Maryland football was dominated from kickoff to kickoff as Northwestern defeated 37-10 at SECU Stadium. It was a performance that raised a host of questions about how the program went.

The Terps entered Friday night ranked 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, it looked like Maryland was out of the conference.

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

Maryland missed its best chance for a Big Ten victory

Northwestern was, on paper, the Terps’ weakest remaining opponent. A brutal rest of the conference slate 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 have: a winning record and a Big Ten victory.

The Terps have a real chance to finish 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 centers. A road trip to Minnesota and a home game against Rutgers are, on paper, Maryland’s winniest matchups.

Heading into Minnesota, Locksley is 0-2, but they have won their last three games against Rutgers. Rutgers has victories over Washington and Virginia Tech this season, while Minnesota defeated then-No. 11 USC a week ago.

“This week we will 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 the offensive duties

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

Locksley’s playing debut didn’t go as planned. The Terps averaged a season-low 4.2 yards per play and 10 points was their lowest game total since November 2022. The offense turned the ball over three times – quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw an interception and fumbled the ball while short 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 and 18 plays and featured a number of quick throws and run-pass options.

“(The methodical approach) was not intentional,” Locksley said. “Our goal is to find ways to get (the players) the ball to where they can make those explosives… we haven’t been able to get the one guy missing and that’s something we’re working for recruit the type of players who have that ability.”

Maryland’s offensive attack was balanced until Locksley called the shots. It ran the ball 32 times and threw it 30 times in the first three quarters. Edwards recorded a season-high 14 carries.

In the middle of the game there was an exchange of blows on defense

The two teams only scored 17 points in the second and third quarters.

The Terps accumulated 221 yards in those two middle quarters, but a missed field goal and turnovers on downs limited their scoring (7).

Northwestern struggled to move the ball at all during the same period, gaining just 64 yards combined in the second and third quarters – all through the air. The Wildcats’ 11 rushing attempts during that time resulted 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 and won that frame 20-3, helped by three Maryland turnovers.