It’s January in College Park, and if you haven’t looked at the u of md basketball schedule lately, you might want to brace yourself. The honeymoon of the non-conference slate is long gone. Gone are the days of beating up on Wagner or Alcorn State at the Xfinity Center. Now, the Terps are staring down the barrel of a Big Ten gauntlet that looks more like a survival course than a sports season.
Right now, Maryland is sitting at 7-9 overall with a messy 0-5 start in conference play. It's rough. Honestly, the vibes at the Xfinity Center have been a mix of desperate hope and "here we go again." But if you're a die-hard, you know that the Big Ten is a league of runs. One good week can flip the narrative. The problem? That week needs to start immediately, and the flight to Los Angeles today isn't exactly a vacation.
The West Coast Swing and the January Slump
Tonight, January 13, 2026, the Terps are in Los Angeles to face USC at the Galen Center. This is the tail end of a massive road trip that started with a loss at UCLA on Saturday. Playing at 10:30 PM ET on a Tuesday is basically a nightmare for East Coast fans trying to stay awake, and it's even worse for the players' internal clocks.
USC is 13-3 and favored by nearly 10 points. If Maryland wants to avoid a 0-6 start in the Big Ten, they have to find a way to stop Rodney Rice and Chad Baker-Mazara. It feels like a tall order. But hey, Pharrel Payne has been a bright spot, averaging 17.5 points and 7.2 boards. If he can dominate the paint, maybe, just maybe, they steal one before heading back to Maryland.
Following this L.A. trip, the u of md basketball schedule finally brings the team back home, but there’s no rest for the weary.
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- January 18: Penn State comes to College Park for a noon tip-off. This is a "must-win" if the term ever existed.
- January 21: Back on the road to Champaign to face a top-15 Illinois squad.
- January 24: A Saturday showdown at Michigan State. Tom Izzo in late January? That's never easy.
The travel alone is enough to exhaust a pro team, let alone college kids trying to pass midterms. You’ve basically got a team zigzagging across the country while trying to find an identity.
Big Home Matchups You Can't Miss
If you’re looking for the games that will actually define the season, February is where the real drama happens. The Xfinity Center is at its best when the big names roll in, and the back half of the u of md basketball schedule is loaded with ranked opponents.
On February 1, Purdue visits College Park. This is the game everyone has circled. Purdue is currently a top-10 team, led by a roster that seems to never reload, only rebuild bigger. Tickets for this one are already trending high on resale markets, often exceeding the $36 face value significantly.
Shortly after, Ohio State visits on February 5. It’s a Thursday night game, 8:30 PM, which usually means the student section—the Reeds—will be out in full force. These mid-week night games are where the "Maryland Magic" usually happens. If the Terps are going to make a late-season push for a decent seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they have to defend home court during this stretch.
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Critical Dates at Xfinity Center:
- February 11 vs. Iowa: The Hawkeyes already beat Maryland once this year (83-64). This is the revenge game.
- February 21 vs. Washington: A new Big Ten member making their first trip to College Park.
- March 1 vs. Rutgers: The border battle. These games are always chippy and usually low-scoring grinds.
- March 8 vs. Illinois: Senior Day. This could be the game that determines if Maryland even makes the NIT, let alone the Big Dance.
Women’s Hoops: A Different Story
While the men’s team is struggling to find its footing, Brenda Frese has the Maryland women’s team ranked in the top 10 and looking like a juggernaut. Their u of md basketball schedule is just as tough, but they’re actually winning the big ones.
They also have a California trip this week, facing USC on January 15 and UCLA on January 18. This is a massive test for a team that has already handled Georgetown and Towson with ease. The end of January is particularly sweet for home fans, with a three-game homestand featuring Iowa (Jan 22), Washington (Jan 28), and Oregon (Jan 31).
If you’re frustrated with the men’s side, honestly, just go watch the women. The ball movement is better, the shooting is more consistent, and the atmosphere in the arena for a top-10 matchup is electric.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Schedule
A common mistake fans make is looking at a 7-9 record and assuming the season is over. In the new 18-team Big Ten, the math has changed. The Big Ten Tournament in Chicago (March 10-15) will be the first time 18 teams compete in one bracket.
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Because the conference is so deep—with teams like Michigan, Purdue, and Illinois all ranked in the top 15—Maryland’s Strength of Schedule (SOS) is actually top-tier. A "bad" record with a high SOS can still sneak you into the postseason if you get hot in February.
But let’s be real: the shooting has to improve. David Coit and Darius Adams are both averaging double figures, but the team’s assist-to-turnover ratio is among the worst in the conference. You can't win in East Lansing or Champaign if you're throwing the ball into the third row ten times a game.
The Financial Reality of Catching a Game
If you're planning on heading to a game, the pricing for the u of md basketball schedule is surprisingly varied.
- Budget Picks: Games against Iowa (Feb 11) or Ohio State (Feb 5) have tickets starting as low as $14 to $19.
- Premium Games: Expect to pay $30+ for Penn State or Washington.
- Parking: Don't forget that Maryland Athletics has a strict clear bag policy. Also, you have to pre-pay for parking through the DOTS website, or you’ll end up walking from the other side of campus.
Actionable Steps for Terp Fans
If you're following the u of md basketball schedule for the rest of 2026, here is how you should handle the next few months:
- Download the One Maryland App: It’s the only way to get real-time schedule changes. TV networks (especially Peacock and FS1) love to flex game times at the last minute.
- Watch the Tuesday Night Games on FS1: If you can't be in L.A., the FS1 broadcasts usually have the best scouting reports on the new West Coast Big Ten teams.
- Check the Big Ten Tournament Bracket Early: Since the tournament starts on March 10, the "bubble" talk will start by mid-February. Keep an eye on the NET rankings; Maryland needs to climb out of the 100s to have any shot at a postseason.
- Plan Your Travel for Chicago: If the Terps make a run, the United Center will be the place to be. With 18 teams, the early rounds will be chaotic and fun.
The path forward isn't easy, but that's Big Ten basketball. It's supposed to be a grind. Whether you're rooting for a turnaround or just there for the Maryland Dairy ice cream at halftime, the next eight weeks are going to be a wild ride.