Rutgers finally got the result it had been hunting, and it came in emphatic fashion. After opening the season 0-3, the Scarlet Knights rolled past Howard 58-7 for their first win of 2026, piling up 534 yards of offense in Greg Schiano’s 100th victory as head coach.
This one was over fast. Rutgers struck for two touchdowns before five minutes had ticked off the clock, seized control early, and never let Howard breathe.
The Bison’s only points came late in the first quarter, when running back Eden James broke loose for a 75-yard run. After that, Rutgers answered with 37 straight points to turn the afternoon into a runaway.
The passing game looked sharp from the start. Dylan Lonergan delivered his best outing of the season, going 12 of 17 for 214 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
AJ Surace handled the late snaps and completed three of seven passes for 40 yards and one touchdown without a pick. Sean Ashenfelder also got in on the action, completing his lone attempt for 14 yards.
Rutgers did plenty of damage on the ground as well. Antwan Raymond powered his way to 140 yards on 16 carries and scored three times. Clay Thevenin added 69 yards on 16 carries and found the end zone once.
KJ Duff kept making history, setting a Rutgers football record with his fifth straight game with a receiving touchdown. His 77-yard score from Lonergan was the big play in a five-catch, 131-yard day. Jourdin Houston added 50 yards on three receptions, and Ben Black and Vernon Allen each hauled in at least one catch and a touchdown.
The defense matched the offense’s edge. Rutgers finished with four sacks, nine tackles for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Bradlee Jones came away with both picks, while Rondo Porter and Keshon Griffin each logged solo sacks. Moses Walker paced the unit with five tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
The opponent may have been overmatched, but Rutgers got what it needed: a clean, lopsided win. Now the challenge gets real again, with Big Ten play reopening next week against No. 5 Indiana.
Rutgers will host Indiana at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, at SHI Stadium. The game will serve as the annual homecoming game and blackout game for Rutgers, with live coverage on the Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Rutgers Is Rolling And A Few Scarlet Knights Are Making A Case
Rutgers wasted no time setting the tone against Howard, racing out to a 41-7 halftime lead while scoring on all seven of its opening drives. The start was the kind of clean, efficient burst that can make a late-season tuneup feel like a statement, and several Scarlet Knights turned it into a showcase for their own momentum.
Antwan Raymond kept the offense moving and hit 2,000 career rushing yards while scoring three first-half touchdowns, while Dylan Lonergan opened the game by completing every pass on the first drive. On the other side of the ball, Bradlee Jones made his presence felt with two interceptions, including the first pick of his career, giving Rutgers a few more reasons to like how the night unfolded. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Has Two Playmakers Charging Toward Program History
A milestone day against Howard gave Rutgers a clear reminder of how much firepower it has developed in the backfield and on the perimeter. Running back Antwan Raymond and wide receiver KJ Duff each pushed past major career benchmarks, a sign that both players have already carved out prominent places in the program record book while continuing to climb higher as the season moves along.
Raymond now sits 13th all-time in career rushing yards and ninth in rushing touchdowns for Rutgers, while Duff is ninth in receiving yards and 10th in receiving touchdowns. With both players already past 2,000 yards in their respective categories, the bigger storyline is what comes next as they keep stacking production and move within striking distance of some of the schools top marks. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Hoover Is Bringing TCU Fans Old Concern To Indiana
Josh Hoovers arrival at Indiana has given the Hoosiers a transfer quarterback with plenty of promise, and he has already flashed the kind of arm talent that can change a game in a hurry. He has put together efficient drives and found key receivers along the way, which is enough to make Indianas offense look dangerous when everything is clicking.
The concern, though, is the same one TCU fans knew well enough, and it showed up again in a tight game against Northwestern when the passing attack never quite became the reliable threat Indiana needed. The running game has helped keep things moving, but with injuries thinning that room, the pressure on Hoover to settle in and find more consistency is growing fast. [Read more 🡒]