It’s no secret in the college football world that the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have been the laughingstock of the Big Ten basically since they joined the conference back in 2014, and the team is already living up to that reputation in just the first game of its 2022 season with an absolutely embarrassing series of plays against Boston College.
At first, things seemed to be going well for the Scarlet Knights. In the first quarter, Rutgers drove the ball deep into Boston College territory and had a first-and-goal from the Eagles’ 10-yard line. The Scarlet Knights even got two yards closer as a two-yard rush made it 2nd-and-goal from the 8-yard line.
Unfortunately for Rutgers, that’s when everything went downhill.
The Scarlet Knights committed back-to-back penalties totaling 25 yards, threw an incomplete pass on second down, were called for a false start, then gave up a 5-yard sack on third down. Suddenly, it was fourth-and-goal from the Boston College 43-yard line. And Rutgers had no choice but to punt.
Rutgers punted in a goal-to-go situation in the 1st quarter.
There has been exactly 1 punt on a goal-to-go situation by an FBS team in each of the last 4 seasons. The only other Big Ten team to punt on a 4th-and-goal in the last decade was Illinois in 2020 against Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/IxcOqzowWW
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 3, 2022
Naturally, the embarrassing series of plays caught the attention of the college football world, which blasted Rutgers on Twitter.
Rutgers getting beat up on this app https://t.co/BXLyZIVIpo
— Bob Jordan (@bobjordanAPP) September 3, 2022
$1 billion a season isn't enough https://t.co/NTqQncivqs
— Jason Gay (@jasongay) September 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/1566108746165657600?s=20&t=QRmVqduEY-IEMm6dGuyrRA
Between the special teams blunders and the first and goal that ended in the punt, it felt like Rutgers wanted to give BC this game.
But now the Scarlet Knights are down just a point and maybe actually have some momentum.
So a long way to go at The Heights.
— Adam Kurkjian (@AdamKurkjian) September 3, 2022
Rutgers had to punt on 4th and goal. If something weirder than that happens this season I’ll be surprised.
— Ryan Stanzel Checkmark (@rstanzel) September 3, 2022
Minnesota is ALWAYS involved. Some way some how. https://t.co/bx0r5BqdhT
— Jeremy Lagos (@Lagos_Jeremy) September 3, 2022
Maybe ESPN was onto something when they let the Big Ten walk. https://t.co/H5uCIv8X4M
— kevin harrish (@Kevinish) September 3, 2022
If Rutgers is looking for any sort of silver lining, the team downed the fourth-and-goal punt at the three-yard line. So at least it was a great punt!
