Rutgers Football Eyes Roster Upgrades with NIL Backing as Transfer Portal Opens
**PISCATAWAY, N.J. ** - With the transfer portal officially open, Rutgers football is gearing up for one of its most pivotal offseasons under head coach Greg Schiano.
The mission? Upgrade the roster, retain key talent, and build toward a championship-caliber program - and this time, the resources might finally be in place to make it happen.
Schiano isn’t just hopeful. He’s confident.
Asked directly if the necessary NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) funds will be there to help Rutgers compete in the portal, Schiano didn’t hesitate: “I am.”
That’s a bold statement, especially considering Rutgers hasn’t exactly been a powerhouse in the NIL space compared to the rest of the Big Ten. But there’s a new energy surrounding the program, and much of it stems from the leadership of athletic director Keli Zinn, who took over in August and has made it clear that she’s not here to play small ball.
Back in August, Zinn made headlines with a fiery declaration about NIL expectations, saying she should be "sent back to the bayou" if she couldn’t secure the funding needed to land top-tier Olympic sports talent. By October, her focus had shifted to football - and she made it clear that Rutgers was ready to be aggressive in the portal.
Now it’s time to see if those words turn into wins.
“We're working our tails off,” Schiano said. “Keli and her people are working their tails off. I mean, everybody is on one mission.”
That mission became even more urgent following a tough loss to Penn State to close out the season. According to Schiano, the staff wasted no time turning the page: “’26 starts tomorrow morning,” he told his team.
“So get up, everybody get up, get ready to fight and let’s go. We’ve got work to do.”
The work ahead is significant. Rutgers needs to address several key areas on defense, all while trying to retain three major defensive contributors already on the roster. That’s not a small task, especially in today’s landscape where NIL can make or break a team’s ability to keep and attract talent.
But the optimism from Schiano isn’t just lip service - it’s rooted in a tangible shift happening within the athletic department. Zinn, who arrived from LSU, brings with her a deep understanding of what it takes to build a nationally competitive program. And while Rutgers doesn’t have LSU’s NIL war chest (yet), the commitment to closing the gap is real.
Schiano has been candid throughout the season about Rutgers falling behind its Big Ten peers in NIL. But he’s also praised Zinn for the work she’s already done to change that trajectory.
“There’s a vision,” Schiano said. “And it’s fun to feel like across the street at Rodkin (academic center), there are people working just as hard as we are down here. Everybody is set on one vision: to make sure that this turns into a championship program.”
That vision starts taking shape this week, as the early signing period kicks off. Rutgers’ 2026 recruiting class is already generating buzz - not just for its athleticism, but for its cultural fit within the program.
“What makes them a great fit? I think it’s a long, athletic class that loves football,” Schiano said. “And they are a great cultural fit.”
Schiano emphasized that the staff went beyond just watching tape and measuring physical traits. This class was built with intention - players who not only perform on the field but buy into what Rutgers football is building.
“That’s something I’ve asked our coaches and players to really go after,” Schiano added. “Make sure it’s not just a great player.
That’s easy. You throw on the tape and get the measurables.
But really dig and make sure they’re a cultural fit for our program.”
The result? A balanced group - offense, defense, across key positions - with both immediate contributors and long-term developmental upside. It’s the kind of class that can help stabilize a roster while also laying the foundation for future success.
Still, the real test lies ahead. The transfer portal isn’t just about who you bring in - it’s about how you compete. And in this new era of college football, NIL is the price of admission.
Schiano knows it. Zinn knows it. And if Rutgers can follow through on the promises being made behind the scenes, the Scarlet Knights could be poised to take a major step forward in 2026.
For now, the message is simple: The work has started. The vision is clear. And Rutgers believes it’s finally ready to play on a level playing field.