(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — This is the offense Rutgers expected to see.

Armed with Leonte Carroo, a healthy Andre Patton and the return of Janarion Grant, Rutgers spent 46 percent of its snaps in shotgun during Saturday's 41-38 come-from-behind victory at Maryland.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — On the game-defining drive Saturday night, Maryland started with the ball at Rutgers' 45-yard line and 2:54 left.

Running back Brandon Ross rushed for a 7-yard gain on first down, then quarterback C.J. Brown kept on a zone read, bringing up a third-and-1 with Rutgers leading, 41-38.

The following are players' accounts of what happened on the final two plays and Rutgers' possession, giving Rutgers a season-ending victory and securing a bowl berth:
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — For a while, it looked like the apprentice would outclass the teacher.

But thanks to a 25-point comeback in the second half Saturday, Ralph Friedgen got the last laugh against Maryland, his alma mater and ex-employer, in Rutgers’ season-ending 41-38 victory at Byrd Stadium.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — After 41 career regular season games, Gary Nova's final one in a Rutgers uniform is only four days away.

Like most quarterbacks, Nova has a compartmentalized memory of individual plays, series and games. I asked him Monday about Oct. 1, 2011, when he emerged on the big stage for the first time at Syracuse.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

How did Rutgers manage only 234 all-purpose yards and three points — both not even season lows — on Saturday at No. 11 Michigan State?

A combination of predictable play calling, lack of different personnel groupings and ineffectiveness passing did the Scarlet Knights in.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Don't look now, but Rutgers' pass efficiency defense numbers are about 30 slots better this year than 2013's program-worst finish.

Part of it is conference culture — you wouldn't mistake the Big Ten for the gun-slinging AAC — but head coach Kyle Flood has a reason that's easier to quantify.

"I think having another birthday has helped the secondary," Flood said Tuesday. "I think that's always the case with a player. Guys like Anthony Cioffi, Nadir Barnwell, Delon Stephenson having another year in the system and being able to stay as healthy as you can. That year of experience and maturity helps them grow."

Rutgers' pass numbers are down across the board this season, when it has faced 100 fewer passes and surrendered 17 fewer touchdowns in the same span.

	Attempts	Completions	INTs	Pass yards	Touchdowns
2013	410	265	7	3,285	29
2014	306	178	7	2,260	12

Players say a simplified scheme and continuity in the back end have paid off. Eleven different players started in the secondary a year ago.

"You get a chemistry," corner Gareef Glashen said. "Guys are more comfortable with each other. We know what each other's going to do based on practice. It's just believing in the man next to you and behind you."

That same chemistry will be tested Saturday, when it's uncertain whether Barnwell, who has started six games, will play with an upper-body injury. 

That would leave Glashen, Cioffi and freshman Dre Boggs against future pro Connor Cook. Stephenson could slide down to the line of scrimmage if needed, Flood said.

Last year, Rutgers faced four NFL draft picks at quarterback, including Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr, who went in the first two rounds. 

By Saturday, it will have seen three QBs in the top 50 in passing efficiency in 2014. Starter Gary Nova ranks 19th nationally.

(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers brought some of its training camp Club Ice in smaller doses to the team's meeting room earlier this season, when head coach Kyle Flood demanded Janarion Grant's presence front and center.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — He likely won't be dealing with Buffalo-like conditions, but Gary Nova is already planning ahead for potentially freezing weather Saturday at Michigan State.

For starters, he may wear a glove on his throwing hand — and off hand — for the first time on the road during his Rutgers career.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Lots of 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end). Few gimmicks (save one reverse). A halted three-game losing streak.

That's what offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen brought Saturday against Indiana, using a season-low nine formations in Rutgers' 45-23 victory against Indiana.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — The last time Josh Hicks remembers falling backward on a run was during his junior year of high school. And it took two guys to do so.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Entering the season, Indiana featured what many thought would be the Big Ten's most explosive offense, averaging more than 500 yards in 2013.

But versatile quarterback Nate Sudfeld suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery, and now coach Kevin Wilson is on to third-stringer Zander Diamont, a true freshman.

Rutgers' defensive players this week broke down Indiana's top three influential offensive players.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Through nearly four unpredictable and, at times, tumultuous seasons, the most visible player in Rutgers history has heard the outside shouts about poor play and telling him to transfer.

But Gary Nova has also been the target, according to one teammate, of a trend all too common for high-profile athletes: death threats.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Kyle Flood isn't sure if Gary Nova's his old self yet, but he said the returns are far more positive than when he was a game-time decision following what was listed as a lower-body injury.

Nova is probable for Saturday's game against Indiana after a questionable ruling last week, when he had one scheduled practice off.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — As November drags on, more and more draft-eligible juniors or redshirt sophomores will gauge their stock to see if early entry is a viable option.

Leonte Carroo, arguably Rutgers' top candidate, hasn't spoken publicly about leaving early for the NFL Draft, but two analysts are lukewarm about his prospects this year.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto 
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Kyle Flood thinks the issue is bigger than only one player, but he's moving freshman Josh Hicks back to running back to make sure.

Hicks, who spent the last month at safety, could be part of a four-back committee along with classmate Robert Martin, who led Rutgers in rushing and touches last week against Wisconsin.
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(Courtesy of the Yankovich family)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Four cameramen, two audio technicians and a handful of producers and editors will bring you the story of Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo, which airs on Big Ten Network's "The Journey" on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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PISCATAWAY — On the same day Rutgers announced Ruhann Peele will be suspended for the rest of the season, running back Paul James met the media for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in September.

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(AP file photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Stemming from his pending legal case on simple assault, Rutgers receiver Ruhann Peele has been suspended from on-field activity for the rest of the season, head coach Kyle Flood announced Tuesday via press release.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

For the first time this season, Leonte Carroo was unseated as Rutgers' top target-eater. The culprit? A sophomore who played only one offensive snap the week before.
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — A full-fledged timeshare was expected, and that's exactly what Rutgers' fanbase saw Saturday from its backfield in a shutout loss to Wisconsin.

Named a co-starter for the first time a week ago with Rutgers' run game in a rut, true freshman Robert Martin led its running backs with 25 snaps and 13 carries. 
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(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — The injury was clear. The insult came later.

Rutgers continued to stick with a visibly hobbled Gary Nova on Saturday despite an offense stuck in High Point Solutions Stadium’s rain-soaked turf.

But with backup Chris Laviano on the sideline until the third quarter, it didn’t matter who was under center in another lopsided loss, this time a 37-0 decision to Wisconsin, its first shutout since 2002 against Notre Dame.
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