Who will be Rutgers football’s starting quarterback vs. USC?

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Rutgers football’s quarterback situation remains unclear.

And that might be putting It mildly.

After Dylan Lonergan had an uneven performance and suffered an injury in a loss to UMass in Week 1, AJ Surace got the start against Boston College on Friday, Sept. 11 and proceeded to struggle, throwing four interceptions in a 28-21 loss to the Eagles at Alumni Stadium.

Surace, who’s in his third year with the program and lost the training camp battle for the starting job to Lonergan, finished 18-of-27 passing for 230 yards with three touchdowns – but it was the four picks that stood out the most.

“I think each one was a little bit different,” Surace said after the game. “Obviously I have to be better and avoid those types of plays.”

The first came on second-and-8 at the Boston College 33 in the first quarter. Another came on third-and-10 at the BC 19 in the third quarter.

His third came in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-3 from the Eagles 21, and the final one came in the fourth quarter on first-and-10 at the Boston College 47, a killer pick that essentially sealed the win for the Eagles.

“He got hit a couple times as we were letting go of the ball,” Schiano said. “We have to make better decisions, I’m not making excuses for him. We have to coach him better.”

When a quarterback is making his first career start, growing pains and mistakes are expected.

The problem was, for Surace, they came in a game that the Scarlet Knights badly needed to win after losing to UMass.

“I wouldn’t say I was too nervous,” Surace said. “Obviously it was a great environment. I don’t think nerves played into anything.”

Surace got the start because Lonergan, who transferred from Boston College to Rutgers in the offseason, couldn’t heal up fast enough to suit up Friday night against his former team.

Lonergan didn’t have a particularly encouraging performance against UMass, going 16-of-29 passing for 242 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

All throughout training camp Schiano said Surace and Lonergan were locked in a tough battle for the starting job and that they weren’t making the decision easy on he and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca.

But through two games against two very beatable opponents, neither one played well.

Now the question is who will start against No. 14 USC at SHI Stadium on Sept. 19.

If Lonergan is healthy and available, will he get the job back?

Or will Schiano stick with Surace?

Schiano after the Boston College loss said he believes the Scarlet Knights can win with these quarterbacks.

So far, that hasn’t happened. And if they don’t improve quickly, it’s unclear when exactly that will happen.

It’s now two weeks into the season and more questions remain at quarterback than answers.

“It’s too soon after the game to be able to tell you the answer on that,” Schiano said. “I think first off, we’ve got to figure out where we are health-wise, and then we have to see this tape and really watch and see the reasons why. Sometimes you think you know, you watch it on the iPad and then you get some information that gives you a better picture.

“We’ll figure it out. The guy that we think gives us the best chance to win, that’s the guy will be our quarterback.”

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Who will be Rutgers football’s starting quarterback vs. USC?