The Maryland football team played its regular-season finale against Rutgers, a 27-24 overtime loss, on Saturday afternoon in College Park, Md., without four starters, including sophomore quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
A team spokesman said Tagovailoa, junior inside linebacker Chance Campbell, freshman linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II and junior cornerback Jakorian Bennett were out for medical reasons. Maryland missed several games earlier this season because a COVID-19 outbreak, but was not immediately known whether the players’ absences were related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre made his first start of the season at quarterback, sophomore Fa’Najae Gotay started at middle linebacker, and sophomore Deonte Banks started at cornerback.
Tagovailoa had started the Terps’ first four games, completing 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,011 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing 25 times for 44 yards and two scores. Tagovailoa had talked to the media on Tuesday.
Campbell led the defense in tackles with 43 and solo stops with 22 and had collected 1½ sacks and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Hyppolite was tied for fifth in tackles with 18 and had recorded two sacks. Bennett had six tackles and two pass breakups.
