Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Greg Schiano (18th season)
2025 Record: 5-7, 2-7 Big Ten
Quick 2025 Recap
Rutgers took a relative step back in 2025 after receiving bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. It had been on an upward trajectory after Greg Schiano took back over as head coach in 2020, but threw things into neutral last season. The Scarlet Knights nearly upset a battered Penn State in the final game of 2025 but, unfortunately, their most notable win came in late October
at Purdue. Both of their games against ranked opponents (No. 8 Oregon, No. 1 Ohio State) ended in blowout fashion.
Offensive Player to Watch
RB Antwan Raymond
After Kyle Monangai left for the NFL and CJ Campbell went down with an injury, Raymond took over the lion’s share of backfield carries for Rutgers in 2025. He finished the season with 1,241 — good for third in the Big Ten — and scored 13 times on the ground, earning him Second-Team All-Big Ten honors. Raymond also added 225 yards through 18 receptions, making him a well-rounded offensive threat. His signature performance in 2025 came against Maryland when he rushed for a whopping 240 yards en route to a Scarlet Knights victory.
Raymond, now a junior, is poised to be the bell cow once again in 2026. Even with his high volume of carries last year, Raymond posted a very efficient 5.1 yards per rush. He was in plenty of conversations for national awards last year (and won the Jon Cornish Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top Canadian players), and I expect it to be more of the same in 2026.
Defensive Player to Watch
DE J’Dan Burnett
Schiano essentially cleared house of his defensive staff in the offseason after the unit took a major step back in 2025. He brought in Travis Johansen, who gave up the head coaching gig at South Dakota, to be the new defensive coordinator and recruited a slew of talent through the transfer portal. One of the most promising of these new defensive additions is defensive lineman J’Dan Burnett, who was hunted down by Iowa and Florida State in the portal after departing from Tulsa.
Burnett earned second-team All-AAC honors with the Golden Hurricane last year after posting 9.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. He should be a lock to get plenty of reps as an edge rusher, and his 6-foot-1, 255-pound build sets him up for success in the Big Ten.
Rutgers Wins If…
Penn State has won 18 games in a row against Rutgers, and there’s no reason to suggest that will change now. This game, which will be played on November 21 this year, typically comes at a time when neither team has a lot of skin in the game. The talent advantage alone has been enough to give the Nittany Lions the edge in years past. However, if the Scarlet Knights hit their stride early in the season and are playing for bowl eligibility, things could get weird. But I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Penn State Wins If…
Matt Campbell is the real deal. This game nearly falls into the same category as the early-season cupcakes. As long as Penn State’s new head coach isn’t a complete fraud, this should be another tick in the W column for the Nittany Lions.
