Maryland's win against Iowa last year started in the trenches. The Terps need a repeat performance.
Iowa was mediocre last season, and never more so than when Maryland overpowered the Hawkeyes physically in an Oct. 18 matinee at Byrd Stadium. The Hawkeyes came to College Park with a dominant defensive front: All-Big Ten offensive linemen Brandon Scherff and Austin Blythe and a defensive line with four professional prospects.
And then Maryland dominated the trenches. Andre Monroe, the Terps' 5'11 defensive end, undressed Scherff all afternoon. Maryland's maligned offensive line pushed back against the Hawkeye front, and the Terps bit off 212 yards on 46 carries – not an explosive march down the field, but a methodical one.