Maryland Retains Locksley for 2026 with Added Support

The University of Maryland announced Sunday that football coach Mike Locksley will return for an eighth season in 2026, with athletic director Jim Smith pledging increased financial support for the program amid a challenging year for the Terrapins.

Smith, who took over as athletic director recently, detailed the decision in an open letter to supporters. "Coach Locksley needs and deserves the full support of our department, our university, and all of Terp Nation," he wrote. "We are fully committed to giving him and our student-athletes the resources and investments necessary to succeed." The announcement includes plans to bolster name, image and likeness (NIL) funding starting in 2026, with an emphasis on roster retention, recruiting and competing in the transfer portal. Smith noted early successes in these areas for the upcoming year, aiming to stabilize the team around its young core.

Maryland enters the final stretch of its season with a 4-6 record, having dropped six straight games after opening with four victories. The latest loss came Saturday in a 24-6 defeat at Illinois, extending a skid that includes double-digit defeats to Indiana, Rutgers and the Fighting Illini. The...