When discussing the toughest schedules in college football in recent years, Rutgers often comes up. Not so in 2024.
So the question is, how big a step can Rutgers take?
On Saturday, 247Sports released a list of the toughest schedules in the country. This list often includes the Big Ten, but Rutgers is not on that list. For reference, Rutgers finished with the fourth-toughest schedule in 2023.
The biggest difference in this schedule is that the Scarlet Knights will not play Ohio State, Michigan State, or Penn State. As the Big Ten expands, there will be opponents removed from the schedule every year. In 2024, Rutgers will not face the team that has reigned at the top of its conference for many years. That's an immediate plus.
Rutgers will face new Big Ten teams this season, including USC without Caleb Williams and Washington without Michael Penix Jr. and Karen Daboer.
A non-conference schedule will be set for the first three weeks of the season. A strong start for Rutgers with home games against Howard and Akron, followed by a trip to Virginia Tech.
The Scarlet Knights went 6-6 last season and won the Pinstripe Bowl. This season, the team hopes to take another step forward with a new quarterback and plenty of talent returning on both sides of the ball.
**The first On The Banks Way-Too-Early schedule will be released later this week**
