Rutgers Football Defeated by Illinois 38-31

Rutgers football suffered a heartbreaking 38-31 loss to No. 25 Illinois after head coach Greg Schiano called a timeout just before a 58-yard field goal attempt, which allowed Illinois to reassess their strategy. The timeout, intended to ice the kicker, backfired when Illinois opted to go for a touchdown instead, resulting in a game-winning 40-yard pass from Luke Altmyer to Pat Bryant with only four seconds left. Schiano expressed regret over the timing of the timeout, stating, 'Retrospectively, I wish I hadn’t,' acknowledging the decision's impact on the game's outcome. This loss snapped Rutgers' two-game winning streak and left them with a 6-5 record for the season. Schiano faced significant criticism on social media for the late-game decision, which contributed to the team's disappointing finish on Senior Day. Illinois improved to 8-3 with the victory, matching their most wins in the Bret Bielema era.