Schiano says Rutgers will ‘be a good football team’ after stunning opening loss to underdog UMass

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers University football coach Greg Schiano admits his team was not prepared for their opening game against underdog UMass. The Scarlet Knights suffered a 37-21 loss on Thursday night, ending the U.S.'s longest losing streak at 16 games. UMass, a 29.5-point underdog, outscored Rutgers by a 16-point margin and forced five turnovers, marking their first victory over a Power Four opponent since 2022.

Schiano, the most successful coach in Rutgers' football history, claimed his team was not ready to play. He attributed the poor performance to inadequate preparation, despite a successful training camp. The Minutemen, who averaged only 11.1 points per game last season, were the lowest-scoring FBS school in the nation. Schiano acknowledged being outcoached by his former defensive coordinator, Joe Harasmyiak.

The Rutgers team was outplayed by a UMass roster that included 56 new players, 30 transfers and 26 freshmen. The Scarlet Knights' lone bright spot was the performance of AP All-America second team wide receiver KJ Duff, who finished with nine receptions and three touchdowns for 196 receiving yards. Despite the loss, Schiano remains optimistic, stating, "We're going to chop our way out of this and be a good football team."