Rutgers has played 13 true freshmen through five weeks this season. The two-deep last week against Ohio State included nine of them on offense and defense.
At 1-4, Rutgers is essentially playing out the string in the hopes that fans and recruits see signs of progress heading into what figures to be a pivotal Year 3 in the Chris Ash era.
Still, with a winnable game on the horizon -- a trip to face an Illinois team that ranks just one spot ahead of last-place Rutgers in the Big Ten power rankings -- the Scarlet Knights should do whatever it takes to snap a 16-game conference losing streak.