Hosting the top-ranked team in the country in Ohio State last October, Rutgers was a 23-point underdog at kickoff.
Consider it useful perspective when you read the next sentence.
Rutgers is a 26-point underdog for its visit to No. 14 Washington in Saturday's season-opener, according to VegasInsider.com. The point spread has gone up from 22 since the betting line originally opened.
In May, Rutgers opened as a 20.5-point underdog to Washington as listed by the 5Dimes Sportsbook.
One of the final indignities of the Kyle Flood era was when Rutgers opened the final week of the 2015 regular season as a two-point home underdog against two-win Maryland.