Maryland football is in a much better spot than it was entering conference play last season, and the Terps will open up against a much easier opponent.
2015 saw Maryland begin Big Ten play against Michigan, a game the Wolverines won 28-0, though it was only 6-0 at halftime. In 2016, the Terps open up against Purdue, a team that’s projected to go winless for the remainder of the season.
The Boilermakers haven’t played a road game yet in 2016, beating Eastern Kentucky, losing to Cincinnati and beating Nevada all in West Lafayette. This season won’t be easy for them, and it’ll benefit Maryland greatly if they don’t experience any sudden uptick in performance this week.