Never been done

With hopes of ACC title contention now fading into a growing concern about bowl eligibility, the Terrapins football team is, at this point, just looking to get back in the win column.

Coming off consecutive fruitless upset bids against No. 8 Clemson and No. 20 Georgia Tech, the Terps will have to do something they've never done before if they hope to right the ship this weekend: win in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State is 19-2 all time against the Terps and 10-0 as the home team. And when the two teams kick off at Doak Campbell Stadium tomorrow afternoon, the Seminoles will again enjoy the advantage of having up to 83,000 ruthless fans on their side.

"Another tough one this week down in Tallahassee," coach Randy Edsall said Tuesday. "I know it'll be loud, it'll be hostile, and I know we're looking forward to going down and playing an outstanding football team."

"Going down to Tallahassee at 2-4 and having never won down there, this is a huge game," left tackle Max Garcia said. "We have some that we felt like we should have won … but, definitely, having never won down there, it's time to make history."

Easier said than done. While the Seminoles have struggled to this point in the season, entering tomorrow's contest with a .500 record, they seem to be regaining the form that led to them being ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation this season.

With quarterback E.J. Manuel back on the field and finally healthy, the Seminoles (3-3, 1-2 ACC) throttled Duke, 41-16, last weekend. Manuel stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and can make plays through the air and on the ground, and he's surrounded by the kind of top-tier talent that's become the norm for the perennial power.

In stark contrast to the apparent upward path the Seminoles are on is the decline the Terps (2-4, 1-2) have been on since Week 1.

Injuries and personnel changes have left the Terps' lineup almost unrecognizable compared to their season-opening win against Miami, and while they've shown an ability to play with some of the nation's best — the Terps were in a position to win against the Yellow Jackets, Tigers and No. 11 West Virginia — they've yet to close out any such games.

"We can play with anybody, really," defensive tackle Joe Vellano said. "You saw it last week. I mean, it shows how good we can play. It's a couple little plays here and there."

And while the Terps were able to solve the first-half woes that have marred their season against Clemson, they'll be without at least one element of surprise tomorrow, as Edsall announced Monday that quarterback C.J. Brown will start tomorrow.

Last week, Edsall kept the Tigers guessing until kickoff whether they'd be faced with Brown or Danny O'Brien.

Brown has proved to be a spark to the offense when called on to this point in the year, setting a program record with 162 rushing yards last week.

But he's also never faced a defense that has prepared for his dual-threat style. Odds are that the Seminoles' defense, which ranks No. 11 in the country in yards allowed per game, will look to limit his explosiveness on the ground.

"They're fast. They're going to fly to the ball, they're going to pursue. They're going to be a tough defense," Brown said. "I feel that I can still sit back there and pass the ball."

To come away with the program's first-ever win in Tallahassee, the Terps must first do some things they've been unable to for much of the season.

They'll need to piece together a consistent performance in all three facets of the game, limit Florida State's big-play potential and, if they're able to mount a lead, protect it.

Then, and only then, can the team hope to insert itself into the program's record books.

"This is definitely a very big game for us. It's definitely a test," cornerback Dexter McDougle said. "We're definitely going to see what kind of team we are after this week, but I have faith in us and I know we're going to go down there and handle our business."

cwalsh@umdbk.com