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Rutgers Football: 3 reasons Big Ten should part ways with Scarlet Knights

By John Scimeca

PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 15: The Rutgers Scarlet Knight raises his arms before the team takes the field for a game against Illinois on October 15, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Illinois defeated Rutgers 24-7. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 15: The Rutgers Scarlet Knight raises his arms before the team takes the field for a game against Illinois on October 15, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Illinois defeated Rutgers 24-7. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 28: Zach Charbonnet #24 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to escape the tackle of Elorm Lumor #7 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a first quarter run at Michigan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 28: Zach Charbonnet #24 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to escape the tackle of Elorm Lumor #7 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a first quarter run at Michigan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. Rutgers isn’t competitive

At the time of Big Ten expansion, Rutgers was bouncing between the crumbling Big East and newly formed American Athletic Conference. In the 10 seasons between 2005 and 2014, the Scarlet Knights missed a bowl only once and finishing with nine or more wins in four different seasons.

Since joining the Big Ten, however, the Rutgers football program has won 21 games and lost 47. The Scarlet Knights are 7-29 in the three seasons before 2019, including a grand total of three conference wins in that span. Rutgers football players spend their Saturdays traveling to places like Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State, usually losing in spectacular fashion.

Rutgers has been outscored by Big Ten opponents through its first five conference games in 2019 by a score of 207-14. In its last 11 conference games, Rutgers has scored less than 10 points on six separate occasions.

Rutgers hasn’t won a conference game in its last 17 tries, dating back to a 31-24 victory over fellow newcomer Maryland on Nov. 4, 2017. The Scarlet Knights haven’t fielded a winning team since 2014, when they finished 8-5 in their first year as Big Ten members.

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