Maryland Football informed the Big Ten on Sunday that it would not accept an invitation to a bowling game, ending its season, according to a team spokesperson.
This decision was made due to the team’s current hiatus in activities caused by an outbreak of COVID-19. It closes the book on a tumultuous campaign ravaged by the virus, as the Terps played five games, the fewest in the Big Ten.
[Maryland football cancels game against Michigan State after at least 21 new COVID-19 cases]
Maryland first halted practices and canceled games against ohio state and state of michigan in mid-November after 23 players and seven staff – including head coach Mike Locksley – tested positive for COVID-19. The Terps also saw their Dec. 5 game against Michigan obtain removed after an outbreak within the Wolverines program.
And last Thursday, Maryland halted practices and canceled its game against Michigan State for the second time as at least 15 additional players and six other staff contracted COVID-19.
At least 38 of the Terps’ 115 players have contracted COVID-19 since the season began Oct. 24, and the athletic department has recorded 154 total positive tests since. end of June.
[Maryland football adds 21 players on Early Signing Day]
Maryland is the fifth Big Ten program to withdraw from the playoffs, one in which minimum win percentage requirements were removed. That left the window open for the Terps to make their first bowl game since 2016, despite going 2-3.
But now their season is shattered, ended by a pandemic that has only intensified in the months since Big Ten play began.
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