If Rutgers’ stunning season-opening upset victory created unrealistic expectations, then Saturday’s home debut provided a harsh reminder of reality.
It’s not going to happen overnight for Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights.
“Well,” Schiano said, “what a difference a week makes.”
Coming off the thrilling win at Michigan State that snapped a 21-game Big Ten losing streak, the Scarlet Knights returned home looking to build on that momentum. But that positive energy, in front of only family members at near-empty SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., lasted about a quarter. Dynamic quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and No. 17 Indiana (2-0, 2-0 Big Ten) outclassed Rutgers (1-1, 1-1), scoring 24 unanswered points in a commanding 37-21 victory.
Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral was intercepted three times — two in the span of 1:43 in the second quarter, when a one-point Scarlet Knights lead quickly turned into a 13-point deficit. A week after producing a whopping seven takeaways, Rutgers’ defense was unable to generate any, and the offense struggled to consistently move the ball.
“We’re running out of firsts. We had our first win together, today we had our first loss together, and I do love the way we compete,” Schiano said. “Certainly not one ounce of giving in, but it’s about winning and losing.”
Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral is brought down by the Indiana defense in their 37-21 loss.APBut Schiano’s team didn’t stop fighting. The Scarlet Knights got within eight, 23-15, after their best drive of the game, a 10-play, 80-yard possession that was capped by Kay’Ron Adams’ 37-yard touchdown run, their longest play of the game.
Penix responded quickly, however, ripping through the Rutgers defense, and pushing the lead back to double digits with his second touchdown pass of the game, a 2-yard strike to Peyton Hendershot with 3:56 left in the third quarter.
Even down 16 points in the final minutes, the Scarlet Knights kept fighting. They nearly produced a touchdown for the ages, an eight-lateral 65-yard score on fourth-and-32 with 1:31 left that immediately went viral on Twitter. The play, however, was reviewed and overturned when Shameen Jones’ lateral was ruled a forward pass.
“A play like that, you just can’t go down with the ball,” Vedral said. “I haven’t seen the replay of the play. I wish it would’ve counted.”
Greg SchianoAPAs in the opener, Rutgers started well. It forced consecutive three-and-outs, then went ahead on a Verdal’s well-placed 23-yard touchdown pass to Bo Melton midway through the first quarter.
Indiana, however, owned the rest of the opening half. Rutgers mustered zero net yards of offense from that point until intermission, while committing two turnovers. The Hoosiers scored on four of their next five possessions, converting both turnovers into touchdowns, and they could’ve been up more if not for several drops and a botched snap. In the first half, Indiana outgained Rutgers, 140-60,
The Scarlet Knights didn’t stay down, moving the ball better after halftime and coming up with a few big stops. It wasn’t enough. Indiana might be a Big Ten East title contender, and Rutgers is only getting started under Schiano.
“I didn’t come back here to lose, and I’m not saying we’re going to win every game or we’re going to win them all right now, but we’re going out there and we’re playing to win,” Schiano said. “So if it means going on fourth down, if it means going for two, whatever it means, that’s what we’re going to do.
“I promised these kids that, and as hard as they work, they deserve that.”
