{
  "id": 18960964,
  "title": "Maryland Ends 13-Game Big Ten Skid in Aazaar Abdul-Rahim’s First Win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/maryland-ends-13-game-big-ten-skid-in-aazaar-abdul-rahims-first-win",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T15:25:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/maryland-ends-13-game-big-ten-skid-in-aazaar-abdul-rahims-first-win-12683023"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Aazaar Abdul-Rahim finally tasted victory as Maryland's interim head coach in his first game. Purdue had reached the Maryland 11-yard line with five seconds remaining, nearly securing a touchdown to nullify the Terrapins' five-point lead. A penalty pushed the Boilermakers back, and Zion Elee and Sidney Stewart knocked down quarterback Ryan Browne with just seconds left on the clock. Maryland secured their 34-29 win on Saturday in West Lafayette, marking an end to a six-game losing streak and a 13-game drought in Big Ten competition. Following the win, Abdul-Rahim expressed his elation for the players, stating, \"I'm just overjoyed for the kids, man. It's all about them at the end of the day.\" The interim coach, a Washington, D.C., native who founded the football program at Friendship Collegiate Academy, took over at Maryland on October 21. His coaching debut was followed by a win against Illinois, but Maryland required defensive heroics on the final play of that game as well. This time, however, the Terps profited from their seventh sack of the game, their most since 2020. Quarterback Malik Washington was instrumental, contributing to all but one of Maryland's five touchdowns. Down 12-7 at halftime, Washington found Na'Eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding on a screen that traveled 44 yards, giving Maryland their first lead. A strip-sack by Lavain Scruggs opened the path for Washington's second rushing touchdown, and DeJuan Williams scored a 75-yard touchdown to extend Maryland's lead to 28-19. Chris Durr Jr. contributed with an 87-yard touchdown on a screen in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers staged a comeback, scoring to bring the game to within five and converting a fourth-and-10 from their own five-yard line on their final drive before Elee and Stewart intercepted Browne. Maryland reports back to College Park at 3-6 to face Wisconsin next weekend. For a team that had gone 413 days without a conference win, Abdul-Rahim kept his postgame comments straightforward. \"It's been crazy the last two weeks,\" he remarked, \"so I'm really happy that they can get some joy.\"",
  "summary": "Maryland sacked Purdue on the final play to seal a 34-29 victory and give interim coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim his first win.",
  "key_points": [
    "Aazaar Abdul-Rahim leads Maryland to first win in 13-game Big Ten losing streak",
    "Malik Washington leads Maryland to five touchdowns in 34-29 victory over Purdue",
    "Interim coach Abdul-Rahim expresses joy for players' achievement"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}