Michigan Football Opponent Preview: Maryland Terrapins

Here's what Michigan fans need to know about Maryland before Saturday's game.

The only thing standing in the way of the program's win No. 1,000 is Maryland. 

The Wolverines (10-0) are looking to become the first football team to ever reach 1,000 wins and Michigan has the opportunity to do so on Saturday. Michigan is a heavy favorite heading into College Park when it faces the Terrapins. 

Maryland, like most years, started out the season hot. The Terps were 5-0 but dropped four games in a row in Big Ten play. Maryland is 6-4 on the season and is looking for a program-changing win. 

Michigan is 10-1 all-time against Maryland and the Wolverines have won two games in a row. 

Here are key stats and key players that Michigan fans should know about. 

2023 stat comparison:

Scoring offense: Michigan (10th) 39 PPG -- Maryland (57th) 28.9

Scoring defense: Michigan (1st) 7.5 PPG -- Maryland (46th) 22.4

Passing offense: Michigan (59th) 237.4 YPG -- Maryland (24th) 281 YPG

Passing defense: Michigan (1st) 134.6 YPG -- Maryland (54th) 218.2 YPG

Rushing offense: Michigan (44th) 173.1 YPG -- Maryland (110th) 115.5 YPG

Rushing defense: Michigan (13th) 97.5 YPG -- Maryland (34th) 121.5 YPG

Total offense: Michigan (47th) 410.5 YPG -- Maryland (59th) 396.5 YPG

Total defense: Michigan (1st) 232.1 YPG -- Maryland (39th) 339.7 YPG

Turnovers Lost: Michigan 6 -- Maryland 15

Turnovers Gained: Michigan 16 -- Maryland 18

Sacks Allowed: Michigan 12 -- Maryland 20

Sacks: Michigan 23 -- Maryland 28

2023 PFF comparison:

Overall grade: Michigan (1st) 96.4 -- Maryland (70th) 80.8

Offense: Michigan (4th) 92.8 -- Maryland (57th) 74.6

Passing: Michigan (6th) 90.2 -- Maryland (51st) 73.7

Pass block: Michigan (47th) 71.1 -- Maryland (44th) 71.7

Running: Michigan (43rd) 85.8 -- Maryland (82nd) 78.9

Run block: Michigan (3rd) 76.7 -- Maryland (81st) 59.1

Defense: Michigan (1st) 95.3 -- Maryland (76th) 80.5

Run defense: Michigan (6th) 91.9 -- Maryland (105th) 68.4

Pass rush: Michigan (3rd) 90.1 -- Maryland (60th) 72.0

Coverage: Michigan (3rd) 92.8 -- Maryland (45th) 86.8

Top Maryland players to know:

QB Taulia Tagovailoa: The senior quarterback leads the Big Ten in passing. He has 22 touchdown throws and averages 276.9 yards per game. Tagovailoa is mobile and can escape the pocket to make throws on the run. Michigan will need to contain him on Saturday. The only downside of Tagovailoa is he can be turnover-prone. He has had the second-most interceptions thrown in the Big Ten with eight on the year. 

RB Roman Hemby: Hemby is by far and away the lead back for Maryland. He only gets around 10 carries per game but averages over 50 yards. He has run for 515 yards with four rushing touchdowns in 2023. Maryland is a pass-first team, but Hemby isn't a slouch and can make teams pay on the ground. 

WR Jeshaun Jones: The 6-foot-1 receiver is fifth in the Big Ten averaging over 60 receiving yards per game. Through 10 games, Jones has reeled in 45 receptions for 607 yards, and four scores. He can be a deep threat for Tagovailoa and I would guess Will Johnson will be covering him for most of the game. 

DB Beau Brade: The senior defensive back leads the team with 55 tackles. Teams have found success throwing the football against Maryland, which is why Brade leads the team in that category. Brade has intercepted one pass on the season and he has been able to get in the backfield on a few occasions racking up 2.5 TFLs.

LB Kellan Wyatt: Maryland has five guys who have three or more sacks on the season. Wyatt, a rush linebacker, leads the team with 4.5 sacks. He also has 33 tackles and leads the Terps with 6.5 TFLs. The Wolverines tackles will need to do a good job containing Wyatt on Saturday and learn from this past weekend against Penn State. 

DL Quashon Fuller: Junior lineman Quashon Fuller is another threat for Maryland. Fuller has three sacks on the season and is second on the team with five TFLs.