No. 21 Syracuse (1-0) and Maryland (1-0) — despite both winning — had very different Week 1 outings. 

The Orange struggled offensively, resorting to a ground-and-pound ethos to move the ball, but smothered Liberty in a 24-0 shutout. Maryland blasted Howard to the tune of 79-0, a monumental drubbing in which the Terrapins out-gained the Bison 623-68 while scoring a touchdown and safety on special teams.

Now the two come together in College Park, Maryland, on Saturday at noon for the first matchup between SU and UM since 2014. Get to know the Terps ahead of the Orange’s second-straight road game to start the season.

All-time series: Syracuse leads, 19-15-2

Last time they met: Maryland came to the Carrier Dome in 2014 and handed Syracuse a 34-20 loss, the Orange’s first of the season after narrowly escaping Villanova and pounding Central Michigan. 

Syracuse out-gained Maryland by 220 yards, ran 21 more offensive plays and somehow scored 14 fewer points. Quarterback Terrel Hunt accounted for 156 net yards and two scores on the ground, but those were the only times SU found the end zone that day.

The teams punted 13 times for a combined 523 yards.

The Maryland report: As previously noted, Maryland thrashed Howard in Week 1. With Syracuse’s question marks in the passing game and the crooked number UM put up, it wasn’t shocking to see the Terrapins favored at home against a ranked opponent. 

But a look at the romp Maryland had against the Bison shows a team dominating, admittedly, but keyed heavily by frequent mistakes from the opponent. Howard had two punts blocked — including for a safety— allowed a punt returned for a touchdown, coughed up the games only turnover and frequently blew assignments allowing the Terrapins to take the top off the defense.

This is not to say new head coach Mike Locksley’s offense isn’t potent, it very much is, but SU isn’t a team that puts itself in bad positions often, particularly on special teams.

Still, the Orange defense will have to contend with Virginia Tech transfer quarterback Josh Jackson, who efficiently threw four touchdowns on 15 completions and 24 attempts last week as well as a rushing attack that put up five touchdowns and more than 300 yards.

How Syracuse beats Maryland: The same way it beat Liberty. If Syracuse controls possession and limits the opportunities for Maryland’s quick-strike offense, it should certainly fare much better than Howard. 

The Orange’s defense was one of the best in the country in terms of turnovers and sacks last season and one week of this season doesn’t show any sign of regression. SU can conceivably get a few takeaways where Howard couldn’t and will be able to move the ball more than Howard could (68 yards).

Maryland won by 79 while possessing the ball for just more than half of the game clock. It’s hard to imagine the offense is that efficient again anyways, regardless of the fact that SU’s defense is so much better than Howard’s.

Ultimately, SU might be best off relying on its defense, but that doesn’t mean sticking them on the field for more than half the game. Part of SU’s defense on Saturday can be a good run game.

Stat to know: -4 — Liberty’s total rushing yards against SU Week 1. 

Syracuse last held an opponent to negative rushing yards on Oct. 19, 2012, when it bashed Connecticut, 40-10, and pushed the Huskies back six yards in the rush game. Maryland might have a better rushing attack than 2012 UConn or Liberty a week ago, but nonetheless, SU’s defensive line started the year on fire — they produced 14 tackles for loss in the opener.

Player to watch: Josh Jackson, quarterback, No. 17.

Jackson dazzled as a redshirt freshman for Virginia Tech in 2017, starting 13 games, throwing for 2991 yards and setting a Hokies record for passing touchdowns by a freshman. Then, Jackson injured his ankle on Sept. 25, 2018, and never played another snap for the Hokies. Now at Maryland, Jackson flashed the same talent he did at Virginia Tech.

Published on September 6, 2019 at 1:18 pm

Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham