UCLA 54-3 Maryland (Sep 26, 2026) Final Score

Team pages: UCLA · Maryland

UCLA4-054

Maryland2-23Final

Sat, Sep 26 · SECU Stadium, College Park, Md. · Crowd 40,125BTN

UCLA routed Maryland 54-3.

We had UCLA favored. It won.

Next: UCLA beat Oregon 17-15, Sat Oct 10

Next: Maryland lost to Nebraska 48-23, Sat Oct 3

Top comment in the game thread

Rank UCLA you cowards

Q2 5:13 · r/CFB game thread · Sat, Sep 26

How it swung

The turning point: Woods 1-yd TD run, UCLA leads 14-0 (Q2, 9:53). UCLA went from 80% to 60% to win.

Before kickoff, our ratings gave UCLA a 52% chance, and the closing betting line (UCLA was a 2.5-point favorite) put it at 58%.

Pick-six

UCLA · Q3 11:20Pick-six

UCLA · Q3 8:1683-yard TD pass

UCLA · Q4 11:35

FinalUCLA 54-3 MarylandUCLA wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.

The two plays that swung it

1Q2 13:31Penalty4th and 1Knight 45-yd TD run; unsportsmanlike conduct on UCLA, UCLA goes ahead 7-0UCLA 51% → 70% (+19)
2Q2 9:53Woods 1-yd TD run, UCLA leads 14-0UCLA 80% → 60% (−20)

The two plays that swung it

1Q2 13:31Penalty4th and 1Knight 45-yd TD run; unsportsmanlike conduct on UCLA, UCLA goes ahead 7-0Maryland 49% → 30% (−19)
2Q2 9:53Woods 1-yd TD run, UCLA leads 14-0Maryland 20% → 40% (+20)

What fans said, play by play

The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.

Q1 2:23Washington throws interception to Rivera as Maryland fans criticize his decision-makingKnew we were overdue for an INT since we haven’t had one yetr/CFB game threadThat was a stupid play from Malik, easily could have been a fumble for 6r/CFB game thread
Q2 5:13UCLA scores on a failed fake field goal as fans mock LocksleyQuoted at the top of the page.
Q2 0:37Fans debate a no-call on Iamaleava's pass to Rowe as Maryland fans call it PIThat was both ways but whatever.r/CFB game threadThat’s not PI, but they’re 4th down conversion was not a conversion either.r/CFB game thread
Q4 4:09UCLA fans mock Maryland's collapse and demand 60 pointsbad look for the uh, 5th string RBr/CFB game threadDear Terps in this thread: As an east coast transplant (living in CT now), stay safe from the Nor’easter. It’s been a fun non-toxic game thread to share with you. Y’all are cool…r/CFB game thread

UCLA’s chance to win after every play.

How to read this chart

Starts from the pregame line (UCLA -2.5), at 48% for UCLA (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. Outlined diamonds mark rare plays. Under the scores, r/CFB comments per minute from fans with a Maryland or UCLA flair (433 and 472); both sides share one scale, regulation only.

Watch the plays

The bar and the arrow show UCLA’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.

Every drive

UCLA scored on 7 of its 14 drives; Maryland on 1 of its 16.

UCLA’s drives are teal, Maryland’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

From Maryland’s side

Maryland’s best moment: Woods 1-yd TD run, UCLA leads 14-0 (Q2 9:53). It lifted Maryland’s win chance by 20 points.

How Maryland fans took it: “My fault guys, this is the one game this year I wasn’t going to, things would’ve been different if I was there” r/CFB game thread

“Ah I see what they’re doing this year: instead of getting the lead and blowing it, they just won’t have a lead to begin with. Got it 👍”

A Maryland fan

How fans reacted

Steady

Fans were loudest in the second quarter.

Jump to the loudest stretch

The jump was steady; the crowd was steady.

Two crowds, one game

The words each side’s fans used far more than the other side, from the game thread.

Maryland fans

locksley“What's the difference between the Locksley buyout now or waiting until the end of the season?”

Both sets of fans kept coming back to: coach, now, field, best.

What it cost

UCLA’s chance to make the playoff rose from 11% to 13%.

Make the playoff

UCLA · won11% → ▲13%

Maryland · lost2% → ▼1%

Win the conference

UCLA · won4% → ▲5%

Maryland · lost1% → ▼0%

Before the game (September 25, 2026) → after this result, in our model.

Box score

UCLA 54, Maryland 3

UCLA covered −2.5 by 48.5. The total, 57, went over 55.5.

Team totals	UCLA	Maryland
Total yards	475	181
Passing	15 of 24, 209 yds	19 of 39, 142 yds
Rushing	39 for 266 yds	30 for 39 yds
First downs	19	13
Third down	2 of 10	1 of 15
Fourth down	1 of 2	1 of 2
Turnovers	2	5
Penalties	8 for 60 yds	6 for 60 yds
Time of possession	31:34	28:26

UCLA leaders

Passing Nico Iamaleava 15 of 24, 209 yds, 1 TD
Rushing Wayne Knight 10 for 100 yds, 1 TD; Troy Leigber 5 for 83 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Aidan Mizell 1 for 83 yds, 1 TD; Wayne Knight 3 for 35 yds

Maryland leaders

Passing Malik Washington 18 of 38, 142 yds, 4 INT
Rushing Iverson Howard 12 for 34 yds; Liam Willson 6 for 5 yds
Receiving Chris Durr Jr. 7 for 56 yds; Dorian Fleming 3 for 42 yds

Rain for part of the game

68° at kickoff · 0.1 in of rain by radar over the stadium

The usual here around this date is 67°, with about 7 in 10 games between 59° and 74°.

In the game thread, fans talked about the rain.

September game-day temperatures at SECU Stadium

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

Second quarter, 9:53 left2:26 p.m.

UCLA 14, Maryland 0 · Maryland 40% to win

no rain · 66°

Woods 1-yd TD run, UCLA leads 14-0

Measured at College Park airport, 1.5 miles away, and Washington/national airport, 11 miles away. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last three games

UCLA · 3-0

Rated 62nd in our preseason ratings, 48th now, up 14 spots.

Three straight wins — but still hunting a ranked opponent.

W 52-38 vs Purdue #123 of 668

won by 14 as a 13.5-point favorite

W 28-10 vs San Diego State #45 of 668

won by 18 as a 13.5-point favorite

W 45-24 @ California #63 of 668

won by 21 as a 2.5-point favorite

Last three games

Maryland · 2-1

Rated 76th in our preseason ratings, 61st now, up 15 spots.

2-1 in its last three — but nothing on this résumé beats a top-40 team yet.

L 26-35 vs Virginia Tech #40 of 668

lost by 9 as a 2.5-point underdog

W 38-14 @ UConn #116 of 668

won by 24 as an 11.5-point favorite

W 62-0 vs Hampton #265 of 668

won by 62 as a 45.5-point favorite

Week by week

Maryland

Wk 1Wvs Hampton62-0
Wk 2Wat UConn38-14
Wk 3Lvs Virginia Tech26-35

UCLA

Wk 1Wat California45-24
Wk 2Wvs San Diego State28-10
Wk 3Wvs Purdue52-38

Power rating by week

UCLA is rated 1.8 points ahead as of week 3. Our power rating by week; higher is better.

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Maryland’s passing EPA against UCLA, 90 points

Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.

Maryland’s passing EPA against UCLA’s defense
Maryland offense, 8th percentile · UCLA defense, 98th
Maryland’s EPA/play against UCLA’s defense
Maryland offense, 18th percentile · UCLA defense, 98th
Maryland’s explosive plays against UCLA’s defense
Maryland offense, 55th percentile · UCLA defense, 91st

Season profile, all the rows

Season profile

UCLAMaryland

EPA/play, offense

EPA/play, defense

Success rate, offense

Success rate, defense

Explosive-play rate, offense

Explosive-play rate, defense

Rush EPA, offense

Rush EPA, defense

Pass EPA, offense

Pass EPA, defense

The series

UCLA leads the series 2-1

3 meetings since 1954 · UCLA won the last meeting

2025UCLA 20-17
1955Maryland 7-0
1954UCLA 12-7

Each line is Maryland’s chance to win through that meeting. Older meetings have no play by play, so no line.

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

UCLA fans are feeling it more than most fanbases this week (63rd among FBS fanbases), in line with the numbers.

UCLA favored by 2.5 · Total 55.5

How games like this usually go

UCLA by 2.5, and it went to form

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 252 games since 2025 with a favorite of under 3.5 points.

The market

The spread moved 1 point toward UCLA.

The total rose 4 points.

The books’ cut: 4.1%, the margin built into the odds

Weather at kickoff

Mild, with rain. Feels like 63° at kickoff.

UCLA at Maryland · Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 · SECU Stadium, College Park

63°feels like at kickoff
0.04 inrain at kickoff
93weather score, Comfortable

At kickoff, Sept. 26, 2026.

Weather score: 0 to 100, higher is better, for the first 3 hours and 20 minutes of the game. Ideal is 100, Comfortable 90 to 99, Mixed 75 to 89, Rough 50 to 74, Harsh under 50.

Kickoff times that Saturday

Games in this time zone used 8 kickoff times that day, local time (kickoffs within 30 minutes of each other count as one). This game is ringed. At SECU Stadium that day, a noon kickoff would have scored 97, against 93 at 2 pm.

noon: 97, Comfortable
12:45 pm: 96, Comfortable
2 pm: 93, Comfortable (this game)
3:30 pm: 89, Mixed
4 pm: 89, Mixed
5 pm: 91, Comfortable
6 pm: 93, Comfortable
7 pm: 93, Comfortable

Weather score at each kickoff time.

Tap a dot to read that kickoff time.

At kickoff, Sept. 26, 2026. Wind is not drawn here; gusts are in each score.

Home field

Maryland is worth +2.9 points (±5.1) more at home than on the road since 2018 — bottom third of FBS, 28th percentile.

43% at home, 32% on the road against FBS opponents (20-27 home, 13-28 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads -0.7 at home vs. away over 94 games — inside the ±7.6 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

The visitors travel about 2,292 miles to get here.

Last meeting in our History pages

UCLA 20, Maryland 17Oct 18, 2025

Where next

Conference standings

Place in the conference, then conference record.

Maryland9th0-0
UCLA3rd1-0

Full Big Ten standings

UCLA routs Maryland 54-3