Rutgers coach Greg Schiano cost his team a game Saturday, effectively by trying to ice the opposing kicker.
The Scarlet Knights suffered a demoralizing 36-31 loss to Illinois at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. on Saturday thanks to a Schiano decision that backfired horribly. Rutgers had a 31-30 lead over the Fighting Illini with 14 seconds to go, and had forced Illinois into a 4th and 13 from the Rutgers 40. The only two options for Illinois were to attempt a 58-yard field goal into the wind for the lead or try to get a first down with little time left and no timeouts.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema opted for the field goal, which wound up not being all that close. Schiano, however, outthought himself and called timeout just before the kick in an apparent bid to ice Illinois kicker David Olano.
#Rutgers Football HC Greg Schiano called a timeout to ice #Illinois before a 58-yard FG attempt.
Bret Bielema saw the kick had no chance and decided not to kick the FG after the timeout. He went for it on 4th and 13 on the 40 and scored a TD to win the game.
— Rutgers Scarlet Knights | The Knight Report (@RutgersRivals) November 23, 2024
The timeout gave Bielema some extra time to think things through after seeing Olano miss, and he opted to send the Illinois offense back on the field. On the very next play, quarterback Luke Altmeyer found wide receiver Pat Bryant on a slant route for a 40-yard touchdown to give the Illini a 38-31 lead that they would not relinquish.
PAT BRYANT SCORES THE GAME-WINNING TD ON 4TH DOWN! 😱@IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/ndso5u3X8B
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 23, 2024
To be fair to Schiano, Bryant still had over 20 yards to go to find the end zone when he made the catch, and there were four Rutgers defenders ahead of him that could have made a tackle. Even if they had done that, though, Illinois would have had just enough time to attempt a much more straightforward field goal, so his move had already backfired.
Olano is a good kicker and has made a 50-yarder this season. Even so, if you’re Schiano, letting a college kicker try to convert from 58 yards into the wind is a risk you should be willing to take every time. Instead, he gave Illinois a chance to think better of that decision, and that is precisely what they did.
Schiano is infamous for some controversial tactics he has used in the past against opponents. Saturday’s move is one that Bielema and Illinois might be privately thanking him for.
