2028 Week Eleven Preview: Delaware (5-4) @ #15 Maryland (7-2)
Marcus Washington // Terpsville • Published: November 10th, 2028
As we enter the home stretch of the 2028 season, the stakes couldn't be higher for the suddenly surging Terrapins. They're favored in each of their final three games of the season, beginning with this tilt against the Delaware Blue Hens, and with their 15th overall ranking, puts them firmly in contention to seize a spot in the College Football Playoff. With that, however, comes expectations, something very few of the current Terrapins have experienced this late in the season.
After we get past the stat graphic, we'll catch up with Coach Leon in our latest "Inside the Shell" about tempering expectations within the building and playing within themselves, among other topics.
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#15 Maryland Terrapins (7-2) | Description | Delaware Blue Hens (5-4) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81 Overall // 81 Offense // 81 Defense | Team Rating | 61 Overall // 61 Offense // 61 Defense Armando Leon (7-2) | Head Coach | Major Applewhite (16-18) Spread | Offensive Scheme | Spread 3-3-5 | Defensive Scheme | 4-2-5 37.4 (11th) | Offensive Points Per Game | 27.0 (88th) 20.5 (14th) | Defensive Points Per Game | 23.9 (35th) 429.9 (26th) | Offensive Yards Per Game | 402.9 (62nd) 318.1 (5th) | Defensive Yards Per Game | 368.4 (53rd)
Maryland Terrapins | Description | Delaware Blue Hens --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 64-47 | Combined Record | 60-49 Towson (FCS) W 63-17 | Week One | FCS W 27-13 Virginia Tech (6-4) W 37-14 | Week Two | @ James Madison (3-6) L 21-15 @ Michigan (5-4) W 28-20 | Week Three | Sam Houston (6-3) L 28-22 BYE | Week Four | Kennesaw State (6-3) L 38-28 Washington (6-3) L 24-20 | Week Five | @ Middle Tennessee (4-5) W 37-34 Rutgers (3-7) W 30-20 | Week Six | @ Missouri State (6-3) W 21-9 @ UCLA (5-4) W 52-21 | Week Seven | @ Jacksonville State (3-6) L 20-13 Ohio State (7-2) L 42-24 | Week Eight | Florida International (7-2) W 34-20 Northwestern (6-3) W 42-3 | Week Nine | Liberty (2-7) W 46-32 @ Indiana (4-5) W 41-24 | Week Ten | BYE
Maryland Terrapins Delaware Blue Hens --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HB Zymear Smith (89) Broken Fibula (22 Weeks) | Injuries | T Erik Atkins (69) Torn Rotator Cuff (12 Weeks)
Maryland Terrapins Delaware Blue Hens --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SR Malik Washington (87) 193/286 (67%), 2,119 Yds, 22 TD, 3 INT | QB | JR(RS) Joshua Douglas (81) 202/359 (56%), 2,442 Yds, 16 TD, 5 INT SR Malik Washington (87) 87 Att, 524 Yds, 5 TD | QB | JR(RS) Joshua Douglas (81) 98 Att, 308 Yds, TD JR(RS) Iverson Howard (81) 110 Att, 658 Yds, 6 TD | HB | FR(RS) Jeff Pappoe (75) 89 Att, 437 Yds, 7 TD SR(RS) Emanuel Ross (87) 43 Rec, 604 Yds, 8 TD | WR | SO(RS) Leo Keene (80) 43 Rec, 623 Yds, 2 TD SR(RS) Za'Ron Collins (82) 31 Rec, 282 Yds, 3 TD | WR | SO(RS) Clyde Cooks (82) 44 Rec, 616 Yds, 7 TD SR(RS) MLB Keyshawn Flowers 64 Tkl, 14 TFL, 1.5 Sack | DEF | SR(RS) Alex Adebayo (76) 52 Tkl JR(RS) LB Jordon Robinson (78) 26 Tkl, 9 TFL, 0.5 Sack | DEF | SR(RS) DT Jordan Thomas (91) 30 Tkl, 12 TFL, 7 Sacks JR DE Garrison Dobbs (87) 22 Tkl, 19 TFL, 7.5 Sacks | DEF | SR(RS) DE Kris Jones (86) 31 Tkl, 11 TFL, 2.5 Sacks SR(RS) CB Braydon Lee 46 Tkl, 2 TFL, 4 INT | DEF | JR(RS) Nyair Domnie (76) 49 Tkl, 4 INT
Big Ten Week Eleven Schedule
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Inside the Shell
MW: "Maryland sits at 15th in the College Football Playoff poll with three games remaining. It seems unlikely that the Terrapins are going to be able to secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, with a number of teams ahead of them including the undefeated Oregon Ducks and one-loss Trojans. However, if the Terps win out, it's not outside the realm of possibility for them to have a high enough rank by then to secure one of the at-large bids. Is that something the team is talking about and if so, how do you temper those expectations to avoid a trap game?"
AL: "In today's day and age, it's impossible for the guys not to know where we're at in regard to the Playoff. The best thing we can do is acknowledge it, while putting the proper perspective on it. Is that an attainable goal? Absolutely. And it's one we're striving for. But in order to get there, we have to continue to execute like we have all season. Keep our heads down, nose to the grindstone, and make sure we're doing all of the prep work throughout the week that is going to pay off on Saturdays."
MW: "The defense got gashed at times by Jahlil Hageman; what adjustments are you making defensively to make sure that trend doesn't continue?"
AL: "Focusing on fundamentals, Marcus. We can't load up for a highlight-reel type hit and not expect the ballcarrier to react. They can see that coming and the good ones—which Jahlil is—are going to see that from a mile away. We have got to be disciplined, wrap up, stay sound and look for opportunities to force some turnovers with big hits. But we can't spend the entire game hunting big hits and be surprised when he skirts them."
MW: "Some have publicly questioned your statement after the Indiana game where you deflected a question about bad blood between you and former Terrapin Head Coach Mike Locksley. Care to elaborate on that relationship, or are you sticking by your comments?"
AL: "Listen, my main concern was not taking the shine away from my team. That win meant a lot to them, especially guys like Malik and Garrison. I didn't want to make the coverage of the game about me. But now that we're past that, I have no problem addressing it. Mike and I have never directly spoken more than offhand comments on his part. He had the opportunity to back up that talk on the field; he didn't do it. If he wants to keep pressing the issue, he knows where to find me. In his old office, winning with his guys, while he ran away to Indiana to lose."
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I don't want to get too ahead of ourselves, but with the final three games on the Terrapins' schedule we should be forcing some uncomfortable decisions at the CFP committee shortly. Because if we win out, we're square in the middle of one of the at-large bids.
To be having these kinds of discussions in Coach Leon's 1st year is far and away greatly exceeding any expectations even the most stalwart Terrapins fan had this season.
Before we get there, however, we need to take care of business to finish the season. Otherwise all of this hyperbole turns into just talk.
If we do slip up this year, it isn't this week. 45 Maryland, 10 Delaware.
