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Maryland enters its Big Ten opener looking to bounce back from a disappointing 35-26 loss to Virginia Tech, but the Terps face another difficult test Saturday when undefeated UCLA comes to College Park. After cruising past Hampton and UConn to open the season, Maryland stumbled in its first major test of the year, raising familiar questions about Mike Locksley's program. Now, the Terps will look to avoid another early-season collapse against a UCLA team that has gotten off to an impressive start under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins enter Saturday's matchup at 3-0, fresh off a 52-38 victory over Purdue in which they racked up 645 yards of total offense. Maryland, meanwhile, will need to overcome a depleted running back room and correct the defensive mistakes that plagued it against Virginia Tech. With kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at SECU Stadium, here are three things I'm watching as Maryland opens Big Ten play. How will Maryland respond after an emotional loss? Few games on Maryland's schedule carried the weight of last Saturday's showdown against Virginia Tech. A primetime matchup against an old ACC rival, the return of James Franklin to College Park and the opportunity for Mike Locksley to secure a signature victory created enormous expectations heading into the weekend. Instead, the Terps came out flat, digging themselves into an early hole before mounting a late comeback that ultimately fell short. The loss was particularly deflating given the stakes surrounding the matchup, but how Maryland responds could be even more important than the result itself. A season ago, the Terps opened the year 4-0 before surrendering a fourth-quarter lead against Washington. That emotional loss snowballed into eight consecutive defeats, sending Maryland into an offseason filled with questions about the direction of the program. With Big Ten play beginning Saturday, Maryland cannot afford to let history repeat itself. Senior offensive lineman Isaiah Wright addressed that concern Tuesday, expressing confidence that this year's team is better equipped to handle adversity. "We were a younger team last year. Guys have more experience now, so we shouldn't look at this loss as bad luck or anything like that. It's up to us to stop that bad mojo feeling that we feel right now." Wright's comments reflect the mentality Maryland will need to carry into Saturday's matchup. The Terps have spoken extensively about their improved leadership and maturity this offseason, but responding to a disappointing loss presents an opportunity to demonstrate that growth. Perhaps most importantly, Maryland needs to avoid another sluggish start. Against Virginia Tech, the Terps spent much of the night playing catch-up, putting themselves in a position where even a strong fourth-quarter effort wasn't enough. Saturday presents an opportunity to put last week's disappointment behind them and prevent one loss from defining the early portion of their season. Can Maryland's passing attack exploit UCLA's vulnerable secondary? Despite UCLA's undefeated start, the Bruins have shown considerable vulnerability against Power Four passing attacks, surrendering an average of 358 passing yards and 2.5 passing touchdowns in their matchups against California and Purdue. Those struggles were particularly evident last Saturday, when Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne torched the Bruins for 378 yards and three touchdowns. Purdue's receiving tandem of Xavier Townsend and Asaad Waseem proved especially problematic for the UCLA secondary. Townsend hauled in six passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, while Waseem added eight receptions for 149 yards. The duo combined for 311 receiving yards as Purdue piled up 425 yards through the air. That should be an encouraging sign for a Maryland passing attack that has gotten off to a strong start this season. Through three games, Malik Washington ranks 12th nationally with 892 passing yards, throwing for six touchdowns without an interception. The sophomore is coming off a 359-yard, three-touchdown performance against Virginia Tech and has developed a strong connection with Maryland's revamped receiving corps. Chris Durr Jr. has emerged as Washington's favorite target, tying Miami's Malachi Toney for second nationally with 28 receptions. The Indiana transfer is coming off his best performance as a Terp, catching 12 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns against the Hokies. Fellow transfer Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding has also established himself as a reliable weapon, hauling in 17 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns through three games. UCLA head coach Bob Chesney certainly recognizes the challenge his secondary will face Saturday. "They've got some guys. Like some legit dudes out at receiver right now that are phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal." Maryland's ability to exploit that matchup becomes even more important considering the state of its running back room. With DeJuan Williams already sidelined, the Terps suffered another significant blow when it was announced that Harry Dalton would be inactive Saturday. That leaves Maryland with just two available scholarship running backs in Iverson Howard and Jianni Davis. The Terps have already struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack this season, and their dwindling depth makes it difficult to envision a dramatic turnaround against UCLA. That places even more responsibility on Washington and his receiving corps. Maryland should have opportunities to move the football through the air, but capitalizing on those opportunities and finishing drives will be imperative. If the Terps are going to keep pace with UCLA's explosive offense, they'll likely need another big performance from their sophomore quarterback. Can Maryland slow down UCLA's dynamic rushing attack? Maryland's tackling issues were on full display against Virginia Tech, and Saturday's matchup against UCLA presents an even more daunting challenge. Through three games, the Bruins have established themselves as one of the nation's most explosive rushing attacks, leading the FBS with 14 rushing touchdowns while ranking third in rushing yards (860) and fifth in yards per carry (6.99). Leading the charge is Wayne Knight, a James Madison transfer who followed Bob Chesney to Westwood this offseason. Knight has wasted little time establishing himself as one of the nation's most productive running backs, rushing for 345 yards and an FBS-leading eight touchdowns through three games. The fifth-year senior is coming off a dominant performance against Purdue, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns while averaging an impressive 11.1 yards per carry. Unfortunately for Maryland, Knight is far from the Bruins' only threat out of the backfield. Anthony Woods has been equally efficient, rushing for 228 yards and three touchdowns on a whopping 7.9 yards per carry. Jaivian Thomas rounds out the three-headed monster, adding 131 yards and two touchdowns of his own. Collectively, the trio has already accounted for 704 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, presenting a significant challenge for Ted Monachino's defense. Maryland has actually fared relatively well against the run this season, including last week's matchup against Virginia Tech, when the Terps limited the Hokies to just 3.6 yards per carry. However, those numbers don't tell the whole story. Missed tackles were a recurring issue against the Hokies, contributing directly to multiple touchdowns. Among the most frustrating was quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer's 18-yard touchdown run on third-and-goal, when Maryland's inability to finish tackles allowed Virginia Tech to turn a seemingly contained play into six points. Those mistakes could prove even more costly against a UCLA backfield capable of turning missed tackles into explosive gains. The Terps will need to be considerably more disciplined at the point of attack, tackle effectively in space and prevent the Bruins from consistently generating positive yardage on early downs. Failure to do so could allow UCLA to control the tempo, sustain lengthy drives and keep Washington and Maryland's passing attack on the sidelines. With the Bruins averaging nearly seven yards per carry, Monachino and his defense will have their hands full Saturday. If Maryland hopes to secure a victory in its conference opener, finding a way to contain UCLA's dynamic rushing attack will be essential.