ESPN.com · Jul 23, 2025
Maryland's Locksley: Lost locker room over player compensation
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LAS VEGAS -- Maryland football coach Mike Locksley admitted Tuesday he "lost" the locker room in 2024 over which players to compensate, a factor that led to the Terrapins' worst season since his debut in 2019.
The Terrapins finished 4-8 and dropped all but one of their Big Ten contests. Maryland had more players selected in the NFL draft (six) than wins, as it lost its final five games, all by 14 points or more. Locksley attributed part of the struggles to the changing financial landscape in college football, as Maryland had to make decisions on how to compensate players through NIL deals and ultimately created some divisions.