Greg Schiano is officially on the hot seat at Rutgers, and honestly, can you blame anyone? He opened Year Seven of his second stint at Rutgers with what’s being called perhaps the worst loss of his entire coaching career. We’re talking a 37-21 defeat, at home, against UMass. Seriously, UMass!
The Absolute Shock of That UMass Loss
Let’s talk about that UMass squad for a second because this isn’t just a loss, it’s a monumental collapse. Rutgers lost to a team that was a ridiculous 29-point underdog heading into tonight’s game. Twenty-nine points! Remember UMass? They went 0-12 last year. They were widely viewed as one of the worst teams in the entire nation, period. And get this: UMass hadn’t beaten an FBS opponent since 2023. Yet, they roll into Rutgers, on the road, and beat them easily. You read that right, easily. How does that even happen?
Schiano’s Wildly Tumultuous History
This isn’t Schiano’s first rodeo with high stakes. The 60-year-old coach first took over Rutgers way back in 2001. Back then, the Scarlet Knights were a total bottom-feeder program, but Schiano built them up. He actually led them to an incredible 11-2 record in 2006, earning him college football’s Coach of the Year honors. That was a serious comeback story! But then, after the 2011 season, he left for the NFL to coach the Buccaneers. That stint? Not so hot. He was fired after just two seasons in Tampa Bay, both ending with last-place finishes in the NFC South. Rough.
This Second Stint Is Fizzling Out Fast
So, Schiano comes back to Rutgers in 2020, right? The hope was he’d recapture that old magic, bring them back to glory. But the truth is, he just hasn’t achieved the same kind of success in this second stint. Not even close. And now, opening this season with perhaps the worst loss of his entire career, at home, to a 29-point underdog? It’s not looking good for the veteran coach. The hot seat is blazing for Schiano, and after a performance like that, who knows what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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