Music City Bowl on 12/31 versus Kentucky.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland will travel to Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 5 for a Big Ten game that will kickoff at Noon EST and air on Big Ten Network, it was announced on Saturday night.

Maryland (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) is off to its best start to a season since 2010. The Terps had a bye this week after topping Northwestern, 31-24, on October 22. The Terps rank third in the Big Ten in both points per game (34.1) and yards per game (455) entering this week.

Wisconsin (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten), which is also coming off a bye week, has won two of its last three games, including a 35-24 victory at Purdue on October 22.

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ESPN gives a Maryland football player a funny award​

With an explosive offense and a 6-2 record, Maryland football's players have earned a few awards this season, but none more entertaining than offensive lineman Johari Branch's. ESPN gave him its 'Best celebration' award for his spontaneous cartwheel celebrating Roman Hemby's game-winning touchdown against Northwestern.

One of the biggest players on a big offensive line, Branch fluidly pulled off the gymnastics late in the game, drawing a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. But the site of a massive offensive lineman frolicking like a small child was worth it.


They wrote:

Some penalties are totally worth it, as Maryland offensive lineman Johari Branch showed Saturday.
A man of Branch's stature -- 6-foot-3, 330 pounds -- is often miscast for power and brawn alone. But the Terrapins center showcased grace and flair after Maryland teammate Roman Hemby scored the go-ahead 75-yard touchdown against Northwestern in the fourth quarter. An end zone camera captured Branch doing a perfect cartwheel across the goal line before celebrating with his teammates.
Officials assessed a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Maryland held on for a 31-24 win to become bowl eligible.
Maryland coach Mike Locksley clearly didn't like the penalty on Branch, but perhaps he can use Branch's tumbling talents in the future. That's what Ohio did in 2019, when offensive lineman Hagen Meservy lined up as a receiver and cartwheeled to distract the defense for a nice gain on a pass play.
Bottom line: Never let a big man's talents go to waste.

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Branch's viral moment brough some debate on whether an act of harmless joy should be penalized, but then, Maryland's been on the bad side of plenty of questionable calls this season. And the Terps (6-2 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) haven't helped themselves, ranking No. 126 of 131 teams nationally in penalty yardage. They've been able to escae much damage from it, though, which shouldn't be surprising when you noticed No. 20 Cincinnati is last, No. 3 Tennessee is No. 128 and No. 6 Alabama is No. 117. Apparently penalties don't hurt you anymore.

Terps making up ground in attempt to flip local from blueblood commitment


Anyway, Branch has been a key piece of one of Maryland's better offensive lines in recent years. According to Pro Football Focus's analytics, he's been the second-best run-blocker among Maryland's starting offensive line, behind Mason Lunsford. After starting all 18 games in his first two seasons, he came back for an extra year and is helping to pave the way for one of Maryland's best offenses in recent years.

“He’s kind of the bully of the group,” coach Mike Locksley said, via The Diamondback's Varun Shankar. “He doesn’t take anybody’s stuff, he will fight you and really get after people over the course of the game. Not just the other team but if he doesn’t feel his teammates are holding up their end of the bargain, he’s not afraid to step out and become one of those leaders we’ve been trying to develop.”

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The former junior college recruit from Chicago has moved around on the line to fill Maryland's needs, making the challenging move from guard to center last offseason to help the staff maximize its lineup.

Via Shankar's profile:

From 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., he stayed in the facility going over plays and practicing his snaps before heading to treatment and recovery. Maryland’s coaches were often on recruiting trips, so Branch spent much of his time with the team’s graduate assistants to understand the intricacies of the playbook.
Late in the summer when the Terps’ incoming freshman class arrived on the campus, many of them came to Branch for questions they had about the playbooks.
“I think they did that because they knew … I understood the playbook’s ins and outs,” he said.

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We know the B1G officials are ready for a Terp hanky toss, not review critical calls for the Terps, act like they don’t see critical calls against the the Terps, etc. It’s documented. At this point it’s obvious, it’s a given. Control the penalties you can control with discipline. Play aggressive. Don’t play timid in fear of these “officials”. Stop the stupid penalties but stay aggressive. Crush NW’s balls in a disciplined, aggressive manner.

COLLEGE PARK, MD – For the second straight season, Maryland men’s basketball senior Donta Scott has been selected to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Watch List as one of the top 20 at the position in the country. Of the 20 players on the initial watch list, Scott is one of three Big Ten players selected.

Scott, who was ranked as the No. 49 overall player nationally last season, is the top returning scorer for the Terps after averaging 12.6 points per game last year. He also posted a team-best and career-best 6.2 rebounds per game.

The Philadelphia native enters the season having played in 94 career games, including 79 starts, with 926 total points (9.9 per game) and 493 rebounds (5.2 per game).

Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to annually recognize the best power forwards in the collegiate game with the Karl Malone Award, which bears the name of one of the greatest players of all time,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “To be named to the watchlist of the Karl Malone Award is a great honor and I know he values the opportunity to watch these players compete throughout the season. We are honored to have his unique perspective in our evaluation each year.”

2023 Karl Malone Award Candidates*

*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-2023 season.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds beginning Friday, October 28. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

The winner of the 2023 Karl Malone Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).

For more information on the 2023 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram.

Michigan 2024 three-star DB Jamir Benjamin dropped his top 10 this afternoon and the Terps made the cut. Certainly have to feel good about his quotes where he says it was his childhood dream school because of the unis. Obviously, being from the Detroit area, Michigan and MSU are going to remain players. Northwestern and PSU also involved.

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The Big Ten will announce next season’s football schedules tomorrow at 12 pm on BTN.

Remember, one more season with divisions and then they will go away from them beginning in 2024 when UCLA and USC join.

Edit: Here is your full 2023 football schedule

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Offensive Player of the Week

Sean Clifford, Penn State

QB – Sr. – Cincinnati, Ohio – St. Xavier

• Completed 23-of-31 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns to become the career completions leader at Penn State, passing Trace McSorley (720; 2015-18) in the Nittany Lions’ 45-17 victory against Minnesota
• On a 4-yard pass in the first quarter, Clifford became the second Nittany Lion to record 9,000 career passing yards
• Collected his 10th career game with 250+ passing yards and three or more passing touchdowns
• The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns his fourth career Offensive Player of the Week award and second of the season
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Sean Clifford (Sept. 5, 2022)

Defensive Player of the Week

John Torchio, Wisconsin

S – Sr. – Lafayette, Calif. – Campolindo

• Picked off a pair of passes in Wisconsin's win over Purdue, including a first-quarter interception that he returned for a touchdown
• The first Badger to record two interceptions and return one for a score in the same game since Natrell Jamerson did so against Northwestern in 2016
• Totaled a career-high 10 tackles, a team high in the win
• The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns the first Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career
• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: Kamo'I Latu (Oct. 10, 2022)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Noah Ruggles, Ohio State

K – Gr. – Odessa, Fla. – Steinbrenner

• Kicked four field goals early against Iowa's top-five defense to help Ohio State build a 26-10 lead on the way to a 54-10 victory
• Converted on four field goals (46, 41, 35, 26) and six PATs for a career-high 18-point day
• His four first-half field goals tie for the second most in a game in pro-gram history, matching eight other Buckeye placekickers
• Garners the second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career
• Last Ohio State Special Teams Player of the Week: Noah Ruggles (Nov. 1, 2021)

Freshman of the Week

Roman Hemby, Maryland

RB – Edgewood, Md. – The John Carroll School

• Rushed for a career-high 179 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in Maryland’s win over Northwestern
• Scored the game-winning touchdown on a career-long 75-yard run with 3:33 remaining in the game to put the Terps ahead for good
• Forced 10 missed tackles on runs, the most by an Autonomy Five running back in the country this week
• Earns the second Freshman of the Week honor of his career
• Last Maryland Freshman of the Week: Jaishawn Barham (Oct. 10, 2022)

I compiled a number of this week's bowl projections with some commentary on each game and matchup. The three bowls that seem to come up the most are Duke's Mayo Bowl, Outback Bowl and Quick Lane Bowl. I don't see the Quick Lane happening at this point, I expect something bigger and better. The most intriguing of the projections might be the old Outback versus Mississippi State and the one I'd personally like to see would be the Music City Bowl versus South Carolina. More at the link below.

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Offensive Player of the Week

MD Myers, Rutgers

F - Sr. – Delran, N.J. – Philadelphia Union Academy – Major: Economics

• Scored a 15th minute goal in Rutgers’ 2-1 win over Michigan
• First Scarlett Knight to reach 30 points in a season since 2018
• Collects his first career Offensive Player of the Year award
• Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Jackson Temple (Sept. 20, 2022)

Defensive Player of the Week

William Kulvik, Maryland

D - So. – Oslo, Norway – Stabaek IF – Major: Letters and Sciences

• Scored the lone goal in #8 Maryland’s 1-0 victory over Michigan State
• Helped anchor a defense that held the Spartans without a shot, the first time Maryland had accomplished the feat since 2006
• Collects his first career Defensive Player of the Year award
• Last Maryland Defensive Player of the Week: Nick Richardson (Oct. 11, 2022)

2022 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Players of the Week
Aug. 30
O: Laurence Wooton, Jr. ODU
D: William Kulvik, So., MD


Sept. 6
O: Peter Mangione, Jr., PSU
D: Keagan McLaughlin, Sr. OSU

Sept. 13
Co-O: Malcolm Johnston, Sr., MD
Co-O: Marko Borkovic, Fr., OSU
Co-D: Niklas Neumann, Sr., MD
Co-D: Keegan McLaughlin, Sr., OSU

Sept. 20
Co-O: Xavier Green, Sr., OSU
Co-O: Jackson Temple, Sr., RU
D: Chris Rindov, Sr., MD

Sept. 27
O: Tyger Evans, Jr., PSU
D: Nick Richardson, Sr., MD

Oct. 4
O: Herbert Endeley, Sr., IND
D: Owen Finnerty, Sr., MSU

Oct. 11
O: Liam Butts, Sr., PSU
D: Nick Richardson, Sr., MD

Oct. 18
O: Ryan Wittenbrink, R-Sr., IND
D: Carter Abbott, Jr., WIS



Oct. 25

O: MD Myers, Sr., RU

D: William Kulvik, So., MD

The question before the four-man panel at ESPN today was which BT team that didn't go to the Big Dance last season is most likely to jump into the top half this year and quite possibly earn a bid to the Madness. Three of the four went with Maryland. Worth reading, but, alas, someone else will have to provide a link.

Same as last week - vs. NC State in Duke's Mayo Bowl. Thought we might get a promotion, but not so.

according to something I saw on a Wiscy site. No TV listed. The 1 is probably local time, meaning noon here.

Here are your individual snap counts and PFF grades from Saturday's win over Northwestern. I was a bit surprised that Billy Edwards was the highest rated player on offense, especially given how good Hemby was. One other observation, the safety unit is becoming arguably the defense's top unit as the season moves along. Trader and Brade played particularly well on Saturday and I doubt it is a coincidence that they did so with Glendon Miller back in the lineup. Miller, too, posted a very good grade having played 22 snaps. More at the link.

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As has already been reported on Twitter, Virginia beat Maryland by 6 points in their 'secret scrimmage' on Saturday. Julian Reese led the way for the Terps, while Jahmir Young and Donta Scott both carried a bulk of the scoring load. The other name I continue to hear as having played extremely well and is going to be a big part of the rotation is Ian Martinez.

I mentioned that I was hearing Martinez has looked really so far the other day and after actually speaking with Martinez at media day, I'm not convinced he won't be in the starting lineup once the season gets underway. He had some eye-opening things to say, as in, he was not happy last year, felt they did not play the style of basketball he was told they were going to play and felt they really did not use him in a way that suits his strengths. He seems much more confident in his game and in what the new staff is doing. He was also very adamant that this team is actually playing fast, high tempo basketball and actually getting up and down the court like Turgeon always said he would do but didn't. It's no secret that I really liked the Martinez pickup at the time he committed here. It also isn't any secret he really struggled last season. But he showed some flashes in league play and it doesn't surprise me at all to hear he's playing well. Also have to remember he was basically behind the 8 ball from the get go last season with the surgery. So again, I almost wouldn't be surprised if Martinez starts at the two with Carey as the first off the bench.

But for the most part, this team is likely to go as Young, Reese and Scott go. They are likely going to do the bulk of the heavy lifting.

What’s going to happen in OUR Wiscy game? I’ll wager you 1 Guinness that we both run for more yards and win the game.

Terps flirting with national recognition.

Hoping to get intel on transfers and the most promising freshman. TSR Scott is this something that you have spies checking it out.

Did anybody see during the B1G network commercials where they show the pop-up schools on the landscape, they showed a quick glimpse of USC and UCLA. I did not see that the rest of the game or day for that matter.

We're about an hour away from kickoff in College Park between the Terps and Northwestern. Terps will be in their usual all red Homecoming uniforms.

Big news ahead of this one, not surprisingly, is that Taulia will sit this one out and Billy Edwards Jr. will get his first start. On the other side, Ryan Hilinski has been benched by Fitzgerald and is being replaced by Brendan Sullivan.

One surprise injury note, Barham is out today, along with Hyppolite who has missed all but a few snaps of the past 4 games.

The Terps got the running game going in the second half and paired with a couple of INTs by the safeties helped the Terps come back from a halftime deficit to defeat the Wildcats 31-24 and become bowl eligible for the second straight season. Full recap with quotes, stats and highlights at the link below.

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I exchanged questions with Northwestern publisher Louie Vaccher ahead of tomorrow's Homecoming game. One question I asked that I was actually a bit surprised by the answer was about Fitzgerald being on the hot seat. He's an alum and one of the most respected coaches in the game, but NW has been flat out awful the last season-plus. You also know it's bad when their own publisher expects a whooping, even with Billy Edwards starting. More at the story linked below.

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