#Rutgers ripped by Indiana in harsh Big Ten reminder

If the stunning season-opening upset created unrealistic expectations, then Saturday’s home debut provided a harsh reminder of reality.

It’s not going to happen overnight for Greg Schiano and Rutgers.

Coming off the thrilling win at Michigan State that snapped a 21-game Big Ten losing streak, the Scarlet Knights returned home looking to build on that momentum. In front of just family members at near-empty SHI Stadium, it lasted about a quarter. No. 17 Indiana and dynamic quarterback Michael Penix Jr. outclassed Rutgers, scoring 24 unanswered points in a commanding 37-21 victory in Piscataway, N.J.

Quarterback Noah Vedral threw three interceptions — two costly ones in the span of 1:43 in the second quarter when a one-point Riutgers lead quickly turned into a 13-point deficit. A week after producing a whopping seven takeaways, Rutgers’ defense was unable to generate any, and the offense struggled to move the ball.

The Scarlet Knights (1-1) got within eight, 23-15, after their best possession of the game, a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Kay’Ron Adams’ 37-yard touchdown run, their longest play of the game. But Penix responded quickly, ripping through the Rutgers defense, and pushing the lead back to double digits with his second touchdown pass of the game, a two-yard strike to Peyton Hendershot with 3:56 left in the third quarter.

Like the opener, Rutgers started well. It forced consecutive 3-and-outs on defense and went ahead on a well-placed Vedral 23-yard touchdown pass to Bo Melton midway through the first quarter.

From there, though, Indiana (2-0) owned the rest of the opening half. Rutgers mustered zero net yards of offense from that point until intermission while committing two turnovers. The Hoosiers scored on four of their next five possessions, converting both turnovers into touchdowns and could have been up more if not for several drops and a botched snap. In the first half, Indiana outgained Rutgers, 140-60.

The game turned on Vedral’s first interception. On third down, he held onto the ball too long, was hit as he threw and Indiana’s Jonathan King was there waiting for the carom. Three plays later, Penix scored from a yard out.

On the very next Rutgers possession, Vedral had plenty of time to throw, but without anyone open, forced a pass that was picked off by Jaylin Williams Penix made Rutgers pay again, finding Ty Fryfogle from 15 yards out.

The Scarlet Knights didn’t stay down, moving the ball better after halftime and coming up with a few big stops. It wasn’t nearly enough. Indiana might be a Big Ten East title contender, and Rutgers is just getting started under Schiano.