There were 14 seconds left to play when Illinois kicker David Olano lined up for the 58-yard, game-winning field goal. But his attempt to befriend the 16 mph winds at Rutgers’ home SHI Stadium failed as the football strayed left of the uprights.
Not that it mattered.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano called a timeout to ice Olano before the ball was snapped, and Illinois coach Bret Bielema seized the chance to send his offense back on the field amid the unfriendly kicking conditions. On fourth-and-13, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer hit a 40-yard pass to wide receiver Pat Bryant for the score and 36-30 lead with four seconds remaining.
A quick game of hot potato by the Rutgers kick return team ended in a safety and the 38-30 loss. It extends Rutgers’ loss streak to AP top-25 ranked opponents to 41 games. In each of the first 40 matchups, Rutgers lost by an average of 29.8 points.
PAT BRYANT HOUSE CALL 🤯
He scores on fourth down with 4 second left for @Illinifootball ‼️#B1GFootball on Peacock 💻 pic.twitter.com/7VmxZztAqw
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 23, 2024
The Scarlet Knights haven’t beaten an AP top-25 team in 15 years; their last such victory was on Nov. 12, 2009, with a 31-0 crushing of then-No. 23 USF. Rutgers went 9-4 that year, ranking as high as No. 25. The Scarlet Knights were ranked in one season since, reaching No. 18 in 2012.
The only other Power 4 team that hasn’t beaten an AP-ranked opponent in the 2020s is Nebraska, which has lost all such matchups since 2016.
With the loss, the Scarlet Knights (6-5) are no longer on track to produce their best season since 2014, when they went 8-5 overall. Since then, Rutgers posted one winning season: It came last year with a 7-6 overall record and Pinstripe Bowl victory.
Required reading
(Photo: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)
