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By Ellis Williams
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The Maryland Terrapins celebrated Saturday’s breakthrough by carrying interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim off the field.
Their 34-29 road win over the Purdue Boilermakers ended a 13-game Big Ten losing streak.
Big Ten Network’s coverage then shifted to a studio panel that included former Maryland head coach Mike Locksley. Seventeen days after his tenure ended, he was evaluating a victory by the players and staff he had worked with.
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Locksley had picked Maryland to win, and he acknowledged that prediction while congratulating his successor.
“I got my first guaranteed victory out of the way,” Locksley said. “Congrats to Coach Aazaar and the Maryland Terrapins football team.”
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His analysis centered on how Maryland’s defense kept the game within reach by forcing first-half field goals, followed by the offense’s four consecutive touchdown drives after halftime.
During the studio exchange, fellow BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo credited Locksley with bringing Maryland quarterback Malik Washington to the program. Locksley thanked him.
Maryland announced the coaching change Oct. 21, describing it as a mutual decision. Locksley was in his eighth season and finished with a 39-54 record. His tenure included three consecutive bowl victories from 2021 through 2023.
Abdul-Rahim had been the program’s co-defensive coordinator, associate head coach of the defense and cornerbacks coach. Maryland lost his first game in charge, 20-17 against the Illinois Fighting Illini, before Saturday’s win improved the Terrapins to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in conference play.
Washington completed 13 of 18 passes for 253 yards against Purdue, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two more scores. Maryland overturned a 12-7 halftime deficit with 21 third-quarter points.
The defense finished with 13 tackles for loss, Maryland’s most in a Big Ten game, and seven sacks. The last sack ended Purdue’s final possession and secured Abdul-Rahim’s first victory.
The result also ended Maryland’s six-game losing streak overall. Abdul-Rahim welcomed the relief for supporters after the extended drought.
“I’m happy for the fanbase,” Abdul-Rahim said. “They’ve been starving for a Big Ten win.”
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