Rutgers and Greg Schiano are still working to finalize his return as head football coach, and that remains the objective for both sides nearly three weeks after the initial meeting between the sides.

But the process has dragged on longer than expected and talks have moved toward an uncertain future in recent days. Many in the Schiano camp remain concerned or confused the deal has not been struck, particularly after what was perceived to be a breakthrough in negotiations last weekend. And it is unclear whether Rutgers has enough support from its Board of Governors to approve Schiano’s hire and the historic financial investment in its football program it would entail.

As a result, while neither side has left the table, behind-the-scenes whispers have begun about what a “Plan B” for Rutgers, and Schiano, would look like if the deal were to fall apart in the coming days.

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Two names have emerged as potential backup targets for Rutgers athletics director Patrick Hobbs if Schiano is not the hire, several individuals with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media: Michigan linebackers coach Anthony Campanile and Los Angeles Rams assistant coordinator for offense Jedd Fisch, both New Jersey natives.

Fisch, 43, is a Hanover Park High graduate who has previously expressed heavy interest in the Rutgers job to donors and school officials, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. He did not play football – he was an All-State tennis player – but he was a graduate assistant under Steve Spurrier at Florida, where he was also Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s roommate. Fisch has substantial experience as an NFL position coach and college offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, including stints at Miami, Michigan, Minnesota and UCLA. He served as UCLA’s interim head coach at the end of the 2017 season.

Fisch’s current position as a professional assistant could complicate any potential candidacy. NFL assistants often cannot leave until the end of the regular season at the earliest. While the Rams are in danger of missing the postseason a year after appearing in the Super Bowl – they are currently 1 1/2 games back of the Vikings for the sixth and final NFC playoff spot – the earliest their last game could be played is Dec. 29, nearly two weeks after the early signing day for 2020 recruits. But Fisch may have more flexibility to leave sooner given head coach Sean McVay’s involvement in the Rams offense, as well as the fact there are two offensive coaches with coordinator titles listed ahead of Fisch on the team’s coaching roster.

Campanile, 37, is a former Scarlet Knights player and assistant. If hired, Hobbs would look to team him with his brother, interim head coach and offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile, 42. atop a New Jersey-centric coaching staff.

Anthony Campanile would presumably be named the head coach in this scenario – he has more college coaching and coordinator experience than his brother, who would likely stay in a coordinator role. But it is possible Nunzio Campanile could be promoted to permanent head coach with his brother leaving Ann Arbor to be the defensive coordinator and top assistant.

The Scarlet Knights have gone 1-6 with six blowout Big Ten losses since head coach Chris Ash was fired on Sept. 29, but Nunzio has impressed fans and university officials with how he has stabilized the program and kept its 2020 recruiting class intact. Anthony was a co-defensive coordinator at Boston College for one season before leaving for Michigan last offseason. He has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave Michigan at any time for a job at Rutgers without paying a buyout penalty.

Any deal between Rutgers and Anthony Campanile would likely need to wait until after the regular season. Michigan, 9-2 and ranked 13th nationally, concludes its regular season with a game against Ohio State on Nov. 30 — the same day Rutgers ends its season at Penn State. Former Tennessee, Cincinnati and Central Michigan coach Butch Jones, the only other known candidate to interview with Rutgers, is not expected to be a target if Schiano falls through. NJ Advance Media previously reported he removed his name from consideration on Nov. 7.

As for Schiano, several individuals close to him believe he would have interest and could emerge as a serious candidate at Boston College if that job opens. The Eagles are 5-6 this season after a blowout loss at No. 15 Notre Dame on Saturday. The Eagles will need to win at Pittsburgh next weekend to finish .500 and qualify for a bowl game, and a loss to the Panthers could spell the end for Steve Addazio, according to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel. Addazio is 43-44 in seven seasons at BC; he has never won more than seven games with the Eagles and has just one victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.

Schiano has ties to the area and school. Boston College athletics director Martin Jarmond was an administrator at Ohio State during Schiano’s first year as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, and Schiano is close friends with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, briefly joining the team’s coaching staff earlier this year. Schiano also has two sons playing football at Amherst College, a Division-3 school about two hours away from Boston College’s Chestnut Hill campus.

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Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find NJ.com on Facebook.