Rutgers Football: Key Insights, Transfer Portal Talk, and the Future of Conference Realignment!

Rutgers Football: A Season of High Hopes and Harsh Realities

Through the first seven weeks of the 2024 college football season, it’s clear this year has lived up to expectations of being special. Each week brings unexpected upsets and surprise teams, leaving us uncertain about how the 12-team playoff will unfold. Amid all the excitement, however, one constant remains—Rutgers Football.

There might actually be two constants in 2024: the constant changes in college football due to NIL, the transfer portal, and ongoing conference reshuffles, and the static state of Rutgers Football. Just a few seasons ago, Rutgers and Vanderbilt were among the worst Power 5 teams. If I told you that Vanderbilt would beat Alabama in 2024, would you believe it? Absolutely not! Yet, they not only defeated the #1 ranked Alabama, who had just beaten Georgia, but they did so convincingly from start to finish. Rutgers came close to beating Ohio State in 2023, losing by a decent margin, making it their closest chance for a historic win. So, when will Rutgers finally enjoy a breakthrough victory? It remains uncertain.

Let’s return to Vanderbilt for a moment. Enter Diego Pavia. This transfer quarterback from New Mexico State has made a lasting impact at Vanderbilt, alongside Jerry Kill, his former coach, who acts as a consultant for the Commodores. Vanderbilt brought in 20 players through the transfer portal—yes, 20! It feels like a completely different team and there’s a palpable buzz around their football program. The fact that they aren’t ranked is a travesty.

So, why does this matter? If Vanderbilt can rise to prominence, why can’t Rutgers? However, the question looms: why does Rutgers still resemble the “same old Rutgers,” and why do we continue to put ourselves through this cycle of disappointment?

I’ll be honest—I didn’t re-watch the last game or read articles about it. Doing so would only frustrate me further. I dubbed the Nebraska loss as the “rip off the band-aid” game, but it turned out to be more like tearing off a band-aid from a broken arm that’s barely hanging on. I encourage you to engage with any Rutgers content you like! Right now, I’m listening to some calming jazz while enjoying a lovely autumn sunset, reminding myself that mental health matters!

So, how did we find ourselves in this mess just seven weeks into the season?

Only a couple of weeks ago, fans were celebrating an exciting Blackout victory against Washington, last year’s national runners-up. Now, it feels like that thrilling moment never happened. Remember when we beat Virginia Tech in a packed Lane Stadium? The Nebraska loss was frustrating with clear reasons behind it. But the loss to Wisconsin was not just frustrating; it was embarrassing and leaves us questioning why we keep subjecting ourselves to this disappointment.

At the beginning of the season, I discussed what distinguishes Rutgers from other teams and why so many seniors chose to return instead of entering the draft or seeking NIL opportunities. I attributed this to coaching and culture. To answer the burning question of how things have unraveled so quickly: I believe it’s once again down to coaching and culture.

I’m a supporter of Greg Schiano for many reasons. Coaching at Rutgers is no easy feat, and few other coaches could do what he has accomplished. As a proud Italian-American, I find it heartening to have one of my own at the helm of the program. Schiano’s goal of making Rutgers Football the leading sports team in New Jersey is something I deeply desire. The victory against Washington brought us close to that, but now all that momentum feels lost. Why? Coaching and Culture.

Every year, we face similar challenges. What sets this season apart is that we thought we wouldn’t see a performance like last Saturday’s. We believed each game would be competitive and that we wouldn’t encounter a series of blowout losses. Typically, these losses occur in November, not early October. Experiencing a mid-season collapse during a year expected to be special makes it even more painful. So, why did this happen? Coaching and Culture.

Schiano emphasizes FAMILY. TRUST. CHOP. Most players have bought into this culture and fight until the very end of games. Last year’s close match against Michigan State and the Pinstripe Bowl exemplified this spirit. Yet, outside of those moments, it seems to be faltering. Rutgers retained nearly all its starters from the previous season, but the improvement just isn’t evident. On paper, the team should be doing better, but that’s simply not the case. Many teams have faced high expectations only to falter—Virginia Tech and Florida State are prime examples—so why attribute the current struggles to coaching and culture?

It’s straightforward: when Schiano’s style of football succeeds, we win. When it fails, we lose. Unfortunately, we’ve experienced more of the latter so far. Schiano’s second stint began with an uphill battle, as he inherited one of the weakest Power 5 teams in college football’s toughest division. The surprise 2020 season brought optimism, and 2021 showed promise, but ultimately fell short. In 2022, there was regression, and the lifeless football at the end of each season hangs heavy. Since 2021, Rutgers has consistently finished seasons with disheartening blowout losses, like the ones to Maryland, and that leaves a sour taste. The November team Schiano puts on the field contradicts the culture he aims to foster. Yet, here we are in October, witnessing what may be Schiano 2.0’s worst loss to date. That’s unacceptable. How can Rutgers be a development program if the on-field product remains stagnant? The drive, grit, and focus that the team displayed at the season’s start seem to diminish as the season wears on.

In essence, the coaching and culture at Rutgers aren’t working if we keep losing to mid-tier Big Ten teams at home. I’ve given praise to the coaching staff when it’s due, including Coach Harasymiak’s defense and Coach Ciarrocca’s offense. But after last week’s performance, nobody, including Schiano, deserves any praise. The team looked lifeless, unmotivated, and—most critically—unprepared during the Wisconsin game. Previous support for the program makes me feel misguided. The same issues keep resurfacing.

Every year, I aim for a strong start, wanting to be 3-0 and perfect in out-of-conference play. Yet, it seems like that might be a collective coaching staff goal, because once achieved, the team often shifts dramatically thereafter.

This isn’t about calling for Schiano or the coaching staff to be dismissed; I genuinely believe Schiano is the right leader for Rutgers. However, there must be a change in his approach. This isn’t 2006; that success won’t be replicated. We need to adapt to the evolving landscape of college football in 2024. It’s essential to move beyond the mindset of Schiano 1.0.

That said, there may need to be a discussion regarding Kirk Ciarrocca’s role at the season’s end. While his play-calling wasn’t solely to blame for the recent loss, the entire offense needs to take accountability. We can’t fire players, and I wouldn’t want to, but Ciarrocca must be held responsible. If a team like Indiana can recover from a rough stretch, so can Rutgers. So why isn’t that happening? The issue lies with the offense. This year’s offense has fallen short of expectations.

While fans were eager to see new talent at quarterback, the reality is that Gavin Wimsatt’s limitations showed, though I believe he could’ve helped beat Nebraska if it had just required a short gain. It’s frustrating, especially as we witnessed similar struggles last season.

Why bring up Indiana? Because they have a dynamic, explosive offense that Rutgers lacks. Why? Simple—they adapted. They secured an eager, promising coach, Coach Cignetti, who reminds me of Schiano. Cignetti brought in a veteran quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, and THIRTY other transfers. Things are on the upswing in Bloomington, and it’s frustrating to admit. The Hoosiers now have a legitimate chance to make the College Football Playoffs, while Rutgers cannot say the same.

Is it a bad thing that Rutgers retained so many starters this season? Not necessarily, but it highlights vulnerabilities when injuries strike. Rutgers is supposed to be a “development program,” but this season doesn’t feel that way. I was thrilled to see so many players return after the Pinstripe Bowl, but injuries have plagued the team.

Injuries are a part of football, but if those key players hadn’t returned? I honestly don’t know how things would look. It’s likely what we witnessed on Saturday might have been representative of the entire season. There are freshmen showing promise, often outshining players who have been in the program for years.

While it’s a positive sign to have impactful returners, it’s not enough to offset the offensive shortcomings. These include talent gaps and coaching issues.

With so many seniors on the team, I urge them to “right the ship.” They need to take charge and hold each other accountable. The team is battered, and as Schiano mentioned in his UCLA preview press conference, more injuries could be forthcoming. Yet, it’s far too early for the season to be deemed a complete loss. I believe the senior leadership can refocus and motivate the team for the remainder of the season. They are not novices to adversity. If they can’t rise to the occasion now, why did they return for one last year? There’s still time—home games like UCLA cannot be seen as missed opportunities.

If not the seniors, then who can turn things around? The younger players! They will inherit the program soon enough, so they need to make their presence felt now! They should strive to be change agents, like Geo Baker, Ron Harper, and Caleb McConnell were for Rutgers Basketball, with the guidance of great coaches like Steve Pikiell.

Ben Black and KJ Duff are capable receivers. If the veterans struggle, they should challenge them in practice, making it clear they’re ready to step in if necessary. Nothing is guaranteed in football, including playing time. With Sam Brown injured, Antwan Raymond may have to step up. Good! It’s valuable experience for the future.

On defense, while young talent may be limited, there’s promising potential in Kaj Sanders. I’m eager to see him take on a leadership role within the team. Isaiah Crumpler in the secondary could also provide a spark, especially with our corners banged up. His performance in the spring game was impressive, albeit it was just a scrimmage.

Rutgers was fortunate to have so many players return for a final season, but without COVID, I’m unsure if that would have been feasible. Therefore, the younger players need to see more playing time to salvage this season and prepare for what’s expected to be a challenging 2025.

Is the 2024 season over? An emphatic NO! Rutgers stands at 4-2. If you look back at preseason predictions, most would project Rutgers at 4-2 or even 4-3. What wouldn’t have been predicted is the lifeless HOME loss to Wisconsin in week 7. Injuries could derail the season further, but it’d be unfair to attribute Saturday’s performance solely to them. This loss felt shockingly similar to past blowouts, reminiscent of the Ash era, yet may have been the worst of all. Injuries can’t take the blame this time.

There are still winnable games ahead, starting with the upcoming Homecoming matchup against UCLA. However, the largest obstacle for Rutgers moving forward is…Rutgers. The team must address its issues because we can no longer tolerate these kinds of losses. It’s not due to facilities, talent, or lack of commitment from fans; it boils down to COACHING and CULTURE. Something isn’t working and needs to be resolved ASAP. The 2024-2025 athletic year for Rutgers still holds promise, yet Rutgers Football is making that a much harder journey than necessary.

Are we (or I) overreacting?

Yes and no. My negative reaction to Saturday’s loss seems justified. Is the season over? Certainly not, as outlined above. Are we rightly frustrated with the same lackluster performances reoccurring since 2016? Yes. Rutgers may be 4-2, so perhaps this post comes off as an overreaction.

My feelings stem from a build-up of painful losses. I’ve carried these emotions since the disastrous 2022 finale against Maryland, where Rutgers lost 37-0 and ended the season at 5-7, missing a bowl game. That game was one of the worst I’ve ever attended. I mention it because, like this year, Rutgers had an opportunity. They faced a conference rival on the road, a chance to secure their first bowl appearance in eight years (excluding the 2021 TaxSlayer Bowl), yet they floundered. The performance lacked spirit and was mortifying. Fast forward to 2024, and we find ourselves in a similar situation—yet with more talent. Maybe I’m overly optimistic, expecting change, but it seems improbable.

Regardless of all of this, I am proud to be a Rutgers alum and fan. That pride will never wane. I do my best to encourage others to follow Rutgers Athletics, but performances like Saturday’s don’t help our cause. I was prepared to mentally erase the Nebraska game, and I think I’m managing it. I’m not so sure I’ll have the same success with the Wisconsin loss, especially after writing nearly 3400 words.