Maryland football approaching top-25 status after blowout win against Purdue

Maryland football is 4-0, one of just 16 undefeated teams in the FBS. The Terps destroyed Purdue in their homecoming game Saturday, and it resulted in a predictable rise in the rankings.

The AP Poll has Maryland 34th, with 23 points. They’re polling as the fifth-best team in the Big Ten, behind top-12 stalwarts Ohio State (No. 2), Michigan (No. 4), Wisconsin (No. 11) and Nebraska (No. 12). Michigan State, who was ranked 17th before losing at Indiana, garnered seven votes in the poll, while the Hoosiers took home three votes.

The Terps are 28th in the new Coaches Poll, receiving 70 votes from the 64 coaches. In the latter ranking, Maryland is wedged between LSU (77), Michigan State (71) and Georgia (65); all three of those teams were in the top 10 earlier this season.

Maryland wasn’t getting any attention in either poll at the beginning of the season, but a 4-0 record will get you some credit no matter who you play.

Bill Connelly’s S&P+ has Maryland jumping 16 spots, from No. 56 to No. 40. The Terps are now ahead of Minnesota (No. 44), Indiana (No. 49) and Michigan State (No. 58). They’re two spots behind No. 38 Penn State—who, it just so happens, is next on the schedule.

Maryland’s game against the Nittany Lions was already going to be an emotional focal point in the season, and it looks like the two teams are just about evenly matched. Should the Terps win Saturday, we might see a number next to their name when they return home.