SI: Rutgers has BiG's toughest schedule

[RCTrooper]

Toughest schedule: Rutgers
Rutgers faces a brutal conference slate for the second straight year. In addition to its divisional matchups against Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan, the Scarlet Knights draw Wisconsin and Nebraska in cross-divisional games. Even one of their more winnable conference games, at home against Maryland, is made much more difficult by its placement on the schedule: in the final week of the regular season after playing for seven weeks without a bye and coming off of a draining game against Army’s triple-option offense.

http://www.si.com/college-football/...tives-ohio-state-buckeyes-michigan-wolverines

 

[srru86]

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

It will take a lot to get back to a bowl game this year, but I still feel we can win at least 6 games.

 

[Saint Puppy]

I fully expect Michigan and TTFP to be better this year-agree with Scourge that it will take a lot to get back to a bowl this year.

 

[RUich]

I know they all said "welcome to the BIG" when both RU and Maryland got their league schedules last year, but what exactly determines the cross over games? Are we still earning our spurs here?

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

I know they all said "welcome to the BIG" when both RU and Maryland got their league schedules last year, but what exactly determines the cross over games? Are we still earning our spurs here?

Things will get slightly easier starting next year and a lot easier beyond that with crossover games.

 

[nick614]

B1G wants to send the icon programs to the East coast as much as possible to help build up interest in RU and UMD. Yeah the schedule is hard but would you rather play boring teams like Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue etc?

 

[RUChoppin]

2014: Wisconsin, @Nebraska
2015: @Wisconsin, Nebraska
2016: Iowa, @Minnesota, Illinois
2017: Nebraska, @Illinois, Purdue
2018: @Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois
2019: @Iowa, Minnesota, @Illinois

So, over our first six years, the number of times we play cross divisional teams:
4 - Illinois
3 - Nebraska, Wisconsin
2 - Minnesota, Iowa
1 - Northwestern, Purdue

 

[MikeR0102]

B1G wants to send the icon programs to the East coast as much as possible to help build up interest in RU and UMD. Yeah the schedule is hard but would you rather play boring teams like Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue etc?

If it means going 10-2 last year instead of 7-5, yes.

 

[rurichdog]

I'm sure Illinois & Purdue will turn their fortunes around by the time we get around to playing them.

 

[RU62]

Maybe someone should send this to Feldman who has us rated as #3 softest OOC schedule! Our cupcakes are not as bad as schools like Alabama, TTFP among others. Let's just get to 6 or 7 so we can go bowling again......

 

[RU4Real]

I'm sure Illinois & Purdue will turn their fortunes around by the time we get around to playing them.

They're in the B1G. I don't understand why they can't recruit the best players.

 

[nirrad]

They're in the B1G. I don't understand why they can't recruit the best players.

Yea recruits would always say that we don't play anybody, now what's the excuse?

 

[koleszar]

B1G wants to send the icon programs to the East coast as much as possible to help build up interest in RU and UMD. Yeah the schedule is hard but would you rather play boring teams like Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue etc?

Yes conference record is all that matters at the end of the year no one remembers who you played just your record.

 

[shields]

Washington State was predicted to be on our level. That would be like Baylor playing a USC or LSU. Instead Baylor plays SMU or last year Buffalo. Sorry Baylor has a horrible schedule compared to RU.

 

[Ru2bnj]

RU will be playing 2 top 5 teams. The two top West division teams probably and the more winnable conference games are on the road. Add in a first year starter at QB....not exactly a recipe for success. I read a few articles on NJ.com and there are RU fans out there predicting 8 - 10 wins in the regular season...they have to be on hallucinogens. A six win season with bowl eligibility has to be considered a success this season.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Imperative to start 4-0

Circle September 19th on the calander

 

[RU_Coming_Along]

We could have a worse record but be making progress, and actually be a better team than what he record indicates next year.

 

[RUBand]

I second Scarlet Shack.....circle September 19th, win as many as possible early, 6 wins is a success with this schedule.

 

[geurdsy]

2017 isn't that @Nebraska?

 

[geurdsy]

When are the series with UCLA and Miami that were rumored? Do we know dates yet?

 

[RCTrooper]

When are the series with UCLA and Miami that were rumored? Do we know dates yet?

Miami starts 2018

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

When are the series with UCLA and Miami that were rumored? Do we know dates yet?

no rumors they were scheduled and confirmed by both schools. However the UCLA series got push back.

Home : Miami (FL) 2018
Away: Miami (FL) 2019
Away: UCLA 2020
Home: UCLA 2021

More future games:

Temple series starts 2020 and ends 2023

Virgina Tech 2023 (Home) and 2024 (Away)

 

[geurdsy]

Thanks.