CFBSep 26
Locksley faces growing scrutiny after Maryland's 54-3 loss to UCLA
Maryland's coach acknowledged questions about his future while pledging to keep working with his players after another home defeat.
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A setback that deepens the pressure
Maryland coach Mike Locksley accepted that his job security would draw scrutiny after UCLA handed the Terrapins a 54-3 home defeat Saturday. He remained confident in his staff's ability to turn the program around, but acknowledged that results, rather than assurances, must restore confidence. The loss extended Maryland's skid against Power 4 opponents to 10 games. The Terrapins have also dropped consecutive home contests, adding to the pressure on Locksley in his eighth season leading the program. Locksley said the response must begin with personal accountability, starting with him and extending throughout the roster. Despite the lopsided result, he pledged to continue coaching and supporting his players.
Leadership meetings remain on schedule
Locksley expects his regular Monday meeting with athletic director Jim Smith to proceed as usual. Smith, who has held the position since May 2025, did not hire Locksley but chose to keep him after a second consecutive 4-8 season. Maryland announced in November that Locksley would return for the 2026 season with an increased roster budget. His contract runs through 2028, and he is earning $6.4 million this year. Dismissing him would leave the school owing slightly less than $10 million. Locksley's overall record stands at 39-51, including a 17-49 mark in Big Ten competition. After Saturday's defeat, he acknowledged the scale of the result left little room for messaging and emphasized that improvement must be demonstrated on the field.
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