Overview
- Schiano removed Smith, Sparber and Ferrell on Thursday after a 5-7 season that fell short of a bowl game.
- Rutgers allowed an FBS-worst 7.6 yards per play and a nation-high 15 plays of 50-plus yards, including 7.9 yards per snap in Big Ten games.
- The defense finished 126th in total defense at 432.8 yards per game, 115th in scoring defense at 31.83 points per game, and 129th in yards per rush at 6.79.
- Oregon piled up 750 yards in a 56-10 rout, and Penn State gained 509 yards with roughly 300 rushing in the season finale.
- Schiano took over defensive play-calling midseason after the Oregon loss and begins a coordinator search, with Smith and Sparber due mitigated buyouts while Ferrell was not retained after his contract expired.