The Northwestern Wildcats delivered a commanding 37–10 victory over the Maryland Terrapins in a Big Ten football matchup on October 11, 2024, at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. Northwestern’s opportunistic defense forced four turnovers—three in the fourth quarter—while their ball-control offense capitalized on Maryland’s miscues, holding the Terps to just 59 rushing yards. Drawing from verified sources including ESPN, Northwestern Athletics, Maryland Athletics, NCAA.com, and CBSSports.com, this article breaks down the game with player stats, critical moments, and contextual insights from the 2024 season.

Northwestern’s upcoming match is against Penn State on October 11, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Maryland’s next game is also on October 11, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. ET against Nebraska.

Game Highlights

Sport: Football
League: NCAA Division I FBS (Big Ten Conference)
Matchup: Northwestern Wildcats Football vs Maryland Terrapins Football Match Player Stats
Game Covered:
- Game 1: October 11, 2024
Result: Northwestern won 37–10

Game Overview: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Maryland Terrapins, 2024 College Football Season

Northwestern (3–3, 1–2 Big Ten) snapped a two-game skid with their first conference win, outscoring Maryland (3–3, 0–3 Big Ten) 20–3 in the fourth quarter behind a +4 turnover margin. Despite being outgained 355–283 in total yards, the Wildcats’ efficiency (5/5 red-zone scoring) and takeaways overwhelmed Maryland, who entered with a +11 turnover margin (second nationally) but committed a season-high four giveaways. Attendance: 39,371; game time: 3:12; TV: FS1.

Game 1: Northwestern Wildcats 37, Maryland Terrapins 10 (October 11, 2024)

Game Summary

Northwestern built a 17–0 halftime lead with a 9-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Jack Lausch in the first quarter, a 3-yard run by running back Cam Porter in the second, and a 43-yard field goal by kicker Luke Akers following Maryland’s kickoff fumble. Maryland answered with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. late in the half and a 31-yard field goal by Jack Howes to open the fourth, trimming the deficit to 17–10. But three fourth-quarter turnovers—including a fumble forced by defensive tackle Carmine Bastone and returned 2 yards for a touchdown by defensive end Aidan Hubbard—fueled Northwestern’s 20–0 closing run. Akers finished 3-for-3 on field goals (43, 38, 40 yards) and 4-for-4 on extra points, while Maryland’s inefficiency (1-for-4 on fourth downs) and turnovers derailed their comeback.

Key Player Stats: Northwestern Wildcats

Jack Lausch (QB): 10/18, 203 pass yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 23 rush yds, 1 rush TD (9-yd run), 128.9 rating. Lausch directed a 16-play, 92-yard touchdown drive in Q2, going 7-for-8 for 98 yards on that possession.
Cam Porter (RB): 13 att, 47 yds (3.6 avg), 1 TD (3-yd run), 2 rec, 18 yds. Porter’s score capped the 16-play drive, marking his third rushing touchdown of the season.
Bryce Kirtz (WR): 3 rec, 123 yds (41.0 avg), 0 TD. Kirtz’s 41-yard grab in Q3 set up a field position advantage, converting a critical third down.
Jake Arthurs (RB): 10 att, 28 yds (2.8 avg), 1 TD (1-yd run). Arthurs plunged in from a yard out in Q4 for Northwestern’s final score.
Aidan Hubbard (DE): 5 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 FR-TD (2-yd return). Hubbard’s fourth-quarter scoop-and-score off Edwards’ fumble extended the lead to 24–10.
Carmine Bastone (DT): 3 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 FF. Bastone, returning from a five-game injury absence, blindsided Edwards to force the pivotal fumble.
Luke Akers (K): 3/3 FG (43, 38, 40 yds), 4/4 XP, 44.2 avg on 3 punts (126 yds). Akers’ 43-yard FG after Maryland’s kickoff fumble pushed the halftime lead to 17–0.
Inactives: None major reported; Bastone was the key returnee after missing the first five games due to injury.

Team Stats: 37 pts, 283 total yds (80 rush, 203 pass), 2.4 ypc rush (34 att), 11.3 ypa pass, 0 TO, 2.0 sacks drawn, 3/12 3rd-down conv. (25.0%), 26:09 TOP, 5/5 red-zone scoring (3 TD, 2 FG). Northwestern forced 4 TOs and limited Maryland to 1.8 ypc rushing.

Key Player Stats: Maryland Terrapins

Billy Edwards Jr. (QB): 18/32, 212 pass yds, 0 TD, 2 INT, 15 rush yds, 1 rush TD (1-yd run), 82.3 rating. Edwards’ fourth-quarter fumble and two picks (one returned 20 yards) contributed to all four turnovers.
Roman Hemby (RB): 12 att, 42 yds (3.5 avg), 0 TD, 3 rec, 28 yds. Hemby was contained by Northwestern’s front seven, averaging under 4 ypc.
Tai Felton (WR): 9 rec, 77 yds (8.6 avg), 0 TD. Felton, returning from an undisclosed injury, led the receivers but was held out of the end zone.
Rubi Griffin (LB): 7 tackles, 1.0 TFL. Griffin paced the defense but couldn’t disrupt Northwestern’s ball-control drives.
Jack Howes (K): 1/1 FG (31 yds), 1/1 XP, 1/1 FG attempt (54 yds missed). Howes’ 31-yard FG capped an 18-play drive to open Q4.
Ricardo Cooper Jr. (WR/PR): 1 rec, 5 yds, 1 fumble (kickoff return). Cooper’s Q2 fumble set up Northwestern’s third score.
Inactives: None major reported; Felton was active after missing time with an undisclosed injury from the prior game.

Team Stats: 10 pts, 355 total yds (59 rush, 296 pass), 1.8 ypc rush (33 att), 9.3 ypa pass, 4 TO, 1.0 sack, 6/15 3rd-down conv. (40.0%), 33:51 TOP, 2/3 red-zone scoring (1 TD, 1 FG). Maryland’s turnovers led to 17 Northwestern points.

Critical Moments

Q1, 8:31 (NU 7, MD 0): Lausch’s 9-yard scramble on 3rd-and-5 capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive for Northwestern’s opener.
Q2, 12:30 (NU 14, MD 0): Porter’s 3-yard TD run finished a 16-play, 92-yard possession after Maryland punted to the NU 8-yard line.
Q2, 10:50 (NU 17, MD 0): Cooper’s kickoff fumble was recovered by Northwestern at the MD 35, leading to Akers’ 43-yard FG four plays later.
Q2, 3:22 (NU 17, MD 7): Edwards’ 1-yard TD plunge on 4th-and-goal ended a 16-play, 75-yard drive, Maryland’s lone touchdown.
Q4, 15:00 (NU 17, MD 10): Howes’ 31-yard FG after an 18-play, 64-yard march narrowed the gap, but it was Maryland’s last score.
Q4, 13:17 (NU 24, MD 10): Bastone’s sack forced Edwards’ fumble at the MD 2; Hubbard returned it for a touchdown, igniting the rout.
Q4, 8:55 (NU 27, MD 10): Maryland’s third turnover—a fumble by WR Parker Howard—gave Northwestern the ball at the MD 25, leading to a 38-yard Akers FG.

Head-to-Head Analysis

Northwestern extended its series lead to 4–2 against Maryland since the Terps joined the Big Ten in 2014, with previous wins in 2014 (24–10), 2018 (3–0), and 2021 (43–13). Maryland’s victories were in 2015 (21–17) and 2022 (31–24). The Wildcats are now 3–0 in College Park, holding Maryland to an average of 13.3 ppg there. Despite Maryland’s 72-yard total yardage edge (355–283), Northwestern’s +4 turnover margin generated 17 points, while their 2.4 ypc rushing belied a TOP disadvantage (26:09 vs. 33:51). The Wildcats converted just 25% on third downs (3/12) but were perfect in the red zone (5/5), compared to Maryland’s 40% (6/15) and 2/3 efficiency.

Key edges:

Turnovers: Northwestern’s +4 (forcing 4, committing 0) erased Maryland’s +11 entering margin (second nationally).
Run Defense: NU limited Maryland to 1.8 ypc (59 yds on 33 att), stifling Hemby and Edwards.
Special Teams: Akers’ perfect kicking vs. Maryland’s missed 54-yard FG and fumbled kickoff return.

Game Standouts

Northwestern Wildcats

Aidan Hubbard (DE): Game MVP with 5 tackles, 1 FR-TD; his 2-yard return off the forced fumble sparked 20 unanswered points.
Jack Lausch (QB): Dual-threat efficiency with 203 pass yds (no INTs) and a rushing TD; orchestrated two touchdown drives of 75+ yards.
Luke Akers (K): Flawless 3/3 FG (long 43 yds), 4/4 XP; his post-fumble FG set a 17–0 halftime tone.

Maryland Terrapins

Tai Felton (WR): Team-leading 9 rec, 77 yds despite returning from injury; provided the passing attack’s consistency.
Billy Edwards Jr. (QB): 212 pass yds and a rushing TD, but 4 TOs (2 INT, 2 fumbles) were devastating.
Rubi Griffin (LB): Defensive leader with 7 tackles, 1 TFL; paced a unit that allowed just 283 total yds.

Team Performance Context

Northwestern Wildcats (3–3, 1–2 Big Ten post-game)

The victory halted a two-game slide, boosting Northwestern to 3–3 overall and 1–2 in Big Ten play, with a 2–1 road mark. Their defense, already top-25 in scoring (17.8 ppg allowed entering), forced a season-high 4 TOs and held Maryland to 1.8 ypc rushing. Offense emphasized zero turnovers and red-zone perfection, with Lausch solidifying QB1 status. Under coach David Braun, the Wildcats eyed momentum for upcoming tests like Wisconsin (Oct. 19), projecting bowl eligibility at 6–6.

Maryland Terrapins (3–3, 0–3 Big Ten post-game)

The loss dropped Maryland to .500 and an 0–3 Big Ten start, with a 2–2 home record. Despite 355 total yds and a TOP edge (33:51), four turnovers (a season high) squandered their +11 entering margin. Run defense conceded 2.4 ypc, and the remaining slate (USC, Oregon, Penn State) loomed large for coach Mike Locksley’s squad, which extended an 0–10 skid following open dates (dating to 2017).

Injury and Roster Notes

Northwestern Wildcats: DT Carmine Bastone returned after missing the first five games due to an unspecified injury, immediately impacting with a sack and forced fumble. No new injuries reported during the game.

Maryland Terrapins: WR Tai Felton returned from an undisclosed injury suffered in the September 28 loss at Indiana, catching 9 passes for 77 yards. No major inactives or new issues noted.

Conclusion

Northwestern Wildcats routed the Maryland Terrapins 37–10 on October 11, 2024, turning four forced turnovers—including Aidan Hubbard’s game-sealing fumble return touchdown—into 17 points and a first Big Ten win. Jack Lausch’s efficient 203 passing yards and rushing score, paired with Luke Akers’ perfect kicking, overcame Maryland’s yardage edge, where Billy Edwards Jr. and Tai Felton managed 289 combined yards but faltered on four giveaways. The result ignited Northwestern’s bowl push while deepening Maryland’s conference woes. For complete box scores and highlights, visit ESPN, Northwestern Athletics, Maryland Athletics, or NCAA.com.

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Maryland Terrapins Match Analysis: 2024 College Football Season