Maryland seeks bowl eligibility against No. 22 Penn State
By The Associated Press - Nov. 04, 2021 05:41 PM EDT
Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson, center, celebrates his touchdown against Ohio State with teammates during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson, center, celebrates his touchdown against Ohio State with teammates during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa throws a pass against Indiana during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in College Park, Md. Maryland won 38-35. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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No. 22 Penn State (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) at Maryland (5-3, 2-3), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT (FS1).

Line: Penn State by 9 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Penn State leads 40-3-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Maryland hasn't played in the postseason since 2016, but the Terrapins have a chance to become bowl eligible with a victory. Penn State is trying to avoid back-to-back losses in a series the Nittany Lions have dominated. Maryland won last year's meeting 35-19.

KEY MATCHUP

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa vs. the Penn State secondary. Tagovailoa threw for 419 yards last weekend and leads the Big Ten's No. 2-ranked passing offense. Penn State is second in the league in defensive passing efficiency.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Penn State: WR Parker Washington. Jahan Dotson often steals the show with his highlight-reel catches, but Washington has been pretty sure handed lately, too. He had a career-best nine grabs for 108 yards in a loss to Ohio State last weekend and could enjoy an uptick in targets, especially on short routes and screens, if Penn State struggles again to run the ball.

Maryland: WR Rakim Jarrett. He had five catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns at Penn State a season ago, and he's a leader of a Maryland receiving corps that has been hurt by injuries this year.

FACTS & FIGURES

Before last year's loss, Penn State was having little trouble with Maryland, winning the previous three meetings 66-3, 38-3 and 59-0. ... Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was an offensive coordinator at Maryland from 2008-10 and a receivers coach there from 2000-04. During the earlier stint, he overlapped with current Maryland coach Michael Locksley, who was a running backs coach. ... Tagovailoa has four 300-yard passing games this season, one shy of Scott Milanovich's school record set in 1993.

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