Rutgers Football schedule ranked easiest in Big Ten for 2024 season
Rutgers Football schedule ranked easiest in Big Ten for 2024 season
There are high expectations for Rutgers heading into the 2024 season.
The Scarlet Knights won six games last season before entering the Pinstripe Bowl and taking down Miami. Now, with a new starting quarterback and a plethora of returning talent, Rutgers will look to return to a bowl game with more wins than last season.
According to a recent ranking of schedules within the Big Ten, this could be a strong possibility.
The Sporting News recently put together a list ranking the schedules in the conference using a metric that looks at ranked opponents, home and away games, and totals. The publication gave out points for each based on where teams were ranked in their preseason Top 25 rankings. Four points were added for road games against ranked opponents as well.
When it was all said and done, Rutgers came out with the fewest points thanks to just two game against ranked opponents by the outlet. These are at USC and home against Washington. Virginia Tech has a chance to hop into the Top 25 but even if it did, the point differential would keep the Scarlet Knights at the bottom.
Full Big Ten Schedule Rankings
- Michigan, 78
- Purdue, 73
- USC, 73
- Michigan State, 68
- UCLA, 65
- Washington, 59
- Ohio State, 58
- Illinois, 57
- Wisconsin, 50
- Northwestern, 50
- Maryland, 45
- Indiana, 42
- Oregon, 42
- Nebraska, 37
- Minnesota, 33
- Penn State, 29
- Iowa, 28
- Rutgers, 9
Rutgers will look to take advantage of three glaring absences on the schedule in 2024. Of course, we are talking about Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. For the first time since entering the Big Ten, the Scarlet Knights will not face any of the big three. Instead, newcomers USC, UCLA, and Washington are on the list with two game being played at home.
Athan Kaliakmanis was named starting quarterback early and this brings hope that there could be an improved passing game to pair with Kyle Monangai. Last season, Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing but the attack through the air was non-existent. Defensively, Rutgers is expected to be one of the best units in the conference once again.
2024 Rutgers Football Schedule
- Thu., 8/29 - vs. Howard, 6pm, BTN
- Sat., 9/7 - vs. Akron, 12pm, BTN
- Sat., 9/21 - at Virginia Tech, TBD
- Fri., 9/27 - vs. Washington, 8pm, FOX
- Sat., 10/5 - at Nebraska, TBD
- Sat., 10/12 - vs. Wisconsin, TBD
- Sat., 10/19 - vs. UCLA, TBD
- Fri., 10/25 - at USC, 11pm, FOX
- Sat., 11/9 - vs. Minnesota, TBD
- Sat., 11/16 - at Maryland, TBD
- Sat., 11/23 - vs. Illinois, TBD
- Sat., 11/30 - at Michigan State, TBD