The Greg Schiano era at Rutgers may be on its last legs after just one game. The Scarlet Knights suffered a shocking defeat in their season opener, falling to UMass despite being 29-point favorites. The loss snapped UMass's 16-game losing streak and sent shockwaves through the college football world.
William "Pop" Watson III torched Rutgers' defense, throwing for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Schiano's squad looked unprepared and uninspired from the opening kickoff, and the head coach didn't sugarcoat it in his postgame press conference.
"I didn't have [the players] ready to play," Schiano admitted. "I'm in charge of all the coaches. I'm in charge of all the players. So when you come out and lay an egg like we did opening night. We thought we had a great training camp. Never saw it coming, and you know we're doing this a long time. Never saw it coming."
That honesty hasn't earned Schiano any sympathy from the fan base. In fact, Rutgers supporters are calling for his immediate dismissal, with many taking to social media to express their frustration.
- "This is embarrassing.. fire Schiano asap," one fan posted.
- "Greg Schiano will likely be fired after 2026 no doubt about it barring unforeseen events especially after last season missing a bowl game," another wrote.
- "FIRE SCHIANO TODAY … AND DROP THE PROGRAM," a third declared.
- "Fire Schiano! He's terrible and always has been terrible. No back pay nothing, especially how he left us last time before signing day," a fourth added.
Schiano's second stint in Piscataway has been a far cry from his first. During his initial tenure, he transformed Rutgers from a 2-win doormat into an 11-2 powerhouse, winning four straight bowl games from 2006 to 2009. But since returning in 2020, the Scarlet Knights have struggled to recapture that magic.
Outside of back-to-back 7-6 seasons in 2023 and 2024, Rutgers has finished below .500 every other year under Schiano. The UMass loss is a new low, and the calls for his job are growing louder by the minute.
Rutgers still has time to turn things around, but the schedule doesn't get any easier once conference play begins. The Scarlet Knights will face a gauntlet of Big Ten opponents, and if Schiano can't rally his troops, his tenure could come to an abrupt end.
This isn't the first time a coach has faced such scrutiny after an early-season disaster. Just last week, TCU fans were calling for Sonny Dykes' job after a Week 0 stumble. And with the scorching heat threatening Week 1 openers, the pressure is on across the country.
For now, Schiano remains at the helm, but the clock is ticking. Rutgers fans have seen enough, and they want change — immediately.
