Rutgers Eyes Historic Breakthroughs in 2026 as Scarlet Knights Chase Long-Awaited Milestones

Rutgers football enters the 2026 season with a chance to build on the progress made over the past three years. After ending several long-standing program droughts between 2023 and 2025, the Scarlet Knights now have an opportunity to achieve team milestones that have remained out of reach for more than a decade.
The program has steadily moved in the right direction in recent seasons. In 2023, Rutgers celebrated its first 1,000-yard rusher in 11 years when Kyle Monangai reached the milestone. That same season also ended with the team’s first traditional bowl appearance in nearly a decade.
The momentum continued in 2024. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis became Rutgers’ first 2,000-yard passer in 10 years, while Monangai recorded consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, marking the program’s first back-to-back achievement of its kind in two decades. Rutgers also secured winning records and bowl appearances in consecutive seasons for the first time since joining the Big Ten Conference.
The 2025 season added even more milestones. Kaliakmanis became only the third quarterback in Rutgers history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season. He also became the first Scarlet Knights quarterback since the 2007 and 2008 seasons to record at least 2,500 passing yards in back-to-back years. Running back Antwan Raymond joined Rutgers’ list of 1,000-yard rushers, while wide receiver KJ Duff became just the seventh player in school history to record a 1,000-yard receiving season, the program’s first such achievement in 11 years.
Now, as the 2026 campaign approaches, Rutgers has its sights set on several significant team accomplishments that would represent another step forward for the program.
One of the biggest goals is returning to the Associated Press Top 25 rankings. Rutgers has not appeared in the AP Top 25 since the final week of the 2012 season, when the Scarlet Knights were ranked No. 22 nationally. The program has now gone 217 consecutive weeks without being ranked, making it the longest active drought among Power Four schools.
Another major challenge will be ending the program’s long wait for a victory over a nationally ranked opponent. Rutgers last defeated a ranked team on Nov. 12, 2009, when it earned a win over No. 23 South Florida in Piscataway. Since then, the Scarlet Knights have lost 43 consecutive games against ranked opponents, with an average margin of defeat of 29.2 points per game. That streak currently stands as the longest among Power Five programs.
The 2026 schedule also gives Rutgers an opportunity to earn first-ever victories against several conference opponents. The Scarlet Knights have never defeated USC, Wisconsin or Nebraska. Their all-time records against those teams stand at 0-1, 0-6 and 0-7, respectively.
Another important matchup comes against Penn State. Rutgers has not defeated the Nittany Lions since the 1988 season and owns a 2-32 all-time record in the series. Since both schools became Big Ten members, Rutgers has been unable to beat Penn State, entering the 2026 season with an 18-game losing streak in the conference rivalry.
The Scarlet Knights nearly changed that trend during last season’s finale. Rutgers pushed Penn State throughout the game before falling 40-36 in a closely contested matchup.
Early-season consistency will also be a focus in 2026. Rutgers has opened the season with three straight victories in each of the past five years, establishing a program record. Extending that streak to six consecutive seasons would require another strong start.
To accomplish that goal, Rutgers will also need to maintain its unbeaten regular-season record against non-conference opponents since head coach Greg Schiano returned before the 2020 season. The Scarlet Knights have gone 15-0 in those regular-season games, with a road contest against Boston College serving as an important early test this year.
Another milestone that remains out of reach involves ESPN’s College GameDay. Rutgers has never hosted the nationally recognized pregame show, nor has it participated as the visiting team when the program was broadcasting from a game site.
The best opportunity could come if Rutgers opens the season with four consecutive victories, including a road win at Boston College and a home victory over USC. Such a start could create added attention for a matchup against defending national champion Indiana if both teams enter the game undefeated. Another possible opportunity later in the season would come during Rutgers’ home game against Michigan.
Conference success is another target for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers has never finished with a winning record in Big Ten play. The closest the program came was during the 2024 season, when it finished 4-5 in conference games, setting a school record for the most Big Ten victories in a single season.
Beyond the team’s goals, several individual milestones may also be within reach for Rutgers’ top returning players. Wide receiver KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond have already established themselves among the program’s recent standout performers after reaching the 1,000-yard mark in 2025. Continued production during the 2026 season would allow both players to strengthen their place in Rutgers football history.
After several years of steady improvement, Rutgers enters the new season with an opportunity to turn individual achievements into program-defining team success. Whether it is ending a lengthy winless streak against ranked opponents, returning to the national rankings, or posting its first winning Big Ten record, the Scarlet Knights have several notable milestones within reach as the 2026 season begins.

Sources

• Rutgers Athletics (Official Athletics Department)
• Associated Press (AP Top 25 Poll)
• Big Ten Conference (Official)