The Maryland Terrapins play football today! At 8pm the Terps kick off their 2026 season against the FCS Hampton Pirates, with the game being broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Here's what the Maryland On SI staff is looking for in tonight's contest:
No reason to believe this will be anything other than business as usual. Maryland has won 15 straight non-conference season openers, 18 straight non-conference games overall, and 19 straight games against FCS opponents.
Hampton meanwhile is coming off a 2-10 season and has a new head coach. While the Pirates had a dominant Week 0 victory, it's a whole different level of competition they face this time.
The Terps should put this one away early, giving coach Locksley a chance to rotate in the majority of his depth guys throughout the second half.
Whether he is in the starting lineup or not, Zion Elee should make his Maryland debut; I'll go one step further and say he picks up his first collegiate sack as well.
Other than that, it'll be a fun first impression for the new freshmen on campus and, ideally, the start of a run back to bowl consideration.
Maryland's advantages show up across every phase of the matchup. Malik Washington's arm talent and mobility should overwhelm a Hampton secondary that struggled even against midtier FCS passing attacks, setting the stage for explosive plays early. The Terps also hold a clear edge in the run game, with an offensive line capable of creating steady push and chunk gains.
Defensively, Maryland's front seven is simply too fast for Hampton's protection. Even if Mike Locksley rotates heavily in the second half, Maryland's depth remains significantly stronger than Hampton's starters.
This opener carries real value for Maryland beyond the lopsided matchup itself. It's a chance for Clint Trickett to establish early offensive rhythm, letting Washington and the skill group settle into the spacing and tempo that define the new system. Defensively, the game provides a controlled environment to evaluate young contributors, particularly in the secondary, without the pressure of a Big Ten opponent dictating pace.
Most importantly, it serves as a confidencebuilding launch point before Maryland enters a far more demanding stretch against UConn, Virginia Tech, and UCLA.
Key Terps to watch include Washington, who is positioned for a clean, efficient stat line as he continues to settle into Trickett's offense, and RB Dejuan Williams should who see a strong workload early. On defense, the passrush duo of Sidney Stewart and Zion Elee is likely to set the tone from the opening series.
Head coach Mike Locksley and his staff will want to get the crowd engaged from kickoff. Locksley had talked throughout the offseason about how he wanted this offense to find that dynamic style and the rushing attack they had been known for early on in his first couple of years at College Park.
Be on the lookout for the Terps' running backs led by DeJuan Williams, Harry Dalton III, and Iveson Howard to stuff the stat sheet and be difference makers throughout the contest.
I think the Terps' run defense will need time to settle in and will struggle early on in the contest, but Maryland's passing attack will be the key.
Even though it's faced a lot of questions in the offseason, it will overpower an experienced Hampton secondary that isn't used to the style of Big Ten offenses, which could lead to the Terps eclipsing 30 points in the contest. Washington will toss three-plus touchdowns and throw for over 250 passing yards.
In all fairness, this should be a game where Maryland cruises to a victory: I want to see the youngsters on defense, such as five-star edge Zion Elee, second-year safety Messiah Delhoume, freshman Darrell Carey, sophomores Jayden Shipps, Sidney Stewart, and more, make plays, leading by example.
For Maryland, it's all about not underestimating the opposition, playing clean football, putting the best tape out there, and executing under their schemes that build good habits into the next week.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/maryland as Maryland On SI Staff Predictions for Terrapins Football vs Hampton .
