Football-wise, Rutgers hasn’t been much to watch this season -- or any season of late, really. Come this weekend, though, they’ll at least be something to look at uniform-wise.
This Saturday afternoon, Rutgers will play host to Illinois, with the 2-2 Fighting Illini currently listed as anywhere from a four- to six-point favorite on the road. The university has designated the intraconference matchup as a “blackout” game and, in that vein, unveiled Tuesday afternoon a special helmet the Scarlet Knights will wear in Week 5.
Tradition has a new look #TheBirthplace #BlackoutIllinois pic.twitter.com/QOMUtTlilQ
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) October 1, 2018
Not bad, actually. And hopefully, at least for the football program’s sake, it will inspire the players to reach new heights -- or at least a higher low.
After opening the 2018 season with a 28-point win over Texas State, Rutgers has lost the last four games by a combined score of 173-47. They’ve lost seven of their last eight games dating back to November of last year, and have lost five straight in Big Ten play.
All told, the Knights are 7-22 in two-plus seasons under Chris Ash.