Maryland Stuns Wisconsin 24-21 on Last-Minute Field Goal in College Park

Maryland beat Wisconsin 24-21 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at SECU Stadium in College Park, as backup quarterback Cardell Williams set a program record in his first start and Sean O'Haire kicked a 30-yard field goal with 29 seconds left. Trailing 21-14 late, Williams hit Preston Howard for a 39-yard touchdown to tie the game, and Trey Reddick's strip-sack set up the winner. Maryland improved to 4-6 and 2-1 under interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim; Wisconsin fell to 6-4.

Key Points

• Final score: Maryland 24, Wisconsin 21, Saturday, November 14, 2026, at SECU Stadium. Wisconsin led 10-7 at half-time; Maryland led 14-13 after three quarters.
• Williams' record day: In his first start, with Malik Washington injured, he went 21-of-23 for 183 yards, with a program-record 19 straight completions and 91.3 percent, plus two rushing touchdowns.
• The finish: Howard's 39-yard touchdown with 2:11 left tied it at 21-21; Reddick's strip-sack won the ball back; O'Haire's 30-yard field goal with 29 seconds left won it.
• Defence: Maryland forced three turnovers and held Wisconsin to 201 total yards and 77 passing yards — the only Big Ten team with a turnover in every conference game this season.
• Next up: Maryland visits No. 18 USC on Saturday, November 21, at 6:15 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

What Happened

Wisconsin led early on a five-play, 57-yard drive, and a 37-yard field goal made it 10-0 midway through the second quarter. Maryland answered late in the half with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Williams' one-yard rushing touchdown, but a red-zone fumble let Wisconsin take a 10-7 lead into the break. In the third quarter, Wingate forced a fumble recovered by Ricardo Cooper Jr., and Williams scored his second rushing touchdown for a 14-10 lead; a 42-yard Wisconsin field goal made it 14-13. The Badgers struck first in the fourth, with a touchdown and two-point conversion in the opening minute for a 21-14 lead. Maryland's defence forced a three-and-out, DeJuan Williams extended the drive with a 13-yard run on fourth-and-1, and Williams' 19th straight completion found Howard for a 39-yard touchdown with 2:11 left. Reddick then forced a fumble in Wisconsin territory, and O'Haire drilled the 30-yard winner with 29 seconds left.

Background: A Season Finding Its Footing

Maryland entered its home finale at 3-6 under interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, with starter Malik Washington sidelined by injury. The staff had spent the week building Williams' confidence for his first start in a Power 4 game. Wisconsin arrived at 6-4, a physical side that had beaten Maryland in four of the five previous meetings. Saturday was only the sixth all-time meeting, dating back to 2014. Maryland's biggest win in the series had come last season, 27-10 in Madison; Saturday gave the Terps their second-ever win over the Badgers and their first in College Park. See also our report on Ohio State beating Northwestern 28-19 to snap its two-game skid, another Big Ten result from Saturday's slate.

Maryland Wisconsin 24-21: Williams Rewrites the Terps' Record Book

Williams' 21-of-23 passing for 183 yards set a program record at 91.3 percent, the highest single-game mark in Maryland history for a quarterback with more than 20 attempts; the previous record was Billy Edwards Jr.'s 87.5 percent against Villanova in 2024. His 19 straight completions also set a school record, passing Malik Washington's 18 against Connecticut earlier this season. Williams was 14 of 16 for 106 yards in the first half, and added 17 rushing yards and two scores. Howard logged a career-high 77 receiving yards. Chris Durr Jr. caught eight passes for 39 yards to reach 70 receptions this season, fifth-most in a Maryland season. Maryland totalled 290 yards and outgained Wisconsin 107-102 on the ground. The Badgers managed only 201 yards, with Ryan Hopkins throwing for 45 yards in the first half and 77 in the game. See also our report on Utah beating BYU 28-20 in the Holy War, another dramatic Saturday result.

Reactions and Quotes

Abdul-Rahim's message before the game was about togetherness. "The biggest thing we talked about this week was going from family to brotherhood," he said. "What you saw on the field was big brothers taking care of little brothers." He added: "We expect to win every week. That's how we prepare." On Williams: "I'm happy for Cardell in that he got the opportunity to play in a Power 4 football game," he said. "It comes from protection and wide receivers making plays. He's very accurate." Williams was unmoved by the numbers: "I didn't think about the completion rate or anything like that. I was just playing football," he said. "After the first half, everything just slowed down for me."

Why It Matters

For Maryland, this was far more than one win: the first last-minute victory since 2024, and proof that Abdul-Rahim's message is taking hold in the locker room. The Terps are still 4-6 and must win out to reach 6-6 and bowl eligibility, so the road stays steep. But a backup quarterback setting two program records in his first start and a defence forcing turnovers in every Big Ten game say this team is playing with confidence. For Wisconsin, the loss stings: the Badgers led by seven late, yet gave up the tying touchdown, a strip-sack and the winning kick in the final two minutes. At 6-4 their season remains on track, but Saturday showed that in the Big Ten no game is won until the clock hits zero. See also our report on Florida State ending its 12-game road drought at Boston College.

What Happens Next

Maryland travels to face No. 18 USC on Saturday, November 21, at 6:15 p.m. on Big Ten Network — a far sterner test on the road against a ranked side. Abdul-Rahim set the standard: "We'll put the best product on the field that we can. It's all about winning." Wisconsin will look to regroup after letting a winnable game slip away, with plenty still to play for in the closing weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Maryland vs Wisconsin?
Maryland won 24-21 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at SECU Stadium in College Park, on Sean O'Haire's 30-yard field goal with 29 seconds left.

Who is Cardell Williams?
Maryland's backup quarterback, who made his first start as a Terp with Malik Washington injured. He threw for 183 yards on 21-of-23 passing, ran for two touchdowns and threw the tying 39-yard pass to Preston Howard.

How did Maryland win in the final minutes?
Trailing 21-14, Williams hit Howard for a 39-yard touchdown with 2:11 left. Trey Reddick then forced a fumble in Wisconsin territory, and O'Haire kicked the winning 30-yard field goal with 29 seconds left.

What records did Cardell Williams set?
Program records: 19 consecutive completions and a 91.3 completion percentage, both the best in school history.

Who does Maryland play next?
No. 18 USC on Saturday, November 21, at 6:15 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.