Following a narrow, season-opening victory over the College of the Holy Cross on Saturday, NIU owns the third-longest active winning streak in the FBS at three games. The Huskies will try to extend that streak this week as they hit the road to face a familiar Big Ten foe under the Friday night lights.
NIU will make the 650-mile trek to College Park, Maryland, where it’ll take on the Maryland Terrapins in a battle of 1-0 teams. The game marks the fourth meeting between the schools and the first since Sept. 4, 2004, when Maryland squeaked out a 23-20 win in College Park. One year earlier, NIU famously upset the 15th-ranked Terrapins in the 2003 season opener at Huskie Stadium behind a 325-yard offensive performance.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Huskies enter as 17.5-point underdogs after a shaky opener that saw the offense and special teams struggle. Meanwhile, the Terrapins are fresh off a 39-7 thumping of Florida Atlantic, where true freshman quarterback Malik Washington passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut.
Ahead of Friday’s matchup, the Northern Star went Behind Enemy Bylines with Michael Howes, a sports editor and football reporter for The Diamondback, to gain insight on this year’s Maryland team.
Northern Star: Maryland is coming off a resounding win over Florida Atlantic in the season opener. How would you assess the team’s momentum heading into Friday’s game?
Michael Howes: The buzz in College Park is centered around freshman quarterback Malik Washington — and rightfully so — but Maryland’s win over FAU also revealed promise from a roster that looked shaky entering the season.
The Terps’ secondary, a unit that has struggled in recent years, snagged six interceptions — the program’s first game with that many since 1998. Up front, a defensive line rebuilt with young, unproven players after losing multiple starters managed to generate pressure with surprising ease. On the other side of the trenches, a rebuilt offensive line after a troubling 2024 gave up no sacks.
Special teams also offered a bright spot. After a shaky 2024 with kicker Jack Howes, transfer redshirt freshman Sean O’Haire went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 49-yarder, and converted all four extra points.
NS: Washington looked impressive in his college debut last week. How would you describe Washington as a quarterback based on just one game?
MH: Heading into the season, coach (Michael) Locksley and Washington’s teammates praised his maturity and poise — traits the young quarterback showcased last Saturday.
After a shaky first quarter in which he went 1-for-8 for 19 yards (with a couple of drops mixed in), Washington responded in the second by engineering three straight touchdown drives, all through the air. He piled up 181 yards in that quarter alone, reaching 200 passing yards by halftime.
He was pulled late in the third quarter, but had he played the full game, he likely would have eclipsed the 300-yard mark in his collegiate debut.
For a quarterback who flashed his dual-threat ability in high school, Washington didn’t run once against the Owls — instead showing innate poise as a passer, which is rare for his age.
NS: Are there any other offensive players you think will pose a major threat to NIU’s defense?
MH: Redshirt sophomore Dorian Fleming was one of the more exciting incoming transfers off the offseason — joining Maryland after hauling 558 yards with six touchdowns for Georgia State in 2024.
Fleming was tied for the most-targeted receiver on Saturday, tied with fellow transfer Jalil Farooq, getting eight targets and catching six for 36 yards. The tight end also added a touchdown.
Farooq only caught four of his targets but also compiled 43 yards and is a catch-and-run threat.
NS: Looking back to Saturday’s game, the Terrapins intercepted FAU’s quarterbacks six times and racked up three sacks. What were the key factors in that performance, and is that something you see the defense doing consistently?
MH: It’s unlikely the Terps replicate their six-interception outburst again this season, but their strong play in the secondary may prove more sustainable.
Maryland added two transfer cornerbacks — Dontay Joyner and Jamare Glasker — and both impressed in their debuts. Targeted six times apiece against FAU, they combined to allow just four catches for 16 yards. Nickel corner Kevyn Humes chipped in as well, holding opponents to only four yards per reception. Together, the group gives Maryland a secondary that looks much sturdier heading into Big Ten play.
Up front, freshman edge rusher Sidney Stewart delivered one of the most impactful performances of the day, even compared to quarterback Malik Washington, registering three total pressures. Fellow freshman Zahir Mathis added a sack, giving the Terps a pair of young pass rushers who flashed promise — though their biggest tests will come in conference play.
NS: What weaknesses does this Maryland team have that NIU can exploit to pull off an upset in College Park?
MH: Maryland was flagged 14 times last Saturday — eight of those in the first quarter alone. Many of the miscues came from freshmen and other players seeing their first collegiate snaps, but the volume still could have proved costly if not for the Terps’ explosive second quarter and a stingy defensive effort.
The ground game also showed inconsistency. Maryland’s three running backs combined for just 102 yards, with presumed lead back Nolan Ray managing only 3.1 yards per carry on eight attempts. If NIU succeeds in slowing Malik Washington and the passing attack, the Terps may need more from their backfield.
There were positives, though. DeJuan Williams provided a spark, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and finishing with a team-high 54 rushing yards.
NS: Finally, what’s your final score prediction for this game?
MH: Maryland 35, NIU 13.
