Will Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen be able to beat his old boss’ new
team? (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

If I told you earlier this year that the University of Maryland football team would be playing a prime time game on network television in a race for the ACC’s Atlantic division crown following a 2-10 season, you would likely think I was crazy.

Yet lo and behold, Maryland ensured just that last Saturday night against Florida State — while they came out on the losing end in a heartbreaking finish, the Maryland Terrapins (7-4, 4-3 ACC) have provided a remarkable turnaround from last year.

While their opportunity for competing in the ACC Championship and an ensuing Orange Bowl trip has all but been eliminated, there is still much at stake in this Saturday’s season finale at Byrd Stadium. Yet, interestingly enough, the outcome will ultimately benefit anyone but the home team.

Should North Carolina State (8-3, 5-2 ACC) be victorious, they will claim the Atlantic Division and face Virginia Tech for the ACC championship on December 4. If the Terrapins spoil the Wolfpack’s plans, Florida State will advance instead. And while the Seminoles will be facing rival Florida on Saturday, most eyes will be paid attention to what goes down in College Park.

Another interesting plotline is Maryland’s final bowl destination. As of now, the Terps are pegged for the nearby Military Bowl at RFK Stadium, but should they win, it’s hard to imagine an 8-4 team being relegated to one of the conference’s least prestigious bowls. In order to play outside of D.C. in late December, Maryland would not only have to defeat N.C. State on Saturday, but Duke would also need to beat North Carolina. In that scenario, the Terps would likely make a nice case for the Music City Bowl in Nashville.