The 2025 Rutgers football schedule is one of the most anticipated in the history of the program. Coming off of a successful 2024 season, the Scarlet Knights will be looking to take the next step under head coach Greg Schiano. A skilled recruiting class and a veteran-laden roster have raised expectations for the 2025 campaign. The schedule features a challenging non-conference slate that will test the Scarlet Knights early on, but also provides some opportunities for wins.
Rutgers will open the 2025 season on the road against the Boston College Eagles. The Eagles are a perennial contender in the ACC and will be a tough test for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers will then return home for a matchup against national power Ohio State. The Buckeyes are one of the top teams in the country and will be a huge challenge for Rutgers. After a bye week, the Scarlet Knights will travel to face the Temple Owls. Temple is a Group of Five team, but they are always a tough opponent for Rutgers. Rutgers will then open Big Ten play at home against the Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana is a rebuilding program, but they are always capable of pulling off an upset.
Rutgers will then travel to face the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans are a perennial contender in the Big Ten and will be a tough test for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers will then return home for a matchup against the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland is a rising program in the Big Ten and will be a tough opponent for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will then travel to face the Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue is a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big Ten, but they are always capable of pulling off an upset. Rutgers will then return home for a matchup against the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines are one of the top teams in the country and will be a huge challenge for Rutgers. Rutgers will then close out the regular season on the road against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State is a perennial contender in the Big Ten and will be a tough test for the Scarlet Knights.
The 2025 Rutgers football schedule is one of the most challenging in the history of the program. However, the Scarlet Knights are confident that they can compete with anyone on their schedule. With a veteran-laden roster and a skilled recruiting class, the Scarlet Knights are poised to make a run at a bowl game in 2025.
Legacy Building for the Scarlet Knights
10. Indiana Hoosiers (Oct. 18th, Piscataway)
A Battle for the Bottom?
Rutgers faces off against a Big Ten bottom-feeder in the Indiana Hoosiers, who have struggled mightily as of late. Indiana has not won a conference game since 2020 and has posted a dismal 4-24 record over the past two seasons.
The Hoosiers’ offense has been particularly inept, averaging just 17.9 points per game in 2022. Their defense has also been porous, allowing 36.5 points per game.
Rutgers will be looking to exploit Indiana’s weaknesses and secure a much-needed victory. A win over the Hoosiers would give the Scarlet Knights a 5-4 record heading into the final stretch of the season and keep their bowl hopes alive.
Key Matchup: Rutgers’ offense vs. Indiana’s defense
Prediction: Rutgers wins 31-17
2025 Rutgers Football Schedule: A Path to Success
The 2025 Rutgers Football schedule is set to be an exciting one for fans of the Scarlet Knights. The team will face a tough slate of opponents, including eight games against Power Five conference foes. The schedule includes several key matchups that could have a major impact on Rutgers’ bowl chances, such as the season-opener against Michigan and the annual rivalry game against Penn State.
Here is a look at the full 2025 Rutgers Football schedule, with game times and dates subject to change:
- August 30: Michigan (Home)
- September 6: Lafayette (Home)
- September 13: at Temple (Away)
- September 20: at Boston College (Away)
- September 27: Penn State (Home)
- October 4: Illinois (Home)
- October 11: at Ohio State (Away)
- October 18: Michigan State (Home)
- November 1: at Indiana (Away)
- November 8: Minnesota (Home)
- November 15: at Purdue (Away)
- November 22: Maryland (Home)
Rutgers will need to play well in non-conference games in order to be bowl eligible. The Scarlet Knights should be favored in their games against Lafayette and Temple, but they will be underdogs against Boston College and Ohio State. The game against Penn State will be a toss-up, and it could go a long way towards determining Rutgers’ bowl eligibility.
The Big Ten conference schedule is also challenging, but Rutgers should have a chance to win several games. The Scarlet Knights should be favored in their games against Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue. The games against Michigan State and Minnesota will be tough, but Rutgers could pull off an upset in either game. The game against Maryland will be a battle for bowl eligibility, and it could go either way.
