The Terps were crippled by dropped passes, penalties and questionable decisions that contributed to a 31-17 loss to Rutgers.

What little margin for error the fading Maryland football team had remaining in its quest for bowl eligibility vanished during a 31-17 loss to visiting Rutgers on Saturday night after the Terrapins wilted down the stretch, adding more misery to a season on the verge of becoming unsalvageable.

A midseason, four-game losing streak shifted expectations some, but the Scarlet Knights can successful cross off a preseason goal after clinching their sixth win and achieving bowl eligibility in the process Saturday when Rutgers defeated Maryland, 31-17, at SECU Stadium.