Rutgers Football: Preview and predictions for Scarlet Knights in 2022

Schedule/predictions

Rutgers has six home games and six road games this season, so the schedule isn’t going to be easy. Getting to six wins will mean likely winning at least four Big Ten games and we’ll see how likely it is looking for the 2022 slate.

• Game 1: at Boston College (L) – This is an interesting Week 1 game between former Big East rivals. We talked about the pass defense and it will be tested by Eagles QB Phil Jurkovec.
• Game 2: vs Wagner (W) – This should be an easy win for the Scarlet Knights and a chance for Wimsatt and other youngsters to gain some valuable experience.
• Game 3: at Temple (W) – The Owls have come back to Earth with just four wins in the past two seasons and Rutgers will have enough to get a win on the road.
• Game 4: vs Iowa (L) – This could be an upset opportunity for Rutgers. Iowa isn’t super explosive but it’s physical and the Hawkeyes will win a hard-fought game.
• Game 5: at Ohio State (L) – The talent deficit is just too large when it comes to Ohio State. Expect a huge day from C.J. Stroud and the Buckeye offense.
• Game 6: vs Nebraska (L) – On the schedule, this is another winnable game at home. The Huskers have struggled on the road and needed overtime to win on its last trip to Piscataway. Vedral would love to beat his old team and comes close but no cigar.
• Game 7: vs Indiana (W) – Every Big Ten win is big for Rutgers football and this home game against the Hoosiers is a must-win to have any hope of a bowl game.
• Game 8: at Minnesota (L) – The Big Ten west slate of games aren’t easy. The Scarlet Knights get Iowa and Nebraska at home, plus a trip to Minnesota. It’s going to be cold and this game will be physical but Gophers QB Tanner Morgan will make the difference.
• Game 9: vs Michigan (L) – The Wolverines got all they could handle last year from Rutgers in Ann Arbor. The two teams went to overtime in 2020. Yet, this one will be lopsided and Michigan will win by a few touchdowns.
• Game 10: at Michigan State (L) – Rutgers will need to win this game to stay alive for the postseason but the Spartans have Big Ten title hopes and won’t slip up again at home after being upset by the Scarlet Knights in East Lansing in 2020.
• Game 11: vs Penn State (L) – The Big Ten East is loaded and the top four teams could all be playoff contenders. The Nittany Lions won’t win easily but Rutgers just won’t have enough to pull the upset in November.
• Game 12: at Maryland (W) – Even though Rutgers could be eliminated from bowl contention at this point, the Terps, who could be fighting for their own bowl hopes, shouldn’t overlook the Scarlet Knights and Schiano finds a way to pull at least one upset in 2022.

Prediction 4-8 overall, 2-7 conference

The record might be viewed as a step back but the Scarlet Knights have a tough schedule. If the Knights could win some of those 50-50 games against teams like Boston College, Nebraska, or Minnesota, a bowl game is certainly possible but it’s going to be an uphill battle.

Getting Wimsatt ready this season is another worthwhile goal. He’s the future and getting him ready to play should be a huge priority. Vedral has been solid but unless he improves dramatically, it’s hard to see Rutgers winning more than 4-5 games.