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Rutgers football has run through what is likely to be the toughest part of their season – three ranked opponents in as many weeks. They emerged banged, beat-up and beaten but with bowl eligibility very much within reach.
And, for what it is worth, all three of the teams they’ve faced and lost to in the last three weeks are all currently ranked within the top 10 of the latest USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
This tough stretch certainly leaves Rutgers, 3-3 (0-3 Big Ten) reeling a bit. But because of their sweep of the out-of-conference schedule at the start of the season, they are still very much in the mix for a solid finish to the season.
Only one of their remaining six opponents is currently ranked.
“I don’t really think of it as six games. I think of it as one game. We have one game, and that’s Northwestern next week. We have a lot of work between now and then,” Schiano told reporters following Saturday’s loss.
“When I addressed the team in my own head I’m saying, ‘All right, we got good things early [in the] game.’ We got to get everybody feeling a little bit better, we got to figure out what we can do better – who else can we fit into this mix.
“We have a lot of good players. We need to get everybody playing. Everybody that can contribute has to be playing. We’re moving in that direction. Everybody’s got to help.”
It has certainly been a tough go of things recently but in theory, the schedule loosens up a bit. Even with injuries over the past two weeks to the likes of wide receiver Bo Melton, wide receiver Aron Cruickshank, quarterback Noah Vedral and safety Christian Izien all banging up and potentially sidelining crucial pieces to the team.
This Saturday, Rutgers plays 2-3 Northwestern, who are coming off a bye week. Then Rutgers has their own bye week and will then travel to play 2-5 Illinois.
Winning one or both of those games would be a big step towards the Scarlet Knights getting a bowl berth for the first time since 2014. Or simply, it would be a big step in turning around a season where there have been struggles as of late.
“The good thing is I think we have a team and a group of guys that is unselfish and that wants nothing more than to win these games,” Schiano said. “They’re going to do whatever we ask them to do. That’s a trait that as a head coach you’re very, very appreciative of.”