New Big Ten preseason rankings paint concerning picture for Maryland football under Mike Locksley

The Maryland Terrapins are coming off their worst season since 2019 — and the outlook isn’t much better heading into this season. After missing a bowl game and watching a flood of players leave through the transfer portal, head coach Mike Locksley’s program is searching for answers.

But don’t expect a quick turnaround — at least not according to one independent college football analyst.

On3 Sports analyst Phil Steele doesn’t see Maryland making much noise in the new-look Big Ten. In his recently released preseason conference rankings, Steele slots the Terrapins at No. 16 overall — ahead of only Northwestern and Purdue.

Steele’s rankings are built on data, not opinion. 

His Plus/Minus Power Ratings, the foundation of his Big Ten projections, factor in nine different metrics — including last season’s results, strength of schedule, and team-specific adjustments — to generate precise power ratings down to the decimal. 

Maryland landed at 100.08, near the bottom of the conference.

“Going into the 2024 season, Maryland was expecting to potentially take a step forward and become competitive again in the conference,” Steele wrote. “That didn’t happen, and Maryland missed out on a bowl.”

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It’s not all bad news for Maryland, though. If there’s one thing working in the Terps’ favor, it’s the schedule.

“One thing that Maryland does have going for it next season is a relatively easy schedule — at least by Big Ten standards,” Steele noted. “Penn State, Ohio State, and Oregon, the top three teams I have ranked, aren’t on the schedule next season. That means there’s wins to be found in conference play.”

The good news? 

Maryland avoids facing those conference heavyweights, creating a window to claw back toward respectability. But even with that advantage, plenty of questions remain.

The Terrapins enter the season with uncertainty at quarterback, roster depth concerns, and little margin for error. Locksley is heading into his seventh full season leading the Terps, and the pressure is mounting. 

The program hasn’t won more than eight games under his watch, and with a deeper, more competitive Big Ten, the clock is ticking.

If Steele’s rankings prove accurate, 2025 could bring more frustration for a fan base still waiting for Maryland to take that next step.