Game Preview: Texas Longhorns at Maryland Terrapins

The Texas Longhorns hope to start the 2018 season with a road win over the Maryland Terrapins, the same team that pulled an upset last year in Austin. The Terrapins finished the 2017 campaign with a less than desirable 4-8 record, with the win over Texas serving as the pinnacle of the season for head coach DJ Durkin. Texas, after the season-opening loss in 2017, managed to salvage a winning record after finishing 6-6 in the regular season and defeating Missouri 33-17 in the Texas Bowl. Both teams have plenty to compete for, but for the Longhorns, redemption from last year’s loss is paramount.

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Texas has opened the season on the road just twice in the last 22 years. One of those games was in Houston against Rice in 2010 (Texas 34, Rice 17) and the other was against Notre Dame in 2015 (Notre Dame 38, Texas 3). Longhorns head coach Tom Herman is aware of the mental challenges his players face as they prepare for Saturday’s game.

“This is a team in that they don’t think they can beat you. They know they can beat you, because they have. There’s a lot of guys on that team at Maryland that know that they’ve beaten Texas.”

Maryland is hoping for a repeat of last year’s success against Texas, and they will do so under new leadership. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has taken the reins as interim head coach, as DJ Durkin was recently placed on administrative leave while the University conducts its investigation of the football program following the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. Canada will utilize a capable offense that returns eight starters, including every player on the offensive line and two quarterbacks that did their share of damage against the Longhorns last year. Redshirt sophomore Tyrell Pigrome threw for two touchdowns and ran for another before leaving the game with a torn ACL in the third quarter. His backup, freshman Kasim Hill, finished off the Longhorns by leading two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter and ensuring a Terrapin victory. Hill tore his ACL several weeks later in the Terrapins’ loss to Central Florida. Both quarterbacks could see playing time against Texas on Saturday, as both are listed as potential starters on the team’s depth chart.

The Maryland defense finished the 2017 season ranked 86th nationally, allowing 419 yards of offense per game. They return five starters on a unit that gave up 473 yards to a young Texas offense last season.

Texas returns seven starters on offense, and appears to have found its leader at the quarterback position in sophomore Sam Ehlinger. Ehlinger won the job over junior Shane Buechele, who started last year’s contest against Maryland, throwing for 375 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for another score in the loss to the Terrapins. Herman gave the nod to Ehlinger, but Buechele has progressed as of late and made Herman’s decision difficult:

“Shane made it very difficult to make that decision. Probably the hardest decision that I’ve had to make as a head coach and coordinator. We went through something very similar at Ohio State when Braxton Miller went down. We had to decide between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, and neither of them did anything wrong. Neither of them proved that you can’t win with them. In fact, the opposite is true.”

If Ehlinger manages the game in an efficient manner and plays steady, solid football, Buechele’s services won’t be necessary. Should the Longhorns fall behind and Ehlinger fail to provide the necessary spark to the offense, expect Buechele to see the field.

“They’ve both proven that you can win with them,” said Herman.

A struggling cadre of running backs proved to be a thorn in the side for the Longhorns last season, which finished 95th out of 129 FBS teams in rushing offense. Texas amassed just 98 rushing yards using five rushers against the Maryland defense last year for 3.2 yards per carry. Chris Warren led the team with just 31 yards. Those statistics must improve if Texas expects to become an elite football program once again. Texas gives a new look at the running back position to start the season, with graduate transfer Tre Watson and sophomore Daniel Young listed as the first string options at the position. Carthage High School standout freshman Keaontay Ingram is listed as the second string option.

The Texas defense returns seven starters on a unit that allowed just 366 yards per game. While the loss of LB Malik Jefferson leaves a void on and off the field, the emergence of upperclassmen players like Anthony Wheeler, Malcolm Roach and Gary Johnson will add value to Todd Orlando’s schemes.

The game will kick-off at 11:00 AM CST at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, and will be televised on FS1.