Rutgers and Indiana delivered one of the strangest plays of the season in a game that spiraled into chaos late. After a series of brutal setbacks, including a 14-yard sack and more yardage lost, Rutgers faced a third and 23. From there, they unleashed a wild, multi-lateral play straight out of a backyard game. The ball changed hands nine times, with players chucking laterals, dodging tackles, and bouncing around the field. The Rutgers quarterback touched the ball three separate times in the sequence, juking defenders and resetting the madness each time. At one point, a lineman even got involved, catching a lateral after a big hit in a fat-on-fat collision that drew laughs and groans.
Eventually the ball found daylight and Rutgers looked like they might actually score. A key ankle swipe by Indiana’s number four saved a touchdown, and Rutgers’ number 15 eventually let the ball fly one last time. That’s where it all fell apart. The final toss to a teammate was ruled a forward pass, bringing the play back. The highlight was electric but officially wiped out. Rutgers’ number 15 was visibly upset, even in tears, but it was a no-win situation from the start. The coach had to calm him down, reminding him it wasn’t a scripted play and wasn’t going to change the game’s outcome. Fun to watch, but nothing counted.