First meeting November 17, 1917 Next meeting November 25, 2017 | Latest meeting October 8, 2016 Meetings total 39 | |
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All-time series Penn State leads, 37–2–1 Largest victory Penn State, 70–7 (1993) | ||
The Maryland–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Maryland Terrapins and Penn State Nittany Lions.
Series history
The teams first played in 1917. Penn State has thoroughly dominated the series, leading 37–2–1, with their longest winning streak being 24 games from 1962–88.
Penn State and Maryland met in briefly interrupted stretches between 1917 and 1993, with a near-consecutive run played all but three years (1976, 1981, and 1983) between 1960 and 1993. However, the one-sided record belies what was often a competitive match-up until its final years. While Maryland only compiled one win and one tie, numerous games were narrowly lost by missed field goals and turnovers. In 1975, a field goal attempt by kicker Mike Sochko hit the upright with under a minute left, and Maryland lost 15–13. Ten years later, the Terps missed three field goals to eventually lose 20–18.
Aside from the painful memories for Maryland, both schools compete aggressively for recruits in the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area and Delaware Valley. When they did play, the game held recruiting implications for the entire mid-Atlantic. A more recent example of the recruiting competition is Baltimore-area player Antonio Logan-El, who committed verbally to Maryland, but ultimately signed with Penn State on live TV in 2006. Penn State secured a large number of recruits from the Baltimore–Washington area with its 2006 class, including the 11th-overall 2009 NFL Draft pick, defensive end Aaron Maybin of Ellicott City, Maryland, who had considered attending Maryland.
Prior to Maryland's announcement to join the Big Ten, former Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen and Penn State athletic spokesman Jeff Nelson had previously stated that the schools had undergone discussions in an attempt to schedule a rematch. Maryland and Penn State were unable to agree on the terms for a revival. In 2008, Maryland officials alleged that Penn State demanded a two-to-one ratio of home games, which Penn State officials denied. Then new Maryland head coach Randy Edsall looked forward to a resumption of the rivalry in 2011.
On November 19, 2012, Maryland announced that it would be joining the Big Ten Conference, effective July 1, 2014. Maryland was placed in the East Division along with Penn State, ensuring that the rivalry will be played on a yearly basis. Prior to Maryland joining the conference, Penn State coach James Franklin, speaking in Baltimore, Maryland, claimed the new Big Ten territory as "in-state" adding, "I know there other schools around here, but you might as well shut them down". Maryland coach Randy Edsall responded to the quote saying "talk is cheap" serving as the first spark in reviving the rivalry.
The first rematch was at Beaver Stadium on November 1, 2014. During the warmups, Maryland and Penn State players scuffled as numerous Nittany Lion players crossed through the Terrapins warmups. During the scuffle Maryland star wide receiver Stefon Diggs made contact with a referee and was handed a one-game suspension after the game for violating the conference's sportsmanship policy. At the coin toss the captains of the Terps refused to shake hands with the Penn State captains. Maryland won 20–19 on a 43-yard field goal by Brad Craddock with 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs, coach Randy Edsall, and athletic director Kevin Anderson made public apologies to the Penn State President, coaching staff and players after being reprimanded by the Big Ten Conference.