Rutgers-centric Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 9, 2019
By Ed Stein
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-6, 0-5)
Last Week vs Liberty: Holy Moses, Rutgers won a second game in 2019. It was actually an upset as the Scarlet Knights entered the contest as a 7.5 point underdog to visiting Liberty University. It is almost unfathomable that a Big Ten school would be a home dog to Liberty, let alone by over a touchdown.
Nevertheless, Rutgers was able to secure a 44-34 victory. It wasn’t easy. Liberty scored 3:17 into the game, on there opening drive. A collective sigh of anguish from Scarlet Knights nation was let out, in a “here we go again” moment. This time it was different as interim head coach Nunzio Campanile got his team together and responded with a touchdown of their own
As a matter of fact, each team scored their first three times on offense, leading to a 21-21 tie at the half. Rutgers drove the field on the opening possession of the second half to take their first lead of the game. They never looked back. Quarterback Johnny Langan had a breakout performance. The redshirt freshman completed 15-of-21 passes (71 percent) for 192 yards and two TDs. He also ran 21 times for 118 yards and another score.
This Week at Illinois: Early in the season, this looked like a game Rutgers could win. Illinois was struggling almost as much as RU the past few seasons. Two weeks ago, the Fighting Illini upset then-undefeated Wisconsin and followed up last week with a 24-6 road win at Purdue.
Lovie Smith‘s team is on a roll and believe in themselves for the first time in a long time. Rutgers defense will have to make a stand against the run if the Scarlet Knights are to have a shot in this one.