Greg Schiano knows Ohio State football is a 'jump up in class' for Rutgers

Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
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Coming off Rutgers' 27-10 loss to Iowa to begin its Big Ten schedule, coach Greg Schiano knows the Scarlet Knights are going to have to take another "jump up in class" on Saturday.

"If Iowa's one-A," Schiano said Monday, "then Ohio State's one."

Ever since he returned to Rutgers in 2020 after three seasons as the Buckeyes' associate head coach and defensive coordinator from 2016-18, Schiano has not been able to lead the Scarlet Knights to a win against Ohio State.

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In their last two meetings, Ohio State has outscored Rutgers 101-40, continuing an eight-game win streak dating back to the first ever meeting between the two teams in 2014.

Having experience inside the Ohio State football program, Schiano said he's unsure whether a matchup with the Buckeyes can be a "measuring stick" for Rutgers moving forward.

"It depends on how we play," Schiano said. "It'd be a great measuring stick if we play well. But if you play poorly against a team like Ohio State, it really gets exposed.

"You play poorly against a good team, you might not look great. You play poorly against them and it's a matter of how many."

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Through the first four games, Rutgers has averaged 367.3 yards of offense and 28.5 points per game led by quarterback Evan Simon as Noah Vedral continues to work his way back from injury.

Defensively, the Scarlet Knights have allowed 17.3 points and 249.5 yards per game, the latter sitting No. 5 in the Big Ten conference behind Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan, and one spot ahead of Ohio State.

Heading into Saturday's matchup Schiano knows how his team is viewed, coming in as 41-point underdogs against Ohio State per BetOnline.

"We get where we are right now," Schiano said. "Doesn't mean we're always going to be here. As a matter of fact, we're not always going to be in this position. But it takes time."

Greg Schiano calls C.J. Stroud an 'elite-level quarterback'

In Ohio State's trip to Piscataway, New Jersey in 2021, Rutgers had a tough time against quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Stroud completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 330 yards and five touchdowns in Ohio State's 52-13 road win against the Scarlet Knights.

When asked about facing Stroud again, Schiano said the Ohio State quarterback has only improved.

"I think just with experience, right? He's been through big football games," Schiano said. "He's seen a lot more defenses, including his own. What he's going against now is some high-level stuff. So when you go against that every day in practice, I think iron sharpens iron a little bit. So yeah, he's an elite-level quarterback for sure."

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Greg Schiano prepares for Rutgers vs. Ohio State