NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Michael Locksley has been at Maryland long enough to know that his Terrapins have to earn everything. The transfer portal along with name, image and likeness deals have only made the challenge tougher.
So Maryland showed Saturday the best answer comes on the field.
Billy Edwards Jr. ran for a touchdown and threw for a score as Maryland routed Auburn 31-13 Saturday at the Music City Bowl winning a program-record third straight bowl.
“Three straight bowl wins, back-to-back eight-win seasons,” Locksley said. “It’s not easy to do here.”
Maryland (8-5) hadn’t even played three consecutive bowls since 2006-08, and the Terps added this victory to their win over Virginia Tech at the Pinstripe Bowl and last year’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina State.
The Terrapins hadn’t played a Southeastern Conference team in a bowl since routing Tennessee 30-3 in the 2002 Peach Bowl. This game essentially was over before the end of the first quarter, even without Taulia Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s passing leader this season who opted out for the NFL draft.
Auburn (6-7) ended coach Hugh Freeze’s first season back in the SEC losing three straight. The Tigers also lost a fourth straight bowl and their first in three appearances in this bowl, now sponsored by TransPerfect.
“I don’t need anyone to tell me that we don’t measure up, and that starts with me,” Freeze said.
Maryland dominated from the opening snap, taking a 21-0 lead as the Terrapins outgained Auburn 226-13 within the first 12 minutes. The Terrapins also forced four turnovers, keyed by Glendon Miller’s 44-yard pick-6.
“I ran for my life,” Miller said while wearing sunglasses postgame as part of his NIL deal.