We are just one week away from one of the most promising seasons in recent Rutgers football history. An improving team coupled with a softer-than-usual schedule gives Rutgers a chance to truly stand out in Big Ten football for the first time. However, they will still have to go through the teams on their schedule to do that. Here is how we think each matchup will go down for the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers 2024 Schedule Predictions
Out Of Conference Slate
Rutgers football begins its season next Thursday at home against the Howard Bison. Howard last season went 6-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, with a record of only 2-4 on the road. The one Big Ten opponent they played last year was Northwestern who beat them 23-20. Northwestern lost to Rutgers 21-7 in last year’s season opener. Do not expect much of this game as Rutgers is predicted to win by as much as 35 points. Rutgers takes down the Bison in Piscataway and starts off 1-0.
Up next for Rutgers is the Akron Zips. This is another one of the games that Rutgers should have no issue in, especially after having a longer week to prepare. Rutgers takes care of Akron with ease to advance to 2-0.
Rutgers will face the first major test on their schedule when they travel to Blacksburg Virginia to take on the Hokies. Last year Rutgers beat Virginia Tech at home 35-16, however, this was before Virginia Tech really hit its stride last season. They were a much better team at the end of the year than when Rutgers played them.
However, Rutgers is also a much better team this season due to off-season acquisitions, especially on the offensive side of the ball. In addition, Rutgers is scheduled to have the first of their two bye weeks before this game giving them extra time to draw up something special for this game. The game will be close, probably decided by 10 points or less, but Rutgers will eventually wear the Hokies down and secure the win. 3-0.
The in-conference schedule
Rutgers starts their in-conference schedule with a Friday night blackout game vs Washington. Washington was in the college football playoff last year but has lost a lot of pieces since then including their star quarterback, wide receiver, and their head coach. Rutgers on the other hand only seemed to get better in the offseason. It’s a Friday night, it’s a Blackout game, and Rutgers has been hungry for a marquise win in the Big Ten for a while now. Rutgers takes down Washington to advance to 4-0.
Next up for Rutgers is Nebraska. All good things must come to an end and Rutgers winning streak ends here. Nebraska has had the Scarlet Knights’ number since they joined the Big Ten. In addition, while Rutgers has made offseason improvements, Nebraska has made more. This game is also on the road for Rutgers and Nebraska’s typical environment won’t make it any easier on the Knights. Rutgers falls to the Cornhuskers putting them at 4-1 on the season.
Next up Rutgers gets to play Wisconsin at home and this game doesn’t look too good for them either. Wisconsin is a solid team year in and year out and this year looks to be no different. Rutgers will have trouble carving through the typically strong Wisconsin defense and that’s what will win the game for the Badgers. Rutgers falls to 4-2 on the year.
Rutgers will then get a short break when they play UCLA at home. UCLA went 8-5 last year with a 4-5 record in the former pac-12, meaning they did not match up the best against power five opponents. In addition, UCLA is transitioning from one head coach to another as former HC Chip Kelly is now OC for Ohio State. Plus the Bruins have to go across the country to play the Knights in Piscataway. Rutgers takes this one with not much issue and is 5-2 on the year.
Up next is the most brutal matchup for the Knights as they travel to LA to take on #23 USC. Not much to say here. USC is a good team and Rutgers will have to play them at what is essentially 11 p.m. for the Knights. The Trojans likely have no trouble pushing aside the Knights as Rutgers falls to 5-3. This is the toughest game the Knights have on their schedule.
After the second bye week of their season, Rutgers will close out the schedule with four very winnable games against Minnesota, Maryland, Illinois, and Michigan State. Rutgers will likely sweep these games. Maryland could give the Knights some trouble, especially since they are playing in Maryland, but since they will be without Taulia Tagovailoa it is hard to say they will be as good as they have been in years prior. The team’s improvement gives Rutgers a slight edge over Maryland and a major one over the other three. Rutgers sweeps the ladder half of their schedule and finishes the season 9-3.
