Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2025 College Football Preview
Posted July 29, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 7-5-1
The Scarlet Knights treated their fans to a POO SANDWICH last year as they started fast and finished well, but there was a HOT MESS in the middle. Rutgers opened the year at 4-0 after slithering past Virginia Tech and Washington but the REGRESSION MONSTER got a hold of them and they lost some close games, and next thing you know they were 4-4. They got back on the horse and won three of their final four regular season games at stood at 7-5 before their Rate Bowl meeting with Kansas St. Rutgers was seemingly HOME and COOLED up 34-17 in the 3Q but they choked the game away (L 44-41). It wasn’t a great way to end the year but they finished with a winning record for the 2nd consecutive season.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Rutgers offense was a lot more SPICY than normal LY and they put up the most points (29 PPG, #55) since the 2020 PLANDEMIC season (26.7). As the intrepid Phil Steele points out, QB Athan Kaliakmanis was the first Rutgers QB to exceed 2,000 (!!) yards passing in a season since 2015 (!!) LY and he was a lot more dangerous than we anticipated (2,696, 18-7 TD to INT; 251 rush, 3 TD). Kaliakmanis has a very underrated set of WRs with the return of Ian Strong (676, 15.7, 5 TD) and KJ Duff (425, 15.7, TD) and note the excellent addition of the dangerous DT Sheffield who was extremely productive at North Texas LY (822, 11 TD!). The biggest concern on offense is replacing superstar RB Kyle Monangai (1,279, 13 TD) but the Scarlet Knights return their #2, #3, and #4 RBs from LY, and check out the addition from Florida Atlantic, yo. CJ Campbell did it all for the Owls LY rushing for 844 yards and 11 TDs whilst finding the time to catch 40 balls for 466 yards and 3 TDs. The offensive line promises to be one of the best in the Big Ten as the unit boasts over 100 career starts and plenty of depth.
DEFENSE
The defense was a disappointment LY, particularly vs the run as they allowed 163 YPG on the ground (#89) and they yielded 5 YPC for the first time since 2018 (!). The DL definitely looks improved as they have decent GIRTH on the interior and they added a pair of potentially devastating pass rushers thru the portal in Eric O’Neill (13 sacks LY!, James Madison) and Bradley Weaver (14.5 sacks L2Y!, Ohio). The LB corps is led by #1 tackler Dariel Djabome and it’s got acceptable depth, but the main order of business on defense is rebuilding a secondary that needs to find four new starters, including an NFL DC. Safety Jett Elad (UNLV) and Jacobie Henderson (Marshall) should pop right into the starting lineup and keep your eye on sophomores Bo Mascoe (CB) and Kaj Sanders (safety) who could both blossom in their second full season. DC Robb Smith is back for another kick at the cat at Rutgers and we expect improvement in most key defensive metrics this year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We’re happy with what we see as the Scarlet Knights retain the solid kicking combo of punter Jakob Anderson (39.1 net) and PK Jai Patel (15/19 FG, 41/42 XP LY), and the addition of WR DJ Sheffield should add some juice to punt returns (12.1 LY with Mean Green).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – We expect Rutgers to get off to a good start navigating the non-conference slate (Ohio, Miami Ohio, Norfolk St) before Big Ten play begins. They’ll need to bag those wins because the Scarlet Knights have one of the toughest Big Ten schedules. They’ve gotta tangle with Washington (A) and Oregon (H) in back-to-back games around midseason and they finish with wait for it, keep waiting, Ohio St (A) and Penn St (H). Oh ya, they also open with Iowa (H) and have to travel to Illinois in early November.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing heinous is noted. It’s just really challenging overall.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 29
Over 5.5 -140
Under 5.5 +115
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over.
Let’s give them wins over Ohio, Miami Ohio, Norfolk St, Purdue, and Maryland. Can they get one more? We think so.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Head coach Greg Schiano is a mind-boggling 36-22-3 ATS (62%) in the role of road underdog over his 16-year coaching career.
The first intercollegiate football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. No forward passes, no helmets, and it took place just four years after the Civil War ended. The final score was 6-4 and most historians are bewildered that the Iowa Hawkeyes weren’t involved in that SNOT BUBBLER.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Don’t look now but Rutgers has become a very competitive Big Ten program. We’re very impressed with the roster they’ve put together but the schedule is going to be extremely difficult to navigate. There’s too much talent on hand for us to think otherwise, so we predict they’ll find a way to sneak into a bowl game with six, maybe seven wins if everything breaks right.
R!!……..U!!