For Washington Capitals fans, a familiar voice called the University of Maryland’s dominant 39-7 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday. Monumental Sports Network’s Joe Beninati jumped into the Big Ten Network booth and gave play-by-play of the Terrapins’ 2025 college football season opener at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
Not only was it UMD’s first game of the year, but it also marked Malik Washington’s highly-anticipated NCAA debut. Washington, the Maryland Gatorade Football Player of the Year and a four-star recruit, attended Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland, where he played under former Terp Kyle Schmitt before committing to UMD.
The freshman quarterback seemed to have nerves early — completing only three of his first 11 passes — before heaving three second quarter touchdowns and turning the game into a blowout. Washington finished the day 27 of 43 for 258 yards and watched from the sidelines as second stringers took the field in the fourth quarter.
Some of Beninati’s best calls came during Washington’s biggest plays. The QB’s first career touchdown pass went to Shaleak Knotts, a perfectly-placed 29-yard toss.
“Five receivers in the pattern,” Beninati began. “Malik Washington heaves one… wide-open! Touchdown! Shaleak Knotts, all alone.”
Shortly after, Washington sent a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Kaleb Webb, making the score 26-7.
“Deep shot looking for Webb, twisting… he’s got it!” Beninati exclaimed.
Other memorable Beninati calls came on a Maryland safety and an “endzone waltz,” a pick-six, for Daniel Wingate.
The victory for Maryland marked the team’s 16th consecutive nonconference vcitory. As for Washington, he became the first Power Conference true freshman since Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence in 2018 to throw three touchdown passes in a season opening debut. Lawrence currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.
Beninati wasn’t the only member of the Capitals’ telecast crew to put in work for some college football games. In-studio host Alexa Landestoy was field level for Friday’s Auburn-Baylor game in Waco, Texas as the newest sideline reporter for FOX.
