Maryland’s Tuition Raffle Fails to Fill Stadium for Illinois Game

Maryland offered students who stayed through the fourth quarter a chance to win tuition for the spring semester, valued at $5,507.50. The promotion did little to fill SECU Stadium for the October 31 game against Illinois, with the stands looking sparse before kickoff and remaining largely empty during play.

Students who stayed until the end could enter by scanning a QR code. Bryce Hartle, a mechanical engineering major, won the drawing and became emotional when his name was selected.

On the field, Maryland led 14-10 in the third quarter but lost 20-17, falling to 2-6 and 17th in the Big Ten standings. The game was the first under interim coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, after Mike Locksley stepped down by mutual decision on October 21.

Abdul-Rahim said the loss did not change his confidence in the team’s process. Maryland is scheduled to play Purdue next weekend before returning home to face Wisconsin on November 14.