Looking at the schedule and the way things could reasonably break:
- VT is currently 27th in the AP poll. Assuming they take care of their first 3 games (one away vs. Vanderbilt), it is likely they are ranked when Rutgers plays them.
- Washington is currently 32 in the AP poll. Assuming they win their first 4 games before coming to Piscataway, there is a realistic chance they are ranked by the time the 27th comes around.
- If Rutgers is 3-0, after beating a ranked VT on the road, there is a chance they will be ranked (if not, certainly receiving votes).
There is a reasonable path to Washington coming to Piscataway Friday night as a duel of ranked opponents (not to mention, runner up national champs, and their first away game of the season).
If this all breaks in our favor, it would seem likely that this is the biggest game in Piscataway in the last 10 years. To answer my own headline, this has potential for the biggest game since we opened Big 10 play at home vs. Penn State in 2014 (and if we're both ranked, I'd argue biggest game in Piscataway since we joined the Big 10).
- VT is currently 27th in the AP poll. Assuming they take care of their first 3 games (one away vs. Vanderbilt), it is likely they are ranked when Rutgers plays them.
- Washington is currently 32 in the AP poll. Assuming they win their first 4 games before coming to Piscataway, there is a realistic chance they are ranked by the time the 27th comes around.
- If Rutgers is 3-0, after beating a ranked VT on the road, there is a chance they will be ranked (if not, certainly receiving votes).
There is a reasonable path to Washington coming to Piscataway Friday night as a duel of ranked opponents (not to mention, runner up national champs, and their first away game of the season).
If this all breaks in our favor, it would seem likely that this is the biggest game in Piscataway in the last 10 years. To answer my own headline, this has potential for the biggest game since we opened Big 10 play at home vs. Penn State in 2014 (and if we're both ranked, I'd argue biggest game in Piscataway since we joined the Big 10).