CFB Top 50, #47: 2025 Rutgers Scarlet Knights

by
Bracket Yard
July 7, 2025

Now at number 47 on the CFB Top 50 countdown, with 47 days to go until college football, are the 2025 Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Greg Schiano has coached at a number of places in both college and the NFL, but somehow, his original fit at Rutgers has always seemed like the right one. He is now entering his sixth season back at the helm of the Scarlet Knights, and he has gotten them back to winning and bowl game appearances. The coach with the most wins in Rutgers history seems to have the program trending in the right direction, but what does this mean for the 2025 campaign?

Rutgers enters this season having won seven games in 2023 and 2024.

2025 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Basic Facts

Head Coach: Greg Schiano (17th season overall)

2025 Conference: Big Ten

2024 Record: 7-6 (4-5)

Final Resolution of Last Season: Lost Rate Bowl

Rutgers Key Additions and Subtractions

IN – RJ Johnson, defensive line. Fout-star recruit from Delaware.

IN – Talibi Kaba, linebacker. Four-star recruit from New Jersey.

OUT – Robert Longerbeam, cornerback. Drafted by Baltimore in 6th round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – Kyonte Hamilton, defensive tackle. Drafted by Houston in 7th round of 2025 Draft.

Best Game on the Schedule in 2025

October 17 vs. Oregon. This is the Rutgers homecoming game, and what a matchup it is. This is a prime opportunity for a signature win at home in 2025. A win could change the trajectory of their season.

2025 Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Outlook

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who transferred from Minnesota, had a decent first season in Piscataway. Based on his career so far, he’s probably not going to complete 70 percent of his passes, but he’ll probably keep the interceptions under control. He’s capable of having solid games and he’ll be key to the Rutgers offense.

The Big Ten is going to be a tough conference in which to crack through to the top. After all, the defending national champions are a part of it, not to mention several other teams that will have legitimate claims to College Football Playoff bids this year. With that said, there are winnable games on the schedule here for the Scarlet Knights, and quite possible enough to get back to a bowl game.

Expect Rutgers to get off to a fast start. Anything less than 3-0 would mean that they lost one of their light non-conference games; let’s be honest, their non-conference schedule is pretty easy. They should be 3-0 going into the Iowa game at home, and Rutgers, if they plan to have another winning season, will probably need to ride that wave and stockpile early wins. The second half of their season features Oregon, Illinois, Ohio State, and Penn State. If they don’t have a bowl bid locked up by early November, it’s most likely not happening.