Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Why puppies?

Look: It's been a long season, and this 49-0 loss to 2-7 Michigan State was not pretty. That will be reflected in the report-card grades. But Rutgers fans no doubt want/need a little pick me up right now, so we've included these cute videos and photos of puppies. Enjoy!

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Craig Allen | Getty Images

Passing offense

Gio Rescigno completed just six of 16 passes for 40 yards and threw two interceptions, including one that was returned for a Michigan State touchdown. "Mookie," this fashionable Maltese, looks fabulous in a hat. GRADE: F.

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Rushing offense

QB Tylin Oden, who came into the game long after the outcome was no longer in doubt, was the team's leading rusher with 40 yards. It is hard to understand why Robert Martin, who is clearly the team's running back, had only eight carries. But these husky puppies sure are playful. GRADE: D.

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Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Passing defense

Michigan State quarterback Tyler O'Connor completed 10 of 15 passes for 141 with three touchdowns, including two on what appeared to be the identical play to tight end Josiah Price. Here is a German Shepherd puppy. So serious! GRADE: D.

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NJ Advance Media photo

Rushing defense

Rutgers gave up 277 rushing yards on 50 carries, and while it's easy to point at the offense as the center of the team's woes, this team won't win another game until it becomes competent at stopping the run. Until then, here's Albie! GRADE: F.

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NJ Advance Media file photo

Special teams

The much-criticized Rutgers special teams were solid in coverage, but there was a bad roughing the punter penalty and the inability to consistently put kickoffs into the end zone is a problem. These pit bull puppies just want to say hello. GRADE: C.

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)

Chris Ash admitted he was surprised by his team's poor effort and then fully accepted blame for what happened. It is hard to find even one thing Rutgers did well, and that's a reflection of the coaching staff. Here are puppies learning to howl. GRADE: F.

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NJ Advance Media file photo

Effort

Maybe the Scarlet Knights were just due for a day like this given how hard they've played for much of the season. Still, they looked flat at the start and, once Michigan State opened a quick 21-0 lead, that didn't change. GRADE: D.

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NJ Advance Media file photo

Improvement

After back-to-back games in which the Scarlet Knights had a shot to win in the fourth quarter, this performance felt like it moved everything back to ground zero. That's not the case, but all the strides this team has made this season were hard to find. Black Labradors. GRADE: D.

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Overall

What other grade can it be? Rutgers and Michigan State both entered the game with 0-6 league records, and one team won by seven touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights have two games left to change the narrative of the season, but that won't be easy. Sad puppies. GRADE: F.

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Penn State photo

Up next: Penn State

You want to make everyone feel warm and happy about the season, then this is the game to steal in front of the home fans. That is likely too much to expect from a two-win team against a resurgent Penn State, however. And no: Those aren't puppies.

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Michigan State recap

NJ.com reports recap the 49-0 loss to Michigan State. Keith Sargeant wonders: Is Gio Rescigno healthy? And if not, why is he playing?

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LISTEN: Ep. 6 of NJ.com's Rutgers Football podcast

November 9, 2006: Rutgers 28, Louisville 25. The Scarlet Knights had never beaten a team ranked as high as No. 3 in the country until this game. Now, as we near the 10-year anniversary of the greatest win in Rutgers Football history, we go behind the scenes and take you back to that memorable week.

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