Rutgers has spent much of this season trying to clean up the mess created by turnovers, especially against Power Four opponents. That problem has not vanished. But over the last two weeks, the offense has started to look more settled, more capable and a lot more like a group that knows how it wants to play.
Friday night’s 58-7 win over Howard won’t be mistaken for a Big Ten measuring stick. Still, Rutgers took care of business, moved the ball with ease and, just as importantly, didn’t give it away. That matters for a team that has thrown nine interceptions this season, all of them in the first three games.
“I think everyone's hopes were for nothing like the way we started, but all we can do is learn from those past couple games,” starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan told Scarlet Nation on Friday.
“And I think definitely we're trying to round the corner and, you know, build off these last few games.”
Rutgers piled up 534 total yards and held the ball for 36:44 against Howard, a clean offensive performance that followed another encouraging stretch two weeks earlier against then-No. 12 USC. In that 42-35 loss, the Scarlet Knights put together several touchdown drives and showed they could move the ball against a major opponent, even if the final result didn’t go their way.
“We know who we are as a team, and we know all along,” wide receiver KJ Duff said.
“Obviously, it didn't start out how anyone would have wanted, but like I've been saying all along, I know what kind of team we have. I worked with these guys all the offseason, so just ready to keep it rolling. Onto next week.
“You go back to last week (against USC): First thing coach said was no moral victories - we ended up losing the game, so I think this tonight sets us on the right track.”
The next test is a steep one. No.
6 Indiana comes to Rutgers on Saturday, and the Hoosiers have already posted two shutouts this season, including a 55-0 win over Howard three weeks ago. The other came in early September against Western Kentucky.
For Rutgers, the formula is simple: protect the ball, avoid costly penalties and keep the offense on schedule. Against USC, Lonergan threw two interceptions, including one that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown. That kind of mistake can flip a game fast, especially against a team like Indiana.
“I think it's really good for us. You know, I think the offense is finally starting to come together, and I think as long as we take care of the ball, there's really nothing that can stop us,” Lonergan said.
“We've definitely been hurting ourselves these past few weeks. So I think as long as we do what we do, we chop like we did today - I think we've got a lot of good things going our way.”
In Other News...
Rutgers Finally Has Momentum But Indiana Will Test How Real It Is
Rutgers has spent enough of this season searching for signs of traction that the recent uptick has been hard to ignore. Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff have both drawn strong PFN Impact Grades for their work, and they are part of a broader stretch in which the Scarlet Knights have looked better on both sides of the ball. The defense has tightened, the offense has shown more life, and several players have posted grades that suggest this team is starting to look more like a coherent unit than a group still trying to find its footing.
Greg Schiano has pointed to that development as Rutgers heads into its next major test against No. 6 Indiana. The challenge now is not just whether the Scarlet Knights can keep improving, but whether the identity they are building can hold up against a top-ranked opponent. Indiana will provide a clear answer either way, and for Rutgers, this is the kind of game that can confirm progress or expose how fragile it still might be. [Read more 🡒]