Rutgers' Greg Schiano crashes out on official after costly penalty in tough loss to USC

Rutgers was very, very close to pulling off an all-time upset against No. 12 USC on Saturday.

If it wasn’t for an ill-timed Pick Six in the third quarter and a questionable illegal substitution penalty, the Trojans may have been under the microscope a bit more Sunday morning. In the midst of the Scarlet Knights’ defeat, head coach Greg Schiano had one of the wilder crash outs of the year.

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Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano reacts after an NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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USC had the ball and was trying to drive down the field to get another score that likely would have sent more of the fans in Piscataway, New Jersey, home early. The referees called a play dead over an inadvertent whistle that set up another third-down play. It would have been 3rd-and-7 from USC’s own 28-yard line. But Rutgers was called for an illegal substitution that moved the ball up a few more yards.

Needless to say, Schiano was irate.

He was seen on the CBS broadcast giving one of the side judges an earful. One of his assistants tried desperately to keep Schiano off the field as he got animated. Schiano ended up knocking down the field marker in his tantrum.

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Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw an incomplete pass to force a fourth down. But he completed a 32-yard pass on his next attempt to keep the drive alive. USC would turn the ball over on downs but Rutgers couldn’t get anything together on their next possession.

The Trojans and Scarlet Knights traded touchdowns on their next two drives respectively. USC would hang on for the 42-35 win.

It was one of the best games Rutgers played all season after being trounced by UMass to start the year and then suffering a defeat against Boston College. The Scarlet Knights had 460 total yards in the loss. Quarterback Dylan Lonergan had three touchdowns and two interceptions.

USC’s King Miller rushed for 102 yards and a score.

Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan passes during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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The Trojans remained undefeated at 4-0 but have a lot to clean up if they think they’re going to be playoff bound by the time December rolls around.