Rutgers is heading into 2026 with a lot to prove, and the early preseason chatter is not exactly offering much comfort.
A five-win 2025 season already put the Scarlet Knights in bounce-back mode, but a new Big Ten preseason poll suggests the climb could be even steeper than expected. Cleveland.com released its 16th annual conference poll on Monday, and Rutgers landed 17th in the 18-team league.
The timing matters, too. The poll dropped just before Big Ten Media Days begin Tuesday in Chicago and run through Thursday, giving the Scarlet Knights an early dose of outside skepticism before the league’s annual spotlight even gets rolling.
Rutgers is not alone in being picked near the bottom. Athlon Sports and Phil Steele both previously projected the Scarlet Knights to finish 16th in the Big Ten, so this latest forecast fits the same gloomy pattern.
The biggest issue hanging over the program is still the defense. Rutgers’ unit was the worst in the Big Ten last season, and that remains the area that will shape whether the team can move forward or stay stuck.
There are some pieces back on offense, including KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond at the skill positions, but the questions around Rutgers are bigger than a couple of returning playmakers. The defense is the headline, and it is not a flattering one.
The schedule does the Scarlet Knights no favors either. Rutgers is set to face four teams ranked in the top six by the website: Indiana, USC, Michigan, and Penn State. On top of that, five more opponents are listed in the back half of the conference.
In Other News...
Greg Schiano Just Drew A Hard Line For Rutgers This Season
Greg Schiano did not spend much time soft-pedaling Rutgers standard for this season. The head coach pointed back to last years 5-7 finish as a line the program cannot accept, then said the offseason was used to push the Scarlet Knights toward a better version of themselves. Schiano also emphasized that the people steering the program are aligned, from the top of the university through the athletic department, and he sounded convinced the roster now has the kind of depth and talent that can make that message matter.
The pressure point remains on the defensive side, where Rutgers never looked settled enough a year ago. Schiano said the unit has to improve, especially in the areas of takeaways and overall chemistry, and the staff has already made a change to help address it. For a team trying to turn a frustrating record into something sturdier, that side of the ball may end up defining whether Schianos hard line becomes a turning point or just another reminder of how much work is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Schiano Heads To Media Days With Rutgers At A Crossroads
Greg Schiano heads to Chicago this week with Rutgers still trying to sort out what kind of team it can be in 2026. The Scarlet Knights are sending their coach and representatives to Big Ten Media Days at a moment when the program has real questions to answer, from who takes over at quarterback to whether the offense can keep building around KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond after a season that showed both promise and the need for more consistency.
There is also a bigger-picture test looming for a staff entering Schianos seventh year in his second stint. Rutgers has pushed to raise its NIL budget, a move that could matter in keeping and attracting talent, while the defense now turns to new coordinator Travis Johansen after a rough year on that side of the ball. Media days will not solve any of it, but they should give a clearer read on how Schiano plans to steer a team that finished with five wins and is still looking for a firmer footing in the Big Ten. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Just Got Meaningful Big Ten Respect Before The 2026 Season
The Big Tens preseason honors list is out, and it gives Rutgers a little more to point to as summer turns toward camp. The leagues annual group includes 12 players from across the conference, with Indiana leading the way with three selections, and eight of those honorees are slated to be on hand for Big Ten Media Days this week.
For Rutgers, the takeaway is a positive one: the Scarlet Knights landed two names on the list in wide receiver KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond. It is the kind of preseason recognition that does not change a season by itself, but it does signal that Rutgers has players who are drawing real conference attention before the 2026 campaign gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]