Rutgers volleyball has its 2026 path laid out, and the Scarlet Knights will spend plenty of time in front of their home crowd. The program announced a full schedule that includes 13 home dates “On The Banks,” with every home match set for Jersey Mike’s Arena except the regular-season finale, which will be played Nov. 13 against Maryland at the College Ave Gym.
The season begins on the road in Louisville, Kentucky, where Rutgers opens against Evansville and host Bellarmine on Friday, Aug. 28, before facing Purdue - Fort Wayne on Saturday, Aug. 29.
From there, the Scarlet Knights head to Nashville, Tennessee, for the first Big Ten/SEC Challenge, a matchup set to bring Arkansas on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Vanderbilt on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Rutgers then comes home for the first time in 2026, starting its Jersey Mike’s slate on Tuesday, Sept. 8 against LIU. The early home stretch continues with Stony Brook on Thursday, Sept.
10, Delaware on Friday, Sept. 11 and Rider on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Nonconference play wraps up with a trip to Queens, New York, where Rutgers will meet Bryant and Penn on Friday, Sept. 18, then return home to host St. John’s on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Big Ten play starts on the road, with Rutgers opening conference action at Nebraska on Friday, Sept. 25 and Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 26.
October brings a long run through the league, beginning at Ohio State on Thursday, Oct. 1 before the Scarlet Knights settle in for a three-match home stand. Indiana visits on Sunday, Oct. 4 during Homecoming Weekend, followed by Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 9 and UCLA on Saturday, Oct.
The schedule then sends Rutgers west for matchups with Washington on Friday, Oct. 16 and Oregon on Sunday, Oct. 18.
The Scarlet Knights return home to face Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 23 and Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 24, then finish October on the road at Purdue on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 31.
November tilts heavily toward home, with four of Rutgers’ five matches taking place in Piscataway. Michigan comes to town on Thursday, Nov. 5, followed by USC on Saturday, Nov. 7 and Wisconsin on Wednesday, Nov.
- Maryland closes the home regular season on Friday, Nov. 13 before Rutgers finishes the regular season at Penn State on Tuesday, Nov.
The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 20-25, 2026, at Fishers Event Center, home of Major League Volleyball’s Indy Ignite. The top 15 teams in the regular-season standings will qualify.
In Other News...
Greg Schiano Just Narrowed Down Rutgers QB Decision Window
Rutgers is trying to get its quarterback picture settled before camp drags on, with Greg Schiano saying the staff hopes to identify a starter in the middle of training camp. The competition comes as the program moves on from Athan Kaliakmanis, who has already started his first camp with the Washington Commanders, and the Scarlet Knights are looking for a clean answer before the season starts to take shape.
There is also a broader reset happening on the other side of the ball after last seasons defensive struggles. Schiano pointed to the hiring of Travis Johansen as the new defensive coordinator, along with a revamped group of assistants, as part of the effort to stabilize that unit while the offense sorts out who will take the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Temple Coach Just Pulled Rutgers Into A Bigger Regional Debate
Temples push under K.C. Keeler is about more than just one season opener or one old rivalry coming back to life. As the Owls get ready to build on recent progress with nine starters back, Keeler has made clear he wants the programs schedule rooted in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with regional games carrying more weight than the endless shuffle of modern conference life. A long-awaited meeting with Penn State after a decade fits that idea, and it also speaks to the kind of matchups Temple believes can still give the program a real identity.
Keelers broader point lands well beyond Philadelphia, especially for Rutgers fans who know how much the sport has changed around them. He sees future realignment as a real threat to the old regional fabric of college football, and he has argued that expanding the College Football Playoff is one way to keep programs outside the biggest leagues from getting squeezed out. In that view, the debate is not just about Temples schedule, but about whether teams like Rutgers can keep playing the kind of nearby games that once defined the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Antwan Raymond Is Becoming The Rutgers Standard Bearer
Antwan Raymond arrived at Big Ten Football Media Day with more than a breakout season to discuss. The Rutgers running back has become a familiar face for a program that wants him to help define what comes next, and he spoke about carrying that responsibility while also representing his Canadian roots. His rise has already earned him a place in Rutgers history, and the recognition that followed only added to the sense that he is becoming one of the programs standard bearers.
Raymond also spent time talking about the work behind the production, from how he prepares physically and mentally to the influence of running backs coach Damiere Shaw. He described a Rutgers offense built around a clear identity, one that asks the Scarlet Knights to keep leaning on defenses until the game opens up late. For Raymond, the challenge now is not just repeating what he did last season, but doing it while serving as the face of a team that expects him to set the tone. [Read more 🡒]