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Big Ten football: predicting the final records in the East

By Christopher Mangum

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 29: Kris Jenkins #94 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 29: Kris Jenkins #94 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 29: Gavin Wimsatt #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights throws a pass against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Scarlet Knights 31-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 29: Gavin Wimsatt #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights throws a pass against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Scarlet Knights 31-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

6. Rutgers

Current record/rank: 4-4 (1-4 Big Ten), Unranked
Projected record: 4-8 (1-8 Big Ten)
Best win: at Boston College (22-21)

For the second straight year, Rutgers football started the season 3-0 heading into conference play. Just like last year, that record quickly vanished. Rutgers is now at .500, which admittedly is better than most expected at this point in the year, but is still underwhelming. Maybe not for Rutgers, but overall it is sub-par.

On the scale of Big Ten football, Rutgers is at the bottom end. Always have been, and likely always will be. That being said, I think Schiano is doing a great job with Rutgers and its football program, and could see the Knights competing for a bowl game consistently in the near-future. The near-future has not yet come for Schiano’s Rutgers team, though.

The Knights are coming off of an absolute beating at the hands of Minnesota last weekend. The Gophers sent Rutgers back to New Brunswick with a 31-0 loss, and showed that Schiano still has is work cut out for him. A win over Indiana the weekend before made Rutgers seem like a decent football team, but the Minnesota loss was the reality check that we all needed.

Being honest I would be surprised if Rutgers wins another game the rest of the way. This weekend the Knights host No. 4 Michigan in a night game. The last time Michigan played at Rutgers in a night game (with fans) the Wolverines won 78-0, and this weekend’s game will likely be another beat-down. The Knights’ next three games don’t get much easier, and they will play at Michigan State, vs No. 16 Penn State, and play at Maryland.

This likely means Rutgers will finish the year with a 4-8 record, a step back from 2021, and only one conference win (over Indiana). Maybe not the progress Rutgers’ fans were looking for, but still, what more can you ask from the Knights? It is Rutgers football after all.

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