No Father's Son

[redsox907]

---

2028 College Football Playoff 1st-Round Preview: #9 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-3) @ #8 Maryland Terrapins (10-2)

---

Marcus Washington // Terpsville • Published: December 15th, 2028

It is finally time for the Maryland Terrapins to make their College Football Playoff debut as they prepare to host Big Ten rival Penn State as part of the 1st-round matchups. A lot has happened since the Terrapins last took the field with a 47-3 demolition of the Michigan State Spartans on Senior Night at SECU Stadium, but despite that, I've been guaranteed this team is ready to play.

On the other side of the stat graphic we'll get into our next, and possibly last, edition of "Inside the Shell" with Coach Armando Leon as he'll talk about the first playoff appearance for the Terrapins, the challenges Ethan Grunkemeyer presents, and how ready his team is to make a statement.


•••

#8 Maryland Terrapins (10-2)           | Description                   | #9 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
81 Overall // 81 Offense // 81 Defense | Team Rating                   | 91 Overall // 91 Offense // 91 Defense
Armando Leon (9-2)                     | Head Coach                    | James Franklin (34-16)
Spread                                 | Offensive Scheme              | Multiple
3-3-5                                  | Defensive Scheme              | 4-2-5
39.5 (5th)                             | Offensive Points Per Game     | 37.7 (9th)
458.1 (13th)                           | Defensive Points Per Game     | 37.7 (9th)
17.4 (2nd)                             | Offensive Yards Per Game      | 25.8 (54th)
296.6 (1st)                            | Defensive Yards Per Game      | 365.6 (36th)

Maryland Terrapins                      | Description     | Penn State Nittany Lions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
83-62                                   | Combined Record | 104-66
Towson (FCS) W 63-17                    | Week One        | Ball State (6-6) W 42-17
Virginia Tech (6-6) W 37-14             | Week Two        | @ Syracuse (2-10) W 42-10
@ Michigan (7-5) W 28-20                | Week Three      |Colorado State (6-6) W 41-13
BYE                                     | Week Four       | @ Michigan State (7-5) W 52-20
Washington (8-4) L 24-20                | Week Five       | @ Nebraska (7-5) L 31-24
Rutgers (4-8) W 30-20                   | Week Six        | BYE
@ UCLA (7-5) W 52-21                    | Week Seven      | Ohio State (9-3) W 26-20
Ohio State (9-3) L 42-24                | Week Eight      | @ Rutgers (4-8) W 38-17
Northwestern (8-4) W 42-3               | Week Nine       | Indiana (6-6) W 34-24
@ Indiana (6-6) W 41-24                 | Week Ten        | Oregon (13-0) L 43-35
Delaware (5-7) W 52-7                   | Week Eleven     | @ USC (8-4) W 45-41
@ Minnesota (6-6) W 38-14               | Week Twelve     | Iowa (6-6) W 45-26
Michigan State (7-5) W 47-3             | Week Thirteen   | UCLA (7-5) W 42-39
BYE                                     | Conf Champ      | Oregon (13-0) L 34-24

Maryland Terrapins                                                      Penn State Nittany Lions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HB Zymear Smith (89) Broken Fibula (15 Weeks)         | Injuries      | C Trent Norton Jr (76) Fractured Shoulder Blade (9 Weeks)

Maryland Terrapins                                                      Penn State Nittany Lions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SR Malik Washington (87) 264/395 (66%), 3,039 Yds, 33 TD, 6 INT | QB  | JR(RS) Ethan Grunkemeyer (95) 298/472 (63%), 3,847 Yds, 35 TD, 5 INT
SR Malik Washington (87) 104 Att, 651 Yds, 6 TD                 | QB  | JR(RS) Ethan Grunkemeyer (95) 68 Att, 58 Yds, TD
JR(RS) Iverson Howard (81) 140 Att, 878 Yds, 7 TD               | HB  | SR(RS) Corey Smith (90) 191 Att, 963 Yds, 7 TD
SR(RS) Emanuel Ross (87) 65 Rec, 1,019 Yds, 13 TD               | WR  | JR(RS) Matt Outten (89) 71 Rec, 1,111 Yds, 13 TD
SR(RS) Za'Ron Collins (82) 42 Rec, 410 Yds, 3 TD                | WR  | SR Darien Williams (87) 74 Rec, 941 Yds, 4 TD
SR(RS) MLB Keyshawn Flowers 74 Tkl, 20 TFL, 4.5 Sack            | DEF | SR(RS) MLB Kari Jackson (84) 73 Tkl, 5 TFL, 2 Sacks
FR MLB Gordon Paul (78) 48 Tkl, 9 TFL, 5.5 Sacks, INT           | DEF | SR(RS) DT Liam Andrews (86) 45 Tkl, 18 TFL, 7 Sacks
JR DE Garrison Dobbs (87) 30 Tkl, 24 TFL, 9.5 Sacks             | DEF | SR DE Zahir Mathis (85) 46 Tkl, 14 TFL, 6 Sacks
SR(RS) CB Braydon Lee 52 Tkl, 2 TFL, 5 INT                      | DEF | JR(RS) CB Xxavier Thomas (85) 60 Tkl, 

2028 College Football Playoff 1st Round
#12 Louisiana-Lafayette (12-1) @ #5 Clemon (11-2)
#11 Ohio State (9-3) @ #6 Miami (11-2)
#10 Arizona State (10-3) @ #7 NC State (10-2)


•••


Inside the Shell

MW: "Alright, Coach Leon. It's the first appearance in the College Football Playoff for the Terrapins since the format changed from the BCS fourteen years ago. What is the vibe around campus and in the locker room as they prepare to not only appear in the playoff, but host a 1st-round game?"

AL: "There is definitely a palpable buzz around the team and the campus as a whole. This is new territory for the program and we're excited to show the nation what Terrapin football is all about. There is a large number of fans nationwide who only know us from the headlines; now they'll get a chance to see us firsthand. Obviously, recent happenings have dulled the mood around campus somewhat, but its my genuine hope that it doesn't distract from how special this team is. They deserve all the praise and attention they've been getting, and hopefully continue to get."

MW: "Ethan Grunkemeyer and the Penn State offense had been on a roll before that loss to Oregon in the conference championship game, having averaged over 35 points per game over the last six games, with an offense that ranked 9th nationally in scoring. What did you see in the conference championship game that disrupted their flow and what plans do you have defensively to keep their high-octane attack in check?"

AL: "Oregon did the same thing in the championship game that they did in their 43-35 win during the regular season—played physical and made them earn every yard. The Penn State offense thrives in space, similar to ours in a way, and when you tighten up those windows and put an onus on them having to get the ball out quickly, it disrupts that flow. We just have to make sure we play sound on the back end so we don't give up any cheap completions, and play fast in the front seven. They've got to shed and close quickly; if we give Ethan too much time, he'll pick us apart."

MW: "It's been three weeks since the team last played the Michigan State Spartans; any worries about fatigue or rust due to the time off? And as a follow-up, how is that layoff going to affect the timing of Malik Washington and the quick-passing game we've seen over the last half of the season?"

AL: "We've been doing our best to stay game-ready: scrimmages, simulated games, the whole nine, Marcus. But you can't simulate a real game. It's something we're cognizant of and have plans to rotate more guys out than normal to keep them fresh, keep anyone from getting injured. As for the offense, they'll be ready. Malik is itching to give the Terrapins fans a few more memories before he officially moves on, so I won't count him out until the clock hits zero."

MW: "Given recent events, we're adding one final question. I won't ask you to get into the details of the timeline leading up to your announcement with the Oklahoma Sooners. That is something we can hash out after the season. But I think Terrapins fans everywhere would like to know: how are you managing getting things off the ground in Norman, while still keeping your focus to make sure that these Terrapins don't lay an egg tomorrow?"

AL: "I think it's important to acknowledge that head coaches by default are multitaskers. I'm pulling double time, but that isn't impacting anything I'm doing with the Terrapins. I wouldn't have put that clause in the contract if I didn't think I would be able to positively impact the playoff run. I've heard the talk that I'm checked out; one foot out the door. Anyone who knows me, knows that is the farthest from the truth. If anything, I'm more motivated. More motivated to prove I'm ready for the next level, to prove this isn't a fluke, and frankly to silence the critics. I'm going to continue coaching my heart out with the Maryland logo on my chest until this run is officially over."


•••


Like I said to Coach Leon, I'm not getting into the details of what's transpired since the last time I spoke to him. I don't want to distract from the history being made on the field at SECU Stadium tomorrow. I will say, I believe him when he says we've got his full attention. Coach Leon has built a career preaching a commitment to excellence and performing to a standard; I see no reason why that would change regardless of his job status.

If anything, it should make him want to prove himself even more, as he pointed out.

This is a tough one to call. Penn State beat one of the two teams we've lost to this year. They're experienced and balanced. But defense is their biggest weakness. I have faith that Coach Leon can scheme our defense to slow down Grunkemeyer & Co. If Malik Washington can produce some magic, I think that's the difference.

20 Penn State, 28 Maryland. The Leon era continues for one more game, at least.

[redsox907]

---

Terrapins' Defense Steals the Day As Maryland Advances To the Rose Bowl

---

Marcus Washington // Terpsville • Published: December 16th, 2028

The Maryland Terrapins made sure their College Football Playoff debut was a memorable one, riding an opportunistic defense to a 36-14 victory over Big Ten rival Penn State. Say what you will about Armando Leon and the circumstances regarding his eventual departure from the Terrapins program, the man is coaching his heart out on the sideline and clearly had these boys ready to play.

It appeared that the Terrapins' long layoff was going to bite them early as the Penn State Nittany Lions marched down the field on their opening drive behind crisp passing from Ethan Gunkemeyer, who went 5/5 for 74 yards and a 22-yard touchdown to Matt Outten to open the scoring and a 7-0 lead for the Nittany Lions.

Malik Washington was unfazed, leading his own touchdown march behind his own crisp passing and a few gutsy scrambles—including a 17-yard scamper on 3rd-and-two to keep the drive from stalling into a three-and-out early, before Emanuel Ross wove his way through the defense for his own 26-yard touchdown.

Leon's mastery started to shine through after the back-and-forth 1st-quarter. Grunkemeyer had the Nittany Lions driving again, until a shaded Kevyn Humes undercut Damien Beauplan on an RPO-fade route to secure the first of many interceptions for the Terrapins. Despite the turnover, Malik Washington and Co. couldn't take advantage, stalling out in the red zone after a sack forced 2nd-and-goal from the 22. Facing 4th-and-goal from the five, Coach Leon went for it, but came up just short as Bryce Randolph was ruled down inches from the goal line.

The Terrapins defense would manufacture their own points as MLB Keyshawn Flower sacked Grunkemeyer for the safety, salvaging the lost opportunity for the offense. Yet, despite the short field after the free-kick, Malik Washington would still struggle to find the end zone again. Once again facing 4th-and-goal, this time from the 6, Leon went for it yet again. Washington appeared to have Emanuel Ross on the slant route, but the defense put just enough pressure on Ross to knock the ball loose on the attempted touchdown catch.

Keyshawn Flower came up clutch again, this time dropping into zone coverage after faking the same MLB Blitz that led to the earlier safety, and Ethan Grunkemeyer never saw him as the senior flipped the field once again. This time, Washington came through, calling his own number on a 23-yard touchdown run to give the Terrapins a 16-7 lead into the break.

Maryland opened the second half with the ball, but were unable to execute the double dip as their opening drive stalled at mid-field. What followed was a 13-play, 78-yard drive by the Penn State Nittany Lions and Ethan Grunkemeyer that featured two 3rd down conversions and a gritty 4th-down conversion, despite being well within field-goal range, before Brandon Tullis plowed his way into the end zone to pull the Nittany Lions within striking distance.

Washington answered the bell once again, orchestrating his own 12-play drive before avoiding another tough decision on 4th-down, calling his own number again facing 3rd-and-goal and plunging into the end zone to extend the lead back to two scores.

Then, things started to unravel for the Nittany Lions. Return man Monte Swayne was rocked on the ensuing kickoff return and cornerback Jayden Shipps was Johnny-on-the-spot, recovering the fumble and barreling into the end zone for the quick-strike touchdown, turning a game that was 16-14 moments ago into a 29-14 deficit after the failed 2-point conversion by the Terrapins.

The hits kept coming for Penn State. Knowing they needed to score, and fast, Penn State came out spread four-wide, looking to stretch the Terrapins defense out and find an advantage. Instead, Grunkemeyer threw his third interception into the waiting hands of Braydon Lee. Two plays later and Iverson Howard slashed into the end zone to stretch the lead to 36-14.

Credit to the Penn State program and Ethan Grunkemeyer; they didn't stop competing. Despite the 36-14 deficit midway through the fourth, Grunkemeyer led a last-ditch effort for the end zone, but facing 4th-and-15 from the Maryland 27, Grunkemeyer bet the farm, sailing a pass into the end zone for Matt Outten.

Instead, he went broke, finding Kevyn Humes for the fourth interception of the game for Grunkemeyer, who came into the contest with five all year, as the Terrapins ran out the clock to secure their first CFP victory.


•••


Question One - Aisha Thompson (Terps Magazine): "Coach Leon, how vindicating of a win is this for you after the media scrutiny you've faced over the last few weeks after your surprising decision to leave the program after one year, but still stay to coach in the playoff?"

Armando Leon: "There will be plenty of time to talk about how this win and performance reflects on me—and trust me, I'll make sure those conversations happen, but at a later date. Right now, all of the praise and adoration needs to be for these young men that went out on that field and battled today. If we lose this game, I'm the bad guy, not them. They had every excuse you could think of to explain away a poor performance. But they believe in what we've been building here all year and were determined to make a statement. They wanted to give these loyal fans something to cheer about, if only for one more game, and they put their money where their mouths were and went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country. They deserve all the praise; they earned it."

Question Two - Jim Rollof (The Daily Collegian): "Was there any panic on your sideline after watching the Nittany Lions and Ethan Grunkemeyer march down the field on their opening drive? And what adjustments did you make to counteract their quick passing game that led to nearly doubling his interception total on the year?"

Armando Leon: "No panic, Jim. None. Our plan was to limit explosive plays and make them rely on the quick passing game, then take advantage. You never want to give up a touchdown, but a lot of the plays Grunkemeyer made on that opening drive were picture-perfect. You know he isn't going to be perfect all day, so we just stuck to our game plan, gave him some looks to try and confuse him, and trusted the tape. He was 9/11 in the first half, but the two incompletions were interceptions. That told us we were making the right reads, just a step too late. Once they started getting predictable with the RPO quick slants, we were able to adjust our coverage, cheat a bit, and trust we knew where the ball was going. That was the difference; preparation and execution."

Question Three - Ryan Parker (Big Ten Network): "What can you say about Malik Washington and the performance he put on the field today, tallying just under 300 yards and three touchdowns?"

Armando Leon: "When we saw Penn State was our matchup for the 1st-round, some guys were discouraged about the draw. Malik was the first one at the front of the auditorium, challenging the team to prove how tough they were. Then he went out there and proved it himself. That's what a leader does, challenges the status quo and then leads by example. He's our captain for a reason, he's built like that."


•••


Coach Leon may not have been flustered by the opening drive by Grunkemeyer, but I was openly questioning the decision by the program to allow Leon to coach this game. It just felt like too much for one man to accomplish, but I'll gladly eat crow here.

He made a game plan, stuck to it through the early adversity, and it clearly paid off. And I'm glad he's rerouting the praise to the team, because he's right. No one would have blamed any one of them for a bad performance or a loss given the circumstances.

You see performances like this and start to believe the talk—Coach Leon really is building a standard. It's a shame that we'll only get a single year of it. But with some luck, maybe the standard he's building will carry on in his stead.

Either way, for now we're one step closer to the National Championship. The next step?

The undefeated Oregon Ducks and the Rose Bowl.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Penn State	7	0	7	0	14
Maryland	7	9	0	20	36

Q	Team	Time	Play	Penn State	Maryland
1st	Penn State	7:04	Matt Outten, 22 Yd Pass From Ethan Gunkemeyer	7	0
1st	Maryland	3:42	Emanuel Ross, 26 Yd Pass From Malik Washington	7	7
2nd	Maryland	5:51	Safety	7	9
2nd	Maryland	0:53	Malik Washington, 23 Yd Run	7	16
3rd	Penn State	2:16	Brandon Tullis, 4 Yd Run}	14	16
4th	Maryland	6:53	Malik Washington, 2 Yd Run	14	23
4th	Maryland	6:49	Jayden Shipps Returned Fumble 8 Yds (Failed 2PT)	14	29
4th	Maryland	6:35	Iverson Howard, 7 Yd Run	14	36

Penn State                                                   Maryland

Passing               | Stats                                Passing            | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Ethan Gunkemeyer      | 17/24, 226 Yds, TD, 4 INT            Malik Washington   | 21/28, 196 Yds, TD

Rushing               | Stats                                Rushing            | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Corey Smith           | 10 Att, 51 Yds                       Paul Colon         | 13 Att, 74 Yds
Brandon Tullis        | 8 Att, 41 Yds, TD                    Malik Washington   | 10 Att, 99 Yds, 2 TD
Brandon Gunkemeyer    | 2 Att, -13 Yds                       Iverson Howard     | 9 Att, 55 Yds, TD

Receiving             | Stats                                Receiving          | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Brian Kortovish       | 6 Rec, 45 Yds                        Emanuel Ross       | 8 Rec, 48 Yds, TD
Matt Outen            | 4 Rec, 76 Yds                        Iverson Howard     | 5 Rec, 22 Yds
Damien Beauplan       | 2 Rec, 55 Yds                        Bryce Randolph     | 2 Rec, 66 Yds

Defensive             | Stats                                Defensive          | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
LB Dylan Brink        | 9 Tkl, 2 TFL                         CB Kevyn Humes     | 7 Tkl, 2 INT
DE Chaz Coleman       | 5 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack                   MLB Keyshawn Flower| 7 Tkl, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks, INT
DT Mychal McMullin    | 2 Tkl, TFL, Sack                     MLB Gordon Paul    | 6 Tkl, 2 TFL

1st Round Results
14 #12 Louisiana-Lafayette (12-2) @ #5 Clemson (12-2) 56
14 #11 Ohio State (9-4) @ #6 Miami (12-2) 40
16 #10 Arizona State (10-4) @ #7 NC State (11-2) 38

Additional Media

► Show Spoiler

[Caesar]

ain't even going to hate on you because it's fuck Penn State. You lucky the game doesn't have a mechanic for the players to quit on you though.

[redsox907]

ain't even going to hate on you because it's fuck Penn State. You lucky the game doesn't have a mechanic for the players to quit on you though.

why they gonna quit on me? I'm taking them to NEW HEIGHTS

if it wasn't for Leon, they'd be sitting at 5-7 again and wondering why they suck

[redsox907]

---

---

Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: December 20th, 2028

The Oklahoma Sooners and newly hired head coach Armando Leon announced today that longtime Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz would be joining the Sooners staff as a defensive coordinator and assistant to the head coach, effective immediately.

Ferentz and the Hawkeyes agreed to part ways after the 2028 season after the program's second consecutive 6-6 season. Those close to Ferentz said the coach was "open" to coaching again after spending nearly 30 years patrolling the sidelines in Iowa City, despite approaching his 74th birthday next season.

When asked about the decision to hire Ferentz despite his age, Armando Leon was candid: "This is a move that helps stabilize the program in the interim and the future. With my dual role right now, Kirk can step in and assist in managing the day-to-day. Additionally, his success as a defensive mind is unparalleled in the country right now. His advice and guidance about the intricacies of running a program and maintaining a standard of excellence will only elevate the Sooners program."

Listen, I'll be straight up: this is a move I can get behind. Questions have been swirling about Leon's ability to manage both the Sooners and Terrapins until he can officially join the Sooner program, and this solves that. To say Ferentz is knowledgeable is an understatement. You don't run a program and achieve the level of respect the country has for Ferentz unless you know what you're doing. He knows defense, which is only going to help Leon as he continues to grow, but also—the dude knows the ins and outs of managing a high pressure job.

And here's the thing that really gets me excited, Sooner Nation. One of our biggest worries 'bout Leon is the fear he might be another Riley—chasing the next shiny toy. Ferentz just finished a gig he started in 1999, nearly thirty years on the same sideline, in the same building. You think Roger Denny and the leadership team with the Sooners didn't think about that when this hire was originally conceived?

I guaran-TEE that their hope is Ferentz teaches Leon a thing or two 'bout staying loyal. For that reason alone, this is a home run hire for the Sooners. There will be a time when Leon can hire a young up-and-coming coordinator and show him the ropes, start expanding his coaching tree. But right now, we need a guy to steer him in the right direction and make sure he's here for both a good time, and a long time.

[Captain Canada]

Ain't no way you're going to make leaving okay by winning Maryland a Natty before you dip, are you?

[redsox907]

Ain't no way you're going to make leaving okay by winning Maryland a Natty before you dip, are you?

IF we can even pull that off would be crazy. Oregon on deck, then either LSU or Clemson in the semis. Then likely Texas or Georgia in the Natty

a true gauntlet, which after CM this year you can definitely relate to lmao

[redsox907]

---

2028 College Football Playoff Rose Bowl Preview: #8 Maryland (11-2) @ #1 Oregon (13-0)

---

Marcus Washington // Terpsville • Published: December 15th, 2028

The Maryland Terrapins continue to march Fearlessly Forward in the 2028 season, setting another historic milestone as they prepare to face the undefeated Oregon Ducks in the program's first ever appearance in the Rose Bowl.

If the Penn State Nittany Lions represented a challenge for the Terrapins, the Ducks can only be described as an exceptional obstacle. They are the #1 overall seed in the playoffs and are averaging nearly 20 points per game more than their opponents.

After we see how the Terrapins and Ducks match up statistically, we'll get to another edition of "Inside the Shell," where Armando Leon will talk about the unique circumstances surrounding the matchup and his thoughts on facing the Ducks after battling with them in the Pacific Northwest earlier in his career.


•••

#8 Maryland Terrapins (11-2)           | Description                   | #1 Oregon Ducks (13-0)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
81 Overall // 81 Offense // 81 Defense | Team Rating                   | 94 Overall // 94 Offense // 94 Defense
Armando Leon (11-2)                    | Head Coach                    | Dan Lanning (47-11)
Spread                                 | Offensive Scheme              | Spread
3-3-5                                  | Defensive Scheme              | Base 3-4
39.2 (4th)                             | Offensive Points Per Game     | 38.3 (7th)
17.1 (2nd)                             | Defensive Points Per Game     | 19.7 (6th)
455.5 (14th)                           | Offensive Yards Per Game      | 416.7 (38th)
297.3 (1st)                            | Defensive Yards Per Game      | 356.4 (27th)

Maryland Terrapins                      | Description     | Oregon Ducks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
98-64                                   | Combined Record | 101-64
Towson (FCS) W 63-17                    | Week One        | FCS W 56-23
Virginia Tech (7-6) W 37-14             | Week Two        | Baylor (10-3) W 35-27
@ Michigan (7-5) W 28-20                | Week Three      |@ Oregon State (9-5) W 45-3
BYE                                     | Week Four       | BYE
Washington (9-4) L 24-20                | Week Five       | Rutgers (4-8) W 33-19
Rutgers (4-8) W 30-20                   | Week Six        | Michigan State (7-5) W 35-21
@ UCLA (7-5) W 52-21                    | Week Seven      | @ Wisconsin (6-6) W 52-28
Ohio State (9-4) L 42-24                | Week Eight      | @ Minnesota (6-6) W 34-7
Northwestern (8-4) W 42-3               | Week Nine       | USC (8-4) W 38-10
@ Indiana (6-6) W 41-24                 | Week Ten        | @ Penn State (10-4) W 43-35
Delaware (5-7) W 52-7                   | Week Eleven     | @ Indiana (6-6) W 31-7
@ Minnesota (6-6) W 38-14               | Week Twelve     | Illinois (5-7) W 28-24
Michigan State (7-5) W 47-3             | Week Thirteen   | Washington (9-4) W 34-28
BYE                                     | Conf Champ      | Penn State (10-4) W 34-24
Penn State (10-4) W 36-14               | CFP 1st Round   | BYE

Maryland Terrapins                                                      Oregon Ducks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HB Zymear Smith (89) Broken Fibula (14 Weeks)         | Injuries      | HB Marques Bagent (87) Dislocated Ankle (6 Weeks)

Maryland Terrapins                                                      Oregon Ducks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SR Malik Washington (87) 285/423 (67%), 3,235 Yds, 34 TD, 6 INT | QB  | SO(RS) Elijah Sampson (98) 241/340 (70%), 3,070 Yds, 33 TD, INT
SR Malik Washington (87) 114 Att, 750 Yds, 8 TD                 | QB  | O(RS) Elijah Sampson (98) 151 Att, 591 Yds, 6 TD
JR(RS) Iverson Howard (81) 149 Att, 933 Yds, 8 TD               | HB  | SO(RS) Marques Bagent (87) 291 Att, 1,318 Yds, 20 TD
SR(RS) Emanuel Ross (87) 73 Rec, 1,067  Yds, 14 TD              | WR  | JR(RS) Cooper Perry (92) 72 Rec, 927 Yds, 3 TD
SR JT Taggart (79) 46 Rec, 576 Yds, 7 TD                        | WR  | SO(RS) Darren Kopp (92) 56 Rec, 815 Yds, 11 TD
SR(RS) MLB Keyshawn Flowers 80 Tkl, 22 TFL, 6.5 Sack, INT       | DEF | SR MLB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale (89) 88 Tkl, 2 TFL, 0.5 Sack, 2 INT
FR MLB Gordon Paul (78) 54 Tkl, 11 TFL, 5.5 Sacks, INT          | DEF | SR(RS) DT Aydin Breland (92) 46 Tkl, 22 TFL, 12.5 Sacks
JR DE Garrison Dobbs (87) 32 Tkl, 24 TFL, 9.5 Sacks             | DEF | SO MLB Joe Kopp (84) 27 Tkl, 18 TFL, 14 Sacks
SR(RS) CB Braydon Lee 56 Tkl, 3 TFL, 6 INT                      | DEF | SR CB Brandon Finery Jr (93) 36 Tkl, 6 INT

2028 College Football Playoff Quarter Final Matchups
Cotton Bowl: #5 Clemson (12-2) @ #4 LSU (11-2)
Orange Bowl: #6 Miami (12-2) @ #3 Georgia (11-1)
Sugar Bowl: #7 NC State (11-2) @ #2 Texas (11-2)


•••


Inside the Shell

MW: "Out of the snake pit and right into the fire, Coach Leon. The Oregon Ducks are a program you're extensively familiar with due to your time in the Pacific Northwest, holding a 1-2 record against them. But you have the advantage in recency with your 33-0 shutout win over them last season with the Oregon State Beavers. Does that give you an edge in this upcoming contest?"

AL: "I don't know if I would call it an edge, Marcus, but we definitely know each other. And that goes both ways. They're the first team I faced when Brent Vigen gave me full control in my second season at Montana State, so they've faced my defense three times in full. Despite that, I got the better of them in our last meeting with the shutout, so they definitely have extra motivation going into this contest. That being said, we'll be ready. We aren't going down without a fight."

MW: "Speaking of extra motivation, this is a unique matchup. Reports have come out recently that when the Oregon Ducks were unsure of Dan Lanning's commitment to the program, you were contacted and declined any interest. Yet, when Lanning decided to commit to Oregon, you were suddenly interested in the Oklahoma job. Not only are you playing the coach your new program originally wanted to hire, but he is coaching for a school you recently turned down. All that to say, is there some personal motivation to prove your worth against Lanning and Oregon?"

AL: "First, I'll get into the report about Oregon. Did they reach out? Yes, under the guise that it would only be a potential opportunity if Lanning left. It wasn't even a job offer, just an inquiry of interest. I told them no, because at the end of the day it felt disingenuous to what I'd accomplished at Oregon State to return on the dark side. The difference with Oklahoma is it was an offer, not just an inquiry of interest. It was tangible and real. Say I say yes to Oregon, then Lanning goes back. The report still leaks and the same questions are being asked. As far as a personal motivation? I won't say that, Marcus. I'm coaching to prove something each and every week, going against Lanning or Oregon doesn't change that. They're the next opponent on the docket and we'll prepare for them like we do every opponent: with the intention of winning."

MW: "Fair enough, even though I think there's more we can dig into there, we'll move on. Your defense was spectacular against Penn State, limiting explosive plays and taking advantage of mistakes by Ethan Grunkemeyer. Of his seven incompletions in the 1st-round matchup, four of them were interceptions, which is absurd. Can you take that game plan and use it against another prolific quarterback in Elijah Sampson?"

AL: "Yes and no. It's a pretty identical game plan to what we used against Sampson two years ago with Oregon State, so he's already seen it. Plus, back then he only had three games under his belt. Now? He's seasoned and ready. I think it still starts with pressure. Not many quarterbacks can take a beating and keep on powering through. If we can generate pressure, which was admittedly an issue outside of a few plays against Penn State, we're right there again. If their superb offensive line gives us problems? We've got to adapt quickly, otherwise Sampson is going to be dicing us like a sous chef."


•••


I don't like this matchup, not one bit. Not only are the Oregon Ducks the team to beat this year, they're loaded. And that isn't even getting to the extra motivation. Coach Leon downplayed it, but I really think he's going into this one to prove a point. He knows Lanning turned down the job he took, and the desire to prove the Sooners right might make Leon turn to some questionable decision-making.

Last week he bet on his defense multiple times, coming up short on key fourth-downs in the red zone. If his defense doesn't step up to the plate, that would have changed the game. I don't think he has the luxury of doing that again against Oregon, or it's going to cost us a Rose Bowl victory.

I've wrestled with this one since the game went final last week, but I just can't justify this run continuing. Oregon is simply too talented and too explosive, and frankly, I think Lanning takes this opportunity to prove why he was the first choice, and not the eleventh.

21 Maryland, 31 Oregon.

[ShireNiner]

[redsox907]