Heading into its final series of the regular season, Maryland’s (26-27, 11-16 Big Ten) chances of making the Big Ten tournament are slim — but they aren’t zero.

The Dirty Terps have turned the narrative of their season around since the calendar flipped to May, going 5-1 against Big Ten opponents. That stretch includes a sweep of Minnesota this past weekend. The late-season surge has kept Maryland’s postseason hopes alive.

Following wins on Friday and Saturday, Maryland entered Sunday’s contest against the Gophers in search of that elusive first sweep. The Dirty Terps compiled a 9-1 lead in the sixth inning, but Minnesota refused to go down quietly, scoring six runs in the bottom of the frame. Despite the late Gopher comeback attempt, Maryland escaped with the 11-10 victory.

But even off the back of a series sweep, Maryland still sits on the outside looking in. Currently sitting at 14th in the Big Ten standings, the Dirty Terps need to finish within the top 12 in the conference to extend their season beyond this weekend.

The Dirty Terps don’t control their own destiny, but a path still remains. To give themselves the best possible chance, the Terps first need to sweep Rutgers this weekend, which would see Maryland jump the Scarlet Knights in the standings. 

Beyond that, they need one of Illinois, Michigan State, or Northwestern to lose two out of their final three games. 

The Fighting Illini visit Ohio State (who sit last in the Big Ten with a 4-23 conference record), while the Spartans host Minnesota (who are 16th in conference and have nothing to play for). Illinois and Michigan State are big favorites heading into their respective weekend sets, but the same can’t be said for Northwestern, which travels to Los Angeles this weekend for three games against No. 14 UCLA.    

In short, Maryland’s postseason hopes also require help from the Gophers, Buckeyes, or Bruins. But first, the Terps have to take care of Rutgers this weekend. 

With that being said, here’s what to know about Maryland’s final regular-season opponent of the year.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (26-26, 13-14 Big Ten)

Last Season

Despite finishing above .500 with an overall record of 28-25, the Scarlet Knights went 6-18 against conference opponents in 2024. They finished second-to-last in the Big Ten — only placing ahead of Northwestern — and failed to qualify for the Big Ten tournament.

This Season

Rutgers has taken a step in the right direction since last year’s disappointing season. It has more than doubled its Big Ten win total with 13 wins heading into the final weekend of the season. If the season were to end today, the Scarlet Knights would be the 10-seed in the Big Ten tournament.

The Scarlet Knights struggled out of the gate. They went 4-7 to open the season, losing three out of four to Grand Canyon and getting swept by Coastal Carolina. They’ve improved since conference play began, floating around the .500 mark for a majority of the season. As such, the Scarlet Knights find themselves in the middle of the pack of teams vying for the final few postseason spots.

Hitters to Watch

Sophomore Ty Douchette does it all for Rutgers on offense. The infielder has driven in 47 runs this season — 13 more than the next highest Rutgers batter. He also leads the team in home runs with 11 and boasts a .338 batting average.

Outfielder Trevor Cohen is a threat to wreak havoc on the basepaths. With a .374 batting average and 80 hits, once the junior gets on base, he’s likely to show off his speed. Cohen has swiped 16 bases on 19 attempts this season. Though he doesn’t have much power, launching just one home run in 52 games this year.

Pitchers to Watch

Freshman pitcher Landon Mack has emerged in Rutgers’ Friday night ace role this season. The freshman’s breakout performance came near the end of March against then-ranked No. 9 Oregon, where Mack shut out the Ducks through seven innings on just two hits. This performance landed the righty both Big Ten pitcher and freshman of the week honors.

While Mack hasn’t pitched a shutout since, he has showcased the ability to rack up strikeouts and pitch deep into games, as evidenced by his eight-inning, eight-strikeout performance against Minnesota in mid-April. 

Probable Starters

Thursday, May 15: RHP Brayden Ryan vs TBD

Friday, May 16: LHP Kyle McCoy vs RHP Landon Mack

Saturday, May 17: LHP Omar Melendez vs RHP Justin Shadek