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"Mike [Teel] is our quarterback," Schiano said of the senior from Oakland, N.J. "We're going to have our package for [backup QB] Jabu [Lovelace]. We'll get it back on track."

A despondent Teel spoke just above a whisper when a crowd of reporters encircled him in the locker room. He completed 25-of-40 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, but he now has five interceptions and just one score through two games. Rutgers has been outscored 68-19 in two games at Rutgers Stadium.

"[This game] was extremely tough for us, since we had good practices this week," Teel said. "It's uncharacteristic of us to play like this. We have no excuses. Everyone on this team knows we are better than our record. We will get through this, but there's work to do, and it's time for us to take the steps to improve on our mistakes."

Teel actually started the game quite well. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 48 yards on Rutgers' first drive, which culminated in a 34-yard field goal by San San Te that gave Rutgers a 3-0 lead.

But Schiano conceded that the early success passing the football caused his team to "get a little out of whack." The Knights became enamored with the passing game, and once they fell behind they had to keep throwing it.

Teel's first interception of the game led to a game-tying North Carolina field goal.

Trailing 17-6 in the second quarter, Rutgers mounted an impressive seven-play drive that moved the Knights to the Carolina 27. But on and second-and-2, Teel fired an off-balance shot into the end zone for Tim Brown. Kendric Burney picked it off and ran it back to the Carolina 34, killing the drive and triggering a collective groan from the crowd of more than 42,000.

Teel's third pick of the game came in the third quarter on a pass to Mason Robinson that slipped through the running back's hands and ended up in the mitts of Bruce Carter. In a highlight that made SportsCenter's top plays, Carter rumbled 66 yards the other way for a touchdown to push the lead to 30-6.

"I think Mike might be pressing a little a bit," Schiano said. "I need to sit down with him today and visit and try to get him to play the way he's capable of playing. It's not him alone. We're just a little bit off."

A year ago, the Knights had Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice to balance out the offense with the running game. But with Rice now playing for the Baltimore Ravens, this year's running game faces some serious questions.

Sophomore Kordell Young didn't start because of an injury to his right, non-surgically repaired, knee. Robinson carried 16 times for 82 yards and redshirt freshman Jourdan Brooks saw his first varsity time, adding 42 yards on seven carries.

If Young is not 100 percent, or is not able to play for an extended period, Rutgers could be in real trouble.

"I don't think he's out for an extended period of time," Schiano said. "Kordell was there in an emergency role. Kordell would have been the fourth running back."

In the meantime, Schiano repeated the mantra that his team would get it "back on track" next week at Navy, a mantra that seems aimed at committed and potential recruits as much as anyone.

"I know our recruits that have selected Rutgers selected it for a lot of reasons, and two wins or two losses isn't going to change that," Schiano said. "I know that this program is very strong, and we've had two bad outings, but the program is still the program."