COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Northwestern and Maryland have followed similar paths to this point in the football season.
Where they go from here could well be determined by the result of their first-ever meeting on Saturday.
The Wildcats (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) and Terrapins (3-2, 1-1) were feeling pretty good about themselves until last week, when each learned how they stack up against the upper echelon of the conference.
Northwestern lost at home to Penn State 31-7 and Maryland was outclassed in a 62-14 rout at Ohio State.
“There’s definitely parallels there,” Terps coach DJ Durkin said.
So now, it’s bounce-back time for two teams at a pivotal juncture of the schedule.
Northwestern went 2-1 against non-conference foes before opening in the Big Ten with a credible showing in a 33-24 loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 30. Then last week happened.
Maryland followed an uplifting win at Minnesota by falling flat at Ohio State.
Fitzgerald follows Maryland closely, and not just because it’s a Big Ten foe.
FISHER OUT: Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher will miss the first half after being ejected for targeting last week. The call came when Fisher popped Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley. Fisher led with his helmet, which came in contact with McSorley’s helmet.
Fisher leads the Wildcats with 43 tackles.
QUARTERBACK QUANDRY: Max Bortenschlager will start at quarterback for Maryland if he’s recovered from a helmet-to-helmet hit at Ohio State.
Bortenschlager left the game after the third-quarter play and did not return. Durkin said he would monitor the quarterback’s health and make a decision close to game time.
Bortenschlager is Maryland’s third quarterback this season after Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill sustained season-ending knee injuries. Caleb Henderson will start if Bortenschlager can’t play.
NO OFFENSE: The Wildcats managed only a fourth-quarter touchdown and had three turnovers last week. “Our offense has to stop shooting itself in the foot,” receiver Flynn Nagel said.
Maryland could muster only 66 yards against Ohio State. “A lot of things happened in that game that culminated in obviously a lackluster performance,” Durkin said.