UCF Knights at MARYLAND Terrapins
When: Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD
TV: Fox Sports 1
Coaches: UCF – Scott Frost, 2nd Season (1-0, 7-7 overall); Maryland – DJ Durkin, 2nd Season (2-0, 9-7 overall)
About the matchup:
The Knights are still carrying a chip on their shoulder from last year’s 30-24 double overtime loss to the Terrapins at then Bright House Networks Stadium. Now, a year wiser and more developed, both programs are nearly guaranteed to give us another close contest as Maryland is just a four-point favorite.
UCF will return to the field nearly three weeks after its home opener against FIU. The Knights had their meeting with Memphis postponed (rescheduled for Sept. 30) and their game with Georgia Tech canceled due to Hurricane Irma.
The Knights returned to practice last Thursday and Friday but did not have the complete team back together until Monday. The players are anxious to get back on the field and, as far as we know, everyone is healthy. In last year’s meeting, UCF's defense recorded a season-high five sacks, but their offense had four turnovers.
Maryland enters the matchup averaging 57 points a game. The Terrapins registered an impressive week one victory at Texas, 51-41 and then defeated Towson at home, 63-17. They’ll be working in true freshman QB Kasim Hill (16-of-19 for 207 passing yards) after Tyrrell Pigrome went down in the win against Texas. Pigrome scored the game-winning touchdown in double overtime last year against UCF.
The Terrapins have been strong in making stops in the red zone. Their defense has only allowed two scores on five total red zone trips - leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally. Running back Ty Johnson has a chance to make history for Maryland. If he rushes for 100 yards against UCF, he will become the third player in Maryland history to do so in five-straight games.
Like UCF, Maryland is coming off a turnaround season under its second-year head coach DJ Durkin. Durkin doubled the team's wins from 2015 (3-9 record) to last season (6-7 record) and led the program to a bowl berth.
Three and out:
1. McKenzie Milton made his first college football start on September 17, 2016 vs. Maryland at Spectrum Stadium (21-for36, 260 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT and 6 fumbles)
2. UCF offensive lineman Tyler Hudanick took to Twitter to say he is “ready to go” this weekend against Maryland. The starting left guard tore his ACL against Temple last season and has missed eight games.
3. Maryland has not lost to an opponent in the month of September under DJ Durkin.