Alabama fans don't have fond memories of Bill O'Brien's tenure as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator. The "Bryce save me" offense was still effective because Bryce Young was a savant, but the misuse of stars like Jahmyr Gibbs still doesn't sit well with Crimson Tide fans.
O'Brien left Alabama following the 2022 season to head back to the NFL, and for the last two seasons he has been the head coach at Boston College. In the Transfer Portal following the 2024 season, O'Brien reunited with a QB he recruited for Alabama.
Dylan Lonergan left a crowded Crimson Tide QB room to join O'Brien in Chestnut Hill. Lonergan won the starting QB job for Boston College in the 2025 preseason. He had an up-and-down year as the starter, getting benched after five games before earning the starting job again. Lonergan suffered an injury to his finger in the final game of the season against Syracuse that knocked him out of the game.
After a 2-10 season and not wanting to tie his career to O'Brien any longer, Lonergan re-entered the Transfer Portal and ultimately landed at Rutgers. On Monday, the Scarlet Knights announced that Lonergan had won their QB competition:
Sources: Rutgers has named fourth-year quarterback Dylan Lonergan the school’s starting quarterback, and he’ll debut for Rutgers against UMass on Sept. 3. He beat out third-year quarterback AJ Surace in a close battle. pic.twitter.com/TFrtonTTPh
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 24, 2026
Former Alabama backup QB Dylan Lonergan will start at QB for Rutgers
Lonergan will take over at Rutgers with head coach Greg Schiano looking to get the Scarlet Knights back to a bowl game after a 5-7 mark last season ended a two-year run of bowl games for Rutgers.
Lonergan showed some potential last season. The former 4-star recruit got off to a hot start, throwing eight touchdowns to no interceptions in wins over Portland State and Michigan State to start the season. After struggling against Cal and Pitt, Lonergan was subject to O'Brien's quick trigger at QB and sat on the bench for a few weeks. He performed well in losses to SMU and Georgia Tech after re-earning the starting job before suffering the injury against Syracuse.
He'll get a second chance in Piscataway, but he'll be stepping into another difficult situation at one of the Big Ten's bottom feeders.
The Scarlet Knights have ranked matchups against USC, Indiana, Michigan, and Penn State that will be difficult to navigate.
Lonergan will make his first start against UMass to open the season, but it's a Week 2 matchup that he undoubtedly has circled on his calendar.
Rutgers goes on the road in Week to play at Boston College, giving Lonergan the chance to beat his former coach. That would be quite the triumphant moment for Lonergan, and one that Alabama fans will be rooting for.
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