A year has made a big difference for Big Ten's newest members

Maybe matching up Rutgers and Maryland at the end of every season will create a new Big Ten rivalry. 

That is something the nation's oldest power conference has done well over the years, as a run down the list of trophy games like the Floyd of Rosedale, the Old Oaken Bucket the Little Brown Jug and more attests. 

Year one was a good start as the Scarlet Knights and Terrapins staged an instant classic that saw Rutgers rally from a 35-10 deficit to win 41-38. 

But both teams played that game with knowledge it was not the last of their season. 

That will not be the case this week when the Terrapins travel to Piscataway, where Rutgers hopes to be able to keep very slim bowl hopes alive by improving to 5-7 (sub.-500 teams could make the postseason this year if there are not enough that finish 6-6 to fill all of the slots). Maryland will merely be looking to avoid a 10-loss season. 

The Terps will begin next season with a different head coach than the one who began this season as Randy Edsall was fired in October and replaced by offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, who became the interim head man on Oct. 11. 

The Scarlet Knights have played for two head coaches this year, too, as Kyle Flood served a three-game suspension for violating university protocol by contacting a faculty member about a player's academic situation. They went 1-2 under Norries Wilson. 

Whether or not Rutgers officials ultimately decide to make a change remains to be seen, but it's safe to say the season hasn't gone as hoped for the Knights nor the Terps after promising starts to their Big Ten memberships.