The Scarlet Knights decided to decline a last-minute bowl bid, with the opportunity to participate in the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Southern opening up due to several other teams declining bowl bids
themselves, starting with teams who qualified by getting six wins and ending with those who fell short.
Unlike 2021, when the Scarlet Knights opted to take Texas A&M’s spot in the Gator Bowl to face Wake Forest on New Year’s Eve, Greg Schiano opted to deny the invite, which was for several reasons. With that being said, there are some positives that the team missed out on by declining the postseason opportunity. Let us take a closer look.
🟩 PROS
1. Health, Rest, and Self-Preservation
Rutgers is not built with endless depth. The roster took on legitimate wear and tear down the stretch of the Big Ten grind. Playing an additional “meaningless” game in late December — with a quick turnaround and travel — would’ve meant players competing through injuries or skipping the game altogether.
In an era defined by transfers and opt-outs, forcing a shorthanded roster into a postseason game might have done more harm than good. Sometimes, withdrawing is an act of protection, as the players had already shifted away from their physically and mentally demanding football schedule and into “offseason” mode.
2. Coaching and Roster Upheaval
The biggest reason why the Scarlet Knights declined the bowl appearance was all the roster changes that were made. Greg Schiano would have had to scramble to find a new defensive staff or take matters into his own hands, which he could have done, but smartly chose not to put a rushed product onto the field for the sake of doing so.
In addition, several players, including CJ Campbell, Sam Brown V, Dane Pardridge, and Jordan Walker, had already announced their intention to transfer out of the program via the portal. This is a time that Rutgers needs to focus on finding players to fill their voids and financially securing other key players, such as Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff, so that they have a robust roster for the 2026 season.
On top of that, several Scarlet Knights will be going to the NFL or are out of eligibility. Players like Ian Strong, DT Sheffield, Eric O’Neill, and Bradley Weaver may not want to put their bodies on the line in a low-profile bowl game like the Birmingham Bowl. If Rutgers does not put forth their best product, why bother taking the invite?
3. Does Another Mid-Tier Bowl Help The Brand?
Rutgers has reached a place where simply making a bowl is no longer the story, especially a low-to-mid-tier bowl that the team did not even originally qualify for. The program isn’t searching for its first step anymore — it’s trying to climb the next rung on the ladder. That means Power Four bowls, preferably not the one at Yankee Stadium, although that would have still been one to accept given the proximity and opponent.
The financial payout of the Birmingham Bowl would not be nearly as luxurious, and making travel arrangements for the band, cheer, support staff, and many others could be difficult and not worth it for a bowl game like this.
A Birmingham Bowl win wouldn’t suddenly shift national perception or recruiting momentum. Opting out lets Rutgers position itself as a program thinking bigger than low-tier December matchups. There is a reason why so many other programs declined the invite before Appalachian State swooped it up for another rivalry game against Georgia Southern.
🟥 CONS
1. Lost Reps for a Young Team
Bowl practices are invaluable. They function as the start of spring ball — reps for freshmen, second-teamers, future starters, and redshirts who need developmental time. Many of those players on Rutgers will take on much bigger roles, including quarterback AJ Surace.
That’s the hardest thing to justify losing. Programs begin to build their next season in these December practices. Declining the bowl means declining that head start. With all the upheaval, planning for next fall could have been a way for Rutgers to get the tedious process that they will have to undergo anyway jump-started.
2. Missed Momentum and National Exposure
Even smaller bowls attract national TV windows and social buzz. Another Rutgers bowl appearance reinforces the message that Greg Schiano’s rebuild is going in the right direction. And even though the Scarlet Knights did not “earn” the bowl bid- a popular argument in 2021 as well, extending their bowl streak to three, and potentially getting a bowl victory, could leave a positive taste in fans’ and players’ mouths.
And for a team like Rutgers, which missed out on a bowl by the narrowest of margins, it would have been gratifying to have them compete one more time. The loss to Penn State was gut-wrenching, and the Nittany Lions get to put a positive bow on their own (much more) tumultuous season, but Rutgers does not.
The Scarlet Knights passed up an opportunity to do the same and lumped themselves in with other teams that denied extra football and the revenue that would be generated. While nobody looks as snobbish as Notre Dame, it isn’t exactly the best look for the program, but given the circumstances, it can be justified in Rutgers’ case.
3. Rutgers Loses an Experience They Desired
This is the simplest con: fans (and players) wanted it. Making or missing a bowl game is often the sole differentiator between a successful and unsuccessful season, let alone all the experiences that come with it. With the Scarlet Knights on the very edge of bowl qualification and with an offense as prolific as this one, an argument could very easily be made that this team (emotionally) “deserved” to make a bowl game despite the 5-7 record.
And with the chance presenting itself to end the 2025 season on a much-needed high, Rutgers turned it down, preventing seniors from taking the field one more time and Athan Kaliakmanis from erasing the fumble as his last big moment as a Scarlet Knight. For the fans, it would have been an opportunity to travel to a new city, a warmer climate, and take pride in the program, possibly soaking up a sixth win in an otherwise lost season.
Verdict: Rutgers Was Not in the Place To Accept The Invite
While I would usually be in favor of participating in any bowl game offered, especially in the case of Rutgers, where bowl games are no guarantee, accepting the invitation to the Birmingham Bowl this season would be almost uniquely difficult for Greg Schiano and company.
With players scattered and focusing on finals (and in some cases, the NFL draft or the portal), and especially with three defensive coaches fired, including both coordinators, Schiano would have had to resurrect the team, take up play-calling duties, and get everyone motivated for a bowl game that really does not matter in the long run.
Instead, the Scarlet Knights are much better served focusing on recruiting, preparing for the 2026 season off the field, nailing the all-important hire at defensive coordinator, and taking some time off. Besides, who doesn’t want to see a conference rematch of “Deeper Than Hate?” It was likely the best outcome anyway.
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