Rutgers Sports Roundup: Football Adds to Future, Basketball Battles, Wrestling Rolls
As February kicks off, things are heating up across the board for Rutgers athletics. From the gridiron to the hardwood to the wrestling mat, there’s no shortage of storylines coming out of Piscataway. Let’s dive into where things stand across the Scarlet Knights’ major programs.
On the Gridiron: Recruiting Momentum, Quarterback Watch, and a Full 2026 Schedule
Rutgers football continues to build for the future, and last week brought in a name that carries both size and legacy. Offensive lineman Ian Asaeli Ngaue-Stephenson, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound prospect out of Mesa, Arizona, committed to the Scarlet Knights after a weekend visit.
He becomes the 23rd pledge in the 2026 recruiting class - and there’s a family connection here too. Ngaue-Stephenson is the son of former Rutgers lineman Cam Stephenson, adding a generational twist to the commitment.
He’s expected to make it official this week on National Signing Day.
While that addition came from the high school ranks, Rutgers is also keeping an eye on the quarterback pipeline. Last week, they extended an offer to 2027 prospect Kevin Verpaele, a Pitt commit out of Merritt Island, Florida. Verpaele impressed offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca during a throwing session and became just the third quarterback in the 2027 class to receive a Rutgers offer.
“I threw and coach said he was very impressed by my arm and he hasn’t seen one like it in a while,” Verpaele said. “Later, he offered me to play football at Rutgers.”
The quarterback position is always a priority, and Rutgers clearly sees something special in Verpaele’s early development.
Meanwhile, the search continues for a new defensive coordinator after Robb Smith’s departure. The position remains open, and while there’s no official word yet, the coaching carousel is still spinning as Rutgers looks to lock in a key hire ahead of spring ball.
On the scheduling front, the Big Ten dropped the full 2026 slate, and Rutgers now knows exactly what’s ahead. The schedule features a mix of traditional East Coast clashes and marquee matchups with some of the conference’s newest and most storied programs. Here's how it lines up:
- Sept. 3 (Thursday): UMass
- Sept. 11 (Friday): at Boston College
- Sept. 19: USC
- Sept. 26: Howard
- Oct. 3: Indiana
- Oct. 17: at Maryland
- Oct. 24: at Northwestern
- Oct. 31: Michigan
- Nov. 7: at Wisconsin
- **Nov.
14:** Nebraska
- Nov. 21: at Penn State
- Nov. 28: Michigan State
That’s a tough stretch in the back half, with Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan State all in November. But it’s also a chance for Rutgers to prove it belongs in the upper tier of the Big Ten.
On the Hardwood: Growing Pains, Grit, and a West Coast Test
Rutgers men’s basketball is in the middle of a grind-it-out season, and last week was a microcosm of where this young team stands - full of fight, but still learning how to finish.
The Scarlet Knights nearly pulled off an upset against No. 7 Michigan State, leading for most of the game before a late three-pointer sent things to overtime. In the extra period, the Spartans pulled away for an 88-79 win, but head coach Steve Pikiell saw growth in the effort.
“We’re young - we have seven freshmen and ten newcomers - so we’re learning,” Pikiell said. “You learn from games, and they know I wasn’t happy after Indiana.
We had good practices. Our shootaround today was by far one of the best this year.
You hope they grow and learn that practices matter. Film watching and scouting reports matter.
It’s a long season, and sometimes guys lose focus on what needs to be done. I thought they did an unbelievable job tonight.”
That resilience was tested again on the road at USC. Down by as many as 19, Rutgers clawed back and had a shot late, but ultimately fell 78-75. Sophomore guard Tariq Francis poured in 26 points in the loss, continuing to emerge as one of the team’s most reliable scorers.
The loss marked Rutgers’ fifth straight, dropping them to 9-13 overall and 2-9 in Big Ten play. But the fight is still there, and this team isn’t backing down.
They’ll stay out west for a Tuesday night matchup against UCLA, tipping off at 9:30 p.m. EST.
The Bruins sit at 15-7 and are coming off a wild 98-97 double-overtime loss to Indiana.
The road doesn’t get easier, but Pikiell’s group is showing signs of internal growth - and that’s what you want to see from a team with this many new faces.
BTN analyst Raphael Davis offered some insight into what makes Pikiell’s program one to watch, especially when it comes to culture.
“If my son was 17 or 18 right now and Pikiell was on the call, we’d think about playing for Pikiell for sure,” Davis said. “I think he cares about his guys, his guys love him.
That’s a big thing with me. When you have former guys or guys that you coach, when they speak highly of you after they leave your program - especially the ones that aren’t the NBA guys - Pikiell cares about his guys.
And I think that’s big time.”
On the Mat: Ranked and Rolling
Rutgers wrestling continues to flex its muscle in the Big Ten and beyond. The No. 16-ranked Scarlet Knights improved to 10-5 over the weekend with back-to-back dual meet wins.
Friday night saw Rutgers dominate Maryland, 30-9, in a strong all-around performance. The team carried that momentum into Saturday with a 21-12 road win over Rider. After a slow start, Rutgers closed strong, winning five of the final six bouts to seal the victory.
Next up is a big one: a Friday night showdown at home against No. 9 Minnesota. It’s a prime opportunity for Rutgers to make another statement against a top-10 opponent as they continue to push toward postseason form.
From recruiting coups and gritty comebacks to dominant performances on the mat, Rutgers athletics is in full swing. There’s progress being made across all fronts - and while there’s still work to do, the foundation is strong. Stay tuned.