This afternoon at Byrd Stadium, the regular season will come to a conclusion for the Eagles when they face Maryland in a game that has no championship implications. That hope ended a week ago with a 31-13 loss to North Carolina, a few hours before Clemson clinched the division on its own merit.

So for the first time since 2006, the Eagles (7-4, 4-3) are left to finish out the regular season with only a bowl game in their future. But it’s not because the team didn’t give its best effort every week.

“There is nothing to lose? I don’t like that,’’ said defensive cocaptain and middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin. “We’re playing an ACC game at a place like Maryland. If I don’t come out with my best game, shame on me. That’s disrespectful to the game of football and disrespectful to my teammates.’’

With a 2-9 record (1-6 in conference), Maryland isn’t getting much respect these days as speculation about the future of coach Ralph Friedgen mounts.

BC knows it can’t take any team for granted. Two years ago, the Eagles played at Maryland the week after a loss to Florida State dropped them from a No. 2 ranking to No. 8. The Terrapins won, 42-35.

“The last time at Maryland was a really frustrating game,’’ said junior left tackle Anthony Castonzo. “There’s a little extra motivation for what they did to us when we had a great season going.’’

The Eagles never established any consistency this season. Their longest winning streak was two games, done three times. They are 1-3 on the road.

The offense, led by freshman quarterback Dave Shinskie, sputtered in the opening weeks (especially on the road), found a rhythm at midseason, and then sputtered again. Sophomore Montel Harris is second in the ACC with 1,213 yards rushing, but has gotten little help in the backfield since October after losing his top backups, sophomore Josh Haden (transfer) and freshman Rolandan Finch (mononucleosis).

Still, the Eagles have a chance to reach nine victories for the sixth straight season and finish second in the division. Most everyone outside the BC locker room didn’t expect that.

“They have bought what we are selling,’’ said Spaziani of his players. “They have to want to be good, they have to want to have a good team. I can’t say enough for this senior class with all the different situations they have had to fight their way through.’’

McLaughlin sees the challenge of playing at a high level with little at stake and embraces it.

“You are going to find out who loves to play football,’’ said McLaughlin, whose first career start came in the loss at Maryland in 2007. “That’s the bottom line. To me this is our championship game.’’

Spaziani said finding motivation is simple. “This is a big game,’’ he said. “It’s the last game in the body of work.’’

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.

BC vs. Maryland
When: Today, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Byrd Stadium, College Park, Md.
TV, radio: ESPNU, WEEI (850)