Rutgers is marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a uniform tribute that puts the school’s connection to that day front and center.
When the Scarlet Knights face Boston College on Friday, September 11, they’ll do it in all-red, with special helmets carrying the number 37. Inside that number is a U.S. flag print, and “never forget” will appear on the side of the pants.
The school is using the game to honor the 37 Rutgers alumni who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
The tribute lands as 9/11 nears its 25th anniversary, a milestone the NFL is also planning to acknowledge. Rutgers, the closest FBS school to Manhattan at 36 miles southwest, has a particularly deep tie to the tragedy because of those 37 alumni among the 2,977 victims.
As the school put it in a message posted ahead of the game: “As we take the field on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we honor all of those whose lives were lost on that tragic day, including our 37 @RutgersU alumni.We remember. We honor. We will never forget. pic.twitter.com/XtzQ7fjdh6”
Head coach Greg Schiano said the moment still carries real weight for the program.
“It’s still real important, right? 37 Rutgers alums lost that day,” Schiano said.
“So to them it’s just something they read in the history books, but I think, being located where we are, I will always tell the story. We stood on the practice fields, and you could see the smoke on the horizon,” he added.
Rutgers is also trying to bounce back after a season-opening loss, while Schiano continues his push toward the 100th career win. But on this week, the focus is squarely on remembrance.
Boston College will have its own tribute as well, reportedly featuring a red bandana pattern on its helmets and jerseys, a look the program has used before.
In Other News...
Rutgers Fans Have One Bright Spot To Cling To After Week 1
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season did not exactly hand Rutgers a long list of easy takeaways, but there was at least one early-season reminder worth keeping close. Around the sport, the opening weekend featured a wave of big receiving performances from across the country, with players at Miami, USC, Sacramento State, New Mexico State, Wake Forest, San Jose State and Kansas all turning in numbers that grabbed attention and set the tone for September.
For Rutgers fans, the encouraging part is seeing a Scarlet Knight show up in that same conversation so early, even as the broader picture around the team still needs more answers. The first week offered a glimpse of production and playmaking that could matter for Rutgers offense moving forward, and it gives the fan base something positive to hang onto while the rest of the season starts to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Faces A Painful Steve Pikiell Reality This Season
Steve Pikiells health situation has quickly become one of the defining off-court storylines of Rutgers mens basketball before the season even gets rolling. The head coach said he is undergoing treatment for cancer after a successful surgery this summer, and the plan is for him to stay connected to the program while he works through chemotherapy over the next six months.
Brandin Knight will steer the team in Pikiells absence, giving Rutgers some continuity on the bench during a stretch where steadiness matters as much as anything. Athletic director Keli Zinn said there is no set timeline for Pikiells full return, leaving the Scarlet Knights to balance normal preseason preparation with the reality that one of the programs central figures is facing a serious personal battle. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Suddenly Has A Quarterback Decision Riding On Boston College
An injury late in Rutgers season-opening loss to UMass has turned the next game into more than just a chance to get back on track. With Dylan Lonergan sidelined, backup quarterback AJ Surace is in line to start against Boston College, and the Scarlet Knights suddenly have a live competition at the sports most important position.
For Surace, the opening is as much about the way he plays as the result on the scoreboard. Rutgers needs to see poise in the pocket, the ability to hit medium and deep throws, and enough threat as a runner to survive behind an offensive line that has already shown its challenges. His high school rushing production suggests one possible path, but the real test now is whether he can make Boston College a springboard into a longer look. [Read more 🡒]