Maryland will hold its homecoming football game vs. Purdue in October, and that's a good idea

The Maryland football program's homecoming game will be the one against Purdue on Oct. 1 at 3:30 p.m. local time. Television information is yet to be released.

It's going to be just a furiously anticipated rematch between the two schools that faced off in the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl, which Maryland won against the Boilermakers, 24-7.

For Maryland, this is a legitimately smart move. You're supposed to win your homecoming game, because losing your homecoming game is a real drag and puts a damper on the otherwise festive return of so many alumni to the campus. The Terps hosted Wisconsin for homecoming last year, which was silly, because Wisconsin was good. The pregame pep rally was a funeral, because people could sense what was coming.

You want to play a bad team on homecoming weekend, and Purdue absolutely fits the bill. The Boilers are very bad, having finished last season 2-10 and as the only team in the Big Ten with a worse record than Maryland. The Terps should win this game, and homecoming will be a lot better for it.

(Unless they lose, which would not be good.)