Big Ten Football 2015: Ranking the schedules
By Mark Rogers
(John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
1. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
How does a team that opens with Norfolk State have the toughest schedule in the Big Ten? Beyond that, how does a team whose Power 5 opponents are Washington State and Kansas have the toughest schedule in the Big Ten? Despite some cream puffs much like the Scarlet Knights used to pad its record and reach postseason play last year, Rutgers faces the best of the Big Ten.
Also Read: Rutgers Season Preview
Kyle Flood’s team needed a monumental fourth quarter collapse in the finale to avoid a 2-6 conference finish. Expect a similar showing in 2015. Meaning that aside from Indiana, the Scarlet Knights will be looking up at an ever improving Big Ten East. Ohio State and Michigan are Top 5 teams. Penn State and Michigan are sleeping giants with the coaches and personnel to win eight or nine games.
Despite the head-to-head result, Maryland is better than Rutgers as well. Plus, the Scarlet Knights are the only Eastern Division team to face both Wisconsin and Nebraska. The Badgers (37-0) and Huskers (42-24) both trounced Rutgers with little resistance.
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