The Rutgers University football program committed six turnovers and totaled minus-nine yards of rushing yards Saturday in a 40-22 loss to the University of Connecticut in a Big East Conference game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. The loss dropped the Scarlet Knights (8-4, 4-3 Big East) out of the league-title race and erased any chances at a Bowl Championship Series bowl berth.
For a few weeks, bowl projections had Rutgers earning the Big East's automatic qualifying spot for the BCS' Orange Bowl. Now, that it is no longer possible for that to happen, my best guess is that the Scarlet Knights will be asked to play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, Dec. 31.
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If so, Rutgers would play a member of the Big 12 Conference. Likely candidates could be: Baylor University, the University of Missouri or the University of Texas.
Last year, Syracuse University earned an invitation to the inaugural game that featured the Orange defeating Kansas State University, which more than likely will not be invited back.
Meanwhile, the Orange are still searching for their sixth victory that would allow them to become bowl eligible -- On Saturday, SU lost to the University of Cincinnati, 30-13.