that’s often the difference between winning and losing. Nebraska has been dominant on special teams, too (that’s not a typo). That, combined with a plus 1.2 average turnover ratio, is the biggest reason the Huskers have won four out of five.

Rattle the freshman QB

Nebraska has the top-ranked pass defense in college football, in terms of yards allowed (91.8). The run defense has been susceptible, which might be a contributing factor.

Opposing passers are only completing 50 percent of their throws against the Huskers. Aidan Chiles completed 9 of 23 last week. Nebraska has allowed just one touchdown pass this season.

Fans keep saying Nebraska hasn’t faced any quarterbacks. Yet, Brendan Sorsy is going off against everyone not named Nebraska. Bryce Underwood threw for 270 yards, including 215 in one half against Wisconsin.

Chiles was throwing for 216 yards per game, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions coming in, as well as a completion percentage in the 60s, and he looked terrible.

Malik Washington, the freshman QB for Maryland, will have to navigate John Butler’s defense. The pass rush has improved. Washington is throwing for 251 yards per game. He leads the Big Ten in pass attempts, and like Chiles, has two interceptions heading into a matchup with Nebraska.

Maryland is a terrible running team. The Terps average 3.3 yards per carry. Washington has three touchdown runs but only 22 yards on 11 attempts for the season. He can run. Maryland hasn’t been able to run as a team, so the pressure will be on Washington’s arm.

If Nebraska can rattle him, and if the pass defense holds up, Nebraska should come away with a win.

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