Maryland football coach Michael Locksley met with Athletic Director Jim Smith on Monday, two days after the Terps suffered a 54-3 loss to UCLA that marked a 51-point defeat. According to Locksley, the conversation was routine, focusing on the status of the program and personnel matters, with no discussions about his job security.

The defeat dropped Maryland’s record to 2-2, intensifying scrutiny of Locksley in his eighth season leading the team. The Terps struggled significantly during the game, committing five turnovers, including four interceptions thrown by sophomore quarterback Malik Washington, and converting only 1 of 15 third-down attempts.

In response to the setback, Locksley said the team has adjusted its offensive approach, simplifying some pre-snap responsibilities to help Washington recover from his toughest performance since joining the program.

Beyond tactical changes, the larger issue remains how the team and coaching staff manage the aftermath of such a heavy loss. Locksley emphasized the importance of shutting out distractions and maintaining focus, noting his personal ability to “insulate” himself and avoid engaging with negative commentary on social media.

The players have been encouraged to adopt a similar mindset. Wide receiver Kaleb Webb said he has deliberately limited his exposure to social media criticism since the loss, describing online outlets as sources that attempt to provoke emotional reactions.

Center Michael Hershey echoed this sentiment, describing the challenge of avoiding talk about the game even in everyday settings, but striving to “go underwater” and block out the noise as directed by the coaching staff.

Maryland is also relying on its veteran players to uphold accountability within the team. Webb took the initiative to address the roster immediately following the UCLA game, urging teammates to accept responsibility. The leadership council has continued these discussions in the days since, focusing on how veterans can help steer the team through the early-season struggles.

Webb reaffirmed the team's commitment to remaining focused, pointing to the fact that the season is still in its early stages with eight conference games remaining. He outlined a standard that emphasizes accountability across all aspects—academic responsibilities, physical recovery, film study, and rectifying mistakes promptly to prevent them from becoming entrenched.

Hershey applied this standard specifically to Maryland’s offensive line, acknowledging its inconsistency in establishing the running game and the need for improved fundamentals to reduce pressure on the quarterback and passing offense.

As Maryland prepares for next week’s matchup against Nebraska, Locksley underscored resilience as a core characteristic of the program, stating that facing adversity is part of the team’s identity and expressing his expectation that the Terps will respond by regrouping and moving forward.