Maryland vs. Rutgers Football 2026: Final Score and Recap
Rutgers beat Maryland 37-30 on October 17, 2026. Review the verified score, decisive plays and game context.
Maryland vs. Rutgers Football 2026: Final Score and Recap
Rutgers defeated Maryland 37–30 on October 17, 2026, at SECU Stadium in College Park. The Scarlet Knights recovered from a 23–13 halftime deficit, then produced 24 second-half points while holding Maryland to seven. Dylan Lonergan threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and KJ Duff supplied 113 receiving yards and two scores. This is the finished 2026 Maryland–Rutgers football recap, not a preview and not a Michigan–Maryland matchup.
Maryland vs. Rutgers: final score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Rutgers | 7 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 37 |
| Maryland | 7 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
The score changed direction after halftime. Maryland's first-half offense built a ten-point lead, but Rutgers scored 17 unanswered points to move ahead. The Scarlet Knights continued their surge in the fourth quarter before Maryland's late touchdown made the closing stages tense. The final margin reflects both Rutgers' comeback and the Terrapins' inability to fully complete their own late response.
How Maryland built the early lead
Maryland scored a first-quarter touchdown through Damon Hall Jr., then took advantage of additional first-half opportunities to reach 23 points by the break. Malik Washington connected with Dorian Fleming for a touchdown, and Chris Durr Jr. produced a rushing score. Rutgers countered with two first-half touchdown catches by KJ Duff, but the Scarlet Knights still trailed 23–13 after two quarters.
That is important context because a 37–30 final can make the game look evenly balanced from start to finish. In reality, the offenses controlled different stretches. Maryland looked better early; Rutgers made the major adjustments and sustained the more productive second half.
The Rutgers comeback in the second half
Rutgers began closing the deficit in the third quarter with a field goal. Dylan Lonergan then found Clay Thevenin for a touchdown to tie the game at 23–23. The Scarlet Knights moved ahead in the fourth on a Thevenin rushing touchdown and stretched the lead when Antwan Raymond added another short touchdown run. Maryland answered with a late Malik Washington touchdown pass to DeJuan Williams, but it could not erase the remaining deficit.
The sequence is more revealing than the total number of points. Rutgers won by combining a more productive passing game with enough ground scoring to finish drives. Maryland continued to threaten through the air, yet the Terrapins did not produce another full scoring response before time expired.
Player contributions that mattered
Lonergan completed 23 of 35 passes for 291 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. KJ Duff caught nine passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns, the strongest receiving performance for Rutgers by yardage. Clay Thevenin rushed for 109 yards and scored on both a reception and a run, giving Rutgers an important source of offense beyond its primary receivers.
For Maryland, Malik Washington finished with 263 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, plus a team-leading 56 rushing yards. Chris Durr Jr. had six catches for 104 receiving yards. The Terrapins' individual production was not insignificant; they simply could not match Rutgers' scoring efficiency after halftime.
Team-stat comparison
| Statistic | Rutgers | Maryland |
| Passing yards | 291 | 263 |
| Net rushing yards | 151 | 115 |
| Total offense | 442 | 378 |
| First downs | 28 | 19 |
| Third-down conversions | 9 of 14 | 4 of 13 |
Rutgers converted nine third downs in 14 attempts, compared with four in 13 for Maryland. That difference helped the Scarlet Knights sustain possessions during their comeback. Rutgers also finished with 64 more total offensive yards. The numbers support a narrative of second-half control, but the score-by-quarter table is still necessary to show when that control became decisive.
What the result meant for Rutgers
The October 17 victory moved Rutgers to 2–4 overall at the time, with its first Big Ten win of the 2026 season. It was a useful confidence-builder because the team won after facing a double-digit halftime deficit on the road. The result did not settle the following week: Rutgers subsequently lost at Northwestern, a reminder that a strong comeback is one game, not a guaranteed turnaround.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Rutgers vs. Maryland in 2026?
Rutgers won 37–30 on October 17 in College Park.
Who led Rutgers in passing and receiving?
Dylan Lonergan threw for 291 yards. KJ Duff led receivers with 113 yards and two touchdowns.
How did Rutgers overcome a 23–13 deficit?
The Scarlet Knights outscored Maryland 24–7 in the second half, first tying the score in the third quarter and then taking control with fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns.