If you ask a Penn State fan who their biggest rival is, they’ll probably say Ohio State or maybe Michigan. Ask a Maryland fan, and they will point directly at State College with a look of pure, unadulterated frustration. It’s one of the most lopsided "rivalries" in college football history, but that hasn't stopped the bad blood from boiling over. Honestly, the penn state vs maryland football dynamic is less of a back-and-forth chess match and more of a perennial "big brother vs. little brother" wrestling match that occasionally ends in a black eye for the favorite.
The numbers are staggering. As of their most recent clash in late 2024, Penn State holds a massive 44-3-1 lead in the series. You read that right. Three wins for Maryland in over a century of trying. Yet, every time these two teams meet, the atmosphere feels like something much more competitive is about to happen.
The Handshake That Went Viral
We have to talk about the 2024 game. Penn State won 44-7 at Beaver Stadium, which, on paper, looks like just another blowout. But it was the final seconds that actually mattered. Up by 31 points with four seconds left, James Franklin decided to go for it on 4th and 12 instead of kneeling. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula threw a 15-yard touchdown to Tyseer Denmark as time expired.
Mike Locksley was livid.
The post-game handshake was icy, to put it mildly. Locksley later called the move "bullshit" in his press conference. Franklin, ever the pragmatist (or the instigator, depending on who you root for), defended it by saying his backup players deserve to play football and that point differential matters in the modern playoff era. This wasn't just about one game; it felt like a culmination of decades of Maryland feeling disrespected and Penn State simply not caring if they were.
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A History of One-Sided Dominance
The series kicked off back in 1917 with a 57-0 Penn State win. That pretty much set the tone for the next 100 years. From 1962 to 1988, Penn State won 24 consecutive games. Think about that for a second. An entire generation of Maryland fans grew up without ever seeing their team beat the Nittany Lions.
There was a brief moment of hope in 1989 when they managed a 13-13 tie, but the real "earthquake" didn't happen until 2014. That was Maryland's first year in the Big Ten. They walked into Beaver Stadium, refused to shake hands during the coin toss—which resulted in a $10,000 fine from the conference—and then actually won the game 20-19.
It was supposed to be the start of a new era.
Instead, it just seemed to annoy Penn State. Since that 2014 upset, the Nittany Lions have gone 9-1 against the Terps. Many of those games haven't even been close. We’re talking 66-3 in 2017, 59-0 in 2019, and 51-15 in 2023. Whenever Maryland shows even a hint of confidence, Penn State seems to make it a personal mission to remind them of the pecking order.
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The 2020 COVID Outlier
The only other Maryland win in the modern era came in 2020. It was a weird year for everyone. Penn State started that season 0-5, the worst start in the program's storied history. Maryland took advantage, winning 35-19 in an empty Beaver Stadium. While Terps fans celebrated, most analysts saw it as a fluke of a bizarre season rather than a shift in power.
Why the Animosity Still Matters
You’d think a series this lopsided would be boring, but the recruiting trail keeps it spicy. Both programs fight over the "DMV" (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. It is one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country. When Penn State lands a five-star recruit from Baltimore, it stings for Maryland. When Maryland keeps a local star home, it's a major victory for Mike Locksley's "Keep the Best at Home" initiative.
James Franklin actually has deep ties to Maryland. He was the "coach-in-waiting" there under Ralph Friedgen before the university decided to go in a different direction. Some fans believe Franklin still carries a bit of a grudge from that era. Whether he does or not, he certainly doesn't pull his starters early when the Terps are on the schedule.
Key Players Who Defined Recent Matchups
- Drew Allar (PSU): In the 2024 blowout, Allar moved into the top 10 for career passing yards at Penn State. He’s been a nightmare for Maryland’s secondary, showing a level of poise that the Terps' defense just couldn't crack.
- Tyler Warren (PSU): The star tight end used the Maryland game to break several school records, including the most receptions by a Big Ten tight end in a single season.
- Taulia Tagovailoa (UMD): Though he's gone now, he was the heart of the Maryland offense for years. He had some brilliant moments against other Big Ten teams, but Penn State’s pass rush usually made his life miserable.
What to Expect Moving Forward
Maryland's 2025 season was a struggle, finishing 4-8 with a long losing streak to end the year. They didn't face Penn State in 2025 due to the Big Ten's rotating schedule, but the rivalry—if we're calling it that—is set to resume in 2026.
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For Maryland to ever make this a "real" rivalry in the eyes of the national media, they have to win games when Penn State is at their best. Beating a struggling 2020 Penn State team was nice, but it didn't change the narrative. They need to protect their home turf and stop the blowout trend that has defined the James Franklin era.
If you’re looking for actionable ways to follow this matchup, start by tracking the recruiting rankings for players in the 2026 and 2027 classes from the Baltimore and D.C. areas. That is where the actual war is won. Also, keep an eye on the Big Ten schedule releases; with the conference expanding to 18 teams, these traditional regional matchups aren't guaranteed every single year anymore.
The next time these two meet, don't just look at the score. Watch the sidelines. Watch the handshakes. The penn state vs maryland football series might be lopsided on the scoreboard, but the tension between the coaching staffs is as real as it gets in college sports.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Track the DMV Pipeline: Monitor 247Sports or On3 to see which program is winning the battle for local four-star and five-star talent.
- Watch the Point Spread: Historically, Penn State has covered the spread in a high percentage of these matchups, especially at home.
- Monitor Coaching Stability: Mike Locksley’s seat may warm up if the 2025 slide continues into 2026, while Franklin’s status is tied to his ability to break into the expanded College Football Playoff.