PISCATAWAY -- How about that start by Rutgers.
Promises of a new-and-improved team certainly held up in the first quarter against No. 8 Washington.
The defense forced two punts -- including a game-opening three-and-out -- on its first two possessions, and the offense scored scored a touchdown on its first drive.
Rutgers didn't force Washington to punt until the ninth drive of the 2016 season-opener, which started the third quarter. Washington scored on six of its first eight, mixing in a missed field goal and a turnover on downs.
But the more impressive year-over-year change was on offense.