UM to open 2009 at Cal, face Rutgers at home

Maryland Football

Maryland will open its 2009 regular season on the road against a California team led by projected Heisman Trophy candidate Jahvid Best and close against the same two teams, Florida State and Boston College, against which it ended its 2008 regular season.

The Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, announced yesterday, is highlighted by six nationally televised Thursday night games - none featuring Maryland.

Maryland's nonconference schedule appears tougher than last season's. The Terps will face Cal, winner of last season's Emerald Bowl, on Sept. 5, and Rutgers, which won the Papajohns.com Bowl, on Sept. 26.

Maryland opens its ACC season - as it did last year - against Clemson. This season's game will be at Byrd Stadium.

Maryland will play both teams that played in the ACC championship game, Virginia Tech and Boston College, at home.

The Terps will not play three conference teams - Miami, North Carolina and Georgia Tech - that all finished .500 or better last season and participated in bowl games.

There is a bye week Oct. 31.

THE SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 at California

Sept. 12 James Madison

Sept. 19 Middle Tennessee

Sept. 26 Rutgers

Oct. 3 Clemson

Oct. 10 at Wake Forest

Oct. 17 Virginia

Oct. 24 at Duke

Nov. 7 at North Carolina State

Nov. 14 Virginia Tech

Nov. 21 at Florida State

Nov. 28 Boston College