PISCATAWAY -- Who would have throught a 16-point loss would inspire so much hope around a football program?
But that's what happened after Rutgers, as a four-touchdown underdog, was more competitive than expected against No. 8 Washington in the season opener last Friday.
Yes, the Huskies rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to prevail 30-14 at High Point Solutions Stadium. But even Chris Petersen conceded that Rutgers surprisingly matched his squad from a physical standpoint.
"I thought Rutgers did a nice job,'' the Washington coach said. "They played more physical than we did.