No. 19 Huskers face Terps clinging to division title hopes

Maryland (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) at No. 19 Nebraska (8-2, 5-2, No. 18 CFP), Noon (ESPN News)

Line: Nebraska by 14.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Maryland has lost five of six after a 4-0 start and needs to beat Nebraska or Rutgers to achieve bowl eligibility. Nebraska must defeat Maryland and Iowa and have Wisconsin lose once in order to go to the Big Ten championship game.

KEY MATCHUP

Maryland RB Ty Johnson vs. Nebraska front seven. The Terrapins have been committed to the run, and with a tenuous quarterback situation due to injury, they'll need to get the ground game going to keep their horrid defense off the field. It won't be easy. Johnson's running mate, Lorenzo Harrison, is suspended. The Huskers last week held Minnesota's rushing attack to 85 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Maryland: Whoever plays quarterback. Perry Hills has had a bad shoulder all season, and his status might not be known until game day. If Hills is out, Caleb Rowe or Tyrrell Pigrome would be the starter. Rowe is a better passer, though he threw 15 interceptions as the part-time starter last year, and Pigrome is the better runner.

Nebraska: Whoever plays quarterback. Tommy Armstrong Jr. toughed out last week's game, clearing the concussion protocol hours before the game and injuring an ankle in the second half. He was done for the night after hurting his left hamstring while scoring the winning touchdown. If he can't play, fifth-year senior Ryker Fyfe will make his second career start.

FACTS & FIGURES

Nebraska will try to finish with a perfect record at home for the second time since 2001. ... Maryland is allowing an average of 480 yards in Big Ten games to rank 13th in the conference. ... The Terrapins are the third-leading rushing team in the conference at 213.7 yards a game and are on pace to average more than 200 yards on the ground for the first time since 2001. ... Nebraska cornerbacks coach Brian Stewart was the Terps' defensive coordinator from 2012-14.