Can Greg Schiano lead the Scarlet Knights to a bowl game for the second consecutive year?
With the addition of four new teams to the Big Ten, the conference has adopted a new scheduling strategy featuring rotating opponents, starting with the 2024 season. Another significant change is the elimination of divisions, meaning the top two teams at the end of the regular season will compete in the Big Ten Championship Game.
This prompted me to start a series examining the other teams in the Big Ten that Ohio State will not face during the 2024 regular season. I’ll be reviewing these teams in alphabetical order, sharing my thoughts on their potential season outlook and the likelihood that they could make it to the Big Ten Championship Game.
1. Illinois Fighting Illini
2. Maryland Terrapins
3. Minnesota Golden Gophers
4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2023 Record: 7-6)
“…This is a great opportunity for all of Rutgers to pull together to get us back to where we all know we belong. It will take everyone on this campus and in the State of Rutgers to get this done.”
~ Greg Schiano, upon returning to Rutgers, 12/03/2019
Greg Schiano was hailed as a returning hero in 2019 by the Rutgers faithful after the Scarlet Knights football program had fallen into disarray following his departure for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011. Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, becoming a perennial underdog and often a free win for conference teams, particularly those in the Big Ten East.
To put it in context regarding Ohio State, Rutgers has never beaten the Buckeyes in their ten years as a conference member. Last year’s contest, which included some shaky moments for the Buckeyes (highlighted by Jordan Hancock’s interception), was the closest Rutgers had ever come to defeating Ohio State. The final score was Ohio State 35, Rutgers 16. It was the first time since Rutgers joined the Big Ten that Ohio State did not score at least 49 points, indicating Rutgers’ scrappy and gradual improvement.
In 2023, Greg Schiano led Rutgers to the magic number of six wins even before their 11/04/2023 contest versus Ohio State, with the team sitting at 6-2 at that point in the season. Schiano has managed to eliminate the “easy win” label that was associated with Rutgers from 2014 through 2019. The Scarlet Knights capped their 2023 season by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 31-24 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, finishing with their seventh win.
Next Scheduled Regular Season Game Against Ohio State
The next regular season game against Ohio State is scheduled for 2025, with Ohio State hosting the Scarlet Knights. The exact date of the game has not yet been announced.
Key Personnel Losses From 2023
-CB Max Melton: Selected in the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Melton’s departure will impact a Rutgers pass defense that ranked 10th nationally.
-QB Gavin Wimsatt: Transferred to Kentucky via the transfer portal. Rutgers acquired former Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis, but losing Wimsatt’s dual-threat capabilities will affect the run-oriented offense.
2024 Schedule Outlook
Here is where it gets interesting. With the Big Ten’s elimination of divisions, Rutgers no longer has to face Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State every season. This change could significantly alter their season outlook:
-More Varied Opponents: Rutgers will have a more varied slate of opponents, which may present opportunities for more balanced competition.
-Potential for Improvement: With a less daunting schedule, Rutgers could build on their 2023 success and aim for another bowl game appearance, if not a stronger finish.
As the Big Ten adjusts to its new format, teams like Rutgers might find new pathways to success, potentially shaking up the traditional power dynamics within the conference.
Rutgers opens up on 08/29 versus Howard, hosts Akron on 09/07, then gets a bye week before traveling to face Virginia Tech on 09/21. These three non-conference games are winnable, setting up a promising start to the season.
Bowl Eligibility and Conference Challenges
Remember, the magic number for bowl eligibility is six wins. Assuming Rutgers wins their non-conference games, they will need to secure three more wins from the following conference matchups:
– Home Games:
– Washington on 09/27
– Wisconsin on 10/12
– UCLA on 10/19
– Minnesota on 11/09
– Illinois on 11/23
– Road Games:
– Nebraska on 10/05
– USC on 10/25 (brutal 11 pm ET kickoff)
– Maryland on 11/16
– Michigan State on 11/30
Securing those additional three wins for bowl game eligibility may not be easy, given the strength of their conference schedule.
Prediction for 2024
If pressed to give odds on Rutgers making a bowl game for the second year in a row, I believe the odds are better than 50/50. Achieving a 3-0 record in their non-conference games will be critical. Greg Schiano has been methodically rebuilding Rutgers into a tough team on both sides of the line of scrimmage, as evidenced by their performance against Ohio State last season. I believe that Rutgers can earn another winning season, culminating in a bowl game invitation.
Look for the fifth part of the series next week, where we will examine how the 2024 season may shape up for the UCLA Bruins, one of the new Big Ten members. As always, let me know what you think, and thanks for reading.