Rutgers · Big TenRutgers weighs AJ Surace as Dylan Lonergan remains week-to-week
Lonergan left the Massachusetts loss and did not dress against Boston College before Rutgers hosts 3-0 USC on Sept. 19.
SEP 15, 2026
The Pate State · Editorial IllustrationRutgers’ record entering Big Ten play
USC’s unbeaten record
Rutgers’ opening deficit against USC
01 · The NewsRutgers’ quarterback call comes before USC
Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan is viewed as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury ahead of the Scarlet Knights’ Big Ten opener against 3-0, No. 12 USC on Saturday, Sept. 19, leaving an 0-2 team to weigh AJ Surace for a second consecutive start. On3’s Pete Nakos reported the timetable for Lonergan, whose availability remains unsettled.
Lonergan left Rutgers’ 37-21 loss to Massachusetts on Sept. 3 and did not dress for the 28-21 loss at Boston College on Sept. 11, his former school. Rutgers has not disclosed the injury, said how long Lonergan might miss or confirmed whether he or Surace will start against USC.
Coach Greg Schiano backed Rutgers’ quarterbacks after Surace replaced Lonergan, saying, “We can win with these quarterbacks.”
Surace completed 24 of 36 passes for 307 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions through Rutgers’ first two games. In his start against Boston College, he threw three touchdown passes and four interceptions. That turnover trade gives Rutgers little room against a USC team that scored at least 39 points in each of its first three games.
Rutgers opened as a 25.5-point underdog for the home game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Scarlet Knights have never posted a winning Big Ten record, and their first conference game now puts Surace’s early production against one of the country’s unbeaten, ranked teams.
Lonergan’s status remains open. Until Rutgers makes the call, Surace is the quarterback carrying the offense into Big Ten play.
02 · The StakesThe margin for error
That decision now carries an immediate cost. A loss to USC would put Rutgers at 0-3 before its second Big Ten game and make the quarterback situation an early test of whether the Scarlet Knights can recover after last season’s 5-7 finish and 2-7 conference record. USC is 3-0 after beating San José State, Fresno State and Louisiana and was listed No. 12 in the preseason AP Top 25.
“We can win with these quarterbacks.”
Greg Schiano03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Who starts at quarterback?
Rutgers has not confirmed whether Dylan Lonergan or AJ Surace will start against USC.
Can Surace avoid another turnover-heavy outing?
Surace threw three touchdown passes and four interceptions in his start against Boston College, while USC scored at least 39 points in each of its first three games.