Weeks before the start of the 2025 season, in the midst of training camp, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano warned that his team’s defense was a “work in progress.”

Three months later, there was still a lot to fix.

The Scarlet Knights had a disastrous season on defense, which was capitalized during a gut-wrenching 40-36 loss to Penn State on Saturday that ended their season.

Rutgers gave up 509 total yards and 36 points on 10 defensive drives, conceding 9.4 yards per play as the Nittany Lions racked up five plays of 40-plus yards. The visitors rushed for 300 yards and three touchdowns on three carries (9.1 yards per carry), getting whatever they wanted on the ground.

“Overall, we didn’t stop the run,” Schiano said. “It’s hard to win football games what you can’t stop the run, and yet

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