Rutgers will step onto the field in Week 2 carrying more than the weight of a season-opening loss. The Scarlet Knights are set to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a day the program will mark with a tribute that hits close to home: 37 Rutgers alumni lost their lives on 9/11, and the team will wear number 37 in American flag colors.
“As we take the field on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we honor all of those whose lives were lost on that tragic day, including our 37 @RutgersU alumni.We remember. We honor. We will never forget. pic.twitter.com/XtzQ7fjdh6”
The timing adds even more emotion to a game Rutgers badly needs. After falling to UMass in Week 1, the Scarlet Knights head into this matchup with plenty to clean up and plenty riding on the result.
Week 2 has the feel of a must-win for the program, and there’s a strong sense that coach Greg Schiano’s job is on the line. That may sound exaggerated, but Rutgers simply can’t start 0-2.
The expectations around this team were high entering the season, and Schiano still believes it can turn around. But the opener didn’t look anything like the standard Rutgers was supposed to meet.
The formula now is clear: stay disciplined, cut out the distractions, and play with more purpose. The run game has to improve.
The offense has to be more aggressive. And the quarterback has to be protected.
Rutgers also needs more from its playmakers. Getting the ball to wide receiver KJ Duff should be part of the plan, and Antwan Raymond has to find better space and work through tackles.
Raymond managed only 42 yards on 14 carries against UMass, a line that stands out because it’s so unlike him. The UMass defense was ready for the assignment, but Rutgers is counting on Raymond to bounce back.
There’s history in this matchup too. Rutgers and Boston College have met 27 times, and Rutgers has won only seven of those games.
The series dates back to 1919, but the Scarlet Knights aren’t interested in letting that record shape the night. They’re chasing their eighth win over Boston College and their first victory of the season.
Rutgers did take the last meeting in 2022, edging Boston College 22-21. This time, the Scarlet Knights will need the defense to bring the edge, and the leadership group has to set the tone early. In games like this, the loudest voice in the huddle can matter just as much as the play call.
That’s where Rutgers’ mix of veterans and younger players comes in. The older guys have to help keep this one from turning into another game that gets away and crosses the 30-point mark. On the road Friday night, the pressure is on, and Rutgers knows exactly what kind of response this game demands.
In Other News...
Rutgers Heads Into Boston College With A Quarterback Problem
Rutgers is turning to AJ Surace at quarterback for Saturdays game at Boston College after Greg Schiano said Dylan Lonergan will not be the starter coming off the season opener. Lonergan left that game because of an injury, and he has not practiced this week, leaving the Scarlet Knights to prepare as if the freshman will be unavailable for most of the game.
Lonergans first Rutgers start had already shown both the promise and the risk of relying on him, as he threw for 242 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions before exiting. Schiano said Lonergan may still be available only as an emergency option, which leaves Rutgers headed into a tough road matchup with an unsettled quarterback situation and no clear certainty beyond the next snap. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Is Already Facing Heat At North Carolina
Bill Belichicks first season at North Carolina was never going to be judged on one early result alone, but the opening weekend has already added another layer of scrutiny around a program that was supposed to feel steadier by now. Across college football, a few prominent coaches are taking on pressure after Week 1, and UNC is in a particularly uneasy spot because the on-field start is only part of the conversation.
Belichick is also dealing with an ongoing investigation into the football program, which means the noise around Chapel Hill is coming from more than just the scoreboard. For a coach with his reputation and a fan base expecting immediate structure, the issue now is not whether attention will follow, but how long the distraction lasts while everyone waits for the next turn in the story. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Just Got A Boost That Could Raise This Teams Ceiling
Rutgers got a welcome lift at the Cougar Classic when senior Lorena Rossettin returned from injury and immediately steadied the lineup. She finished tied for 22nd after going back-to-back with 2-under-par rounds, a solid sign for a Scarlet Knights team that ended up 14th in a field packed with several top-ranked programs.
The result mattered beyond the final placement because Rossettins presence gives Rutgers another proven scorer to lean on as the season moves forward. Junior Joline Truong also turned in a notable showing, and classmate Judy Amano added a spark with an eagle, leaving the Scarlet Knights with a few encouraging pieces as they try to build on a performance that hinted at a higher ceiling. [Read more 🡒]