Mike Locksley and Maryland understand the task that awaits on Saturday. However, the opponent is not changing the preparation of the Terrapins.

Asked about the matchup at his Weekly press conference, Locksley noted the game ultimately comes down to players making plays. He knows Maryland has talented players in the locker room, a group the team will need to step up.

“Players have to make plays. They have a good scheme, we’ve studied it. It’s not anything we haven’t seen thus far, but this is gonna be a game that comes down to — as I told our staff — we’ve got to put a really good plan together of how we want to attack. But ultimately, it’s going to come down to our players making the plays that are there to be made,” said Locksley. “It’s a player’s game and as we go into this thing, I think our players need to understand this why you come to Maryland, to compete against the best, and here’s an opportunity.”

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As for being a big underdog, Locksley said the team always prepares for “faceless and nameless opponents.” It comes down to the program fighting for respect while Locksley noted “gimmicks” won’t work against an opponent like the Buckeyes.

“It started 4 years ago when we came up with ‘faceless and nameless opponents.’ We don’t adjust how we prepare. As I told our coaches, we don’t need to play the fight song in the locker room this week,” Locksley explained. “This isn’t one of those weeks where gimmicks are going to get the job done. For us, it’s about earning the respect that we feel we deserve. An opportunity to compete against one of the top teams in the conference in the last few years. I know our players are really excited about it. We’ve got some talented players in our locker room, and I think it’s all about us earning the respect we feel our players deserve.”

We’ll see if the team is up to the task when kickoff comes. Saturday’s broadcast is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.