-Official Rutgers Football 2026 Season Prediction Thread-
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
If things fall in our favor, 7-5.
But things never fall in our favor. So 5-7.
But things never fall in our favor. So 5-7.
Correction. 5-7 would be ‘in our favor’. 2 gimmies. Northwestern, BC, Maryland and MSU are tossups, 3 of them on the road. Barring a home win against a team Schiano has never beaten and likely never will, or Indiana home & Wisconsin away, splitting the tossups gets us to 4-8.
These f*ckers judge teams by the name on the front of the jersey. I remember them downplaying Indiana two years ago. Last year, a lot of naysayers gave Washington no respect and how in the hell is Wisconsin given a redue every year? Wisconsin continues to get worse each year. The first year was with the other coach's players and it showed with a 9-3 record. Year two, with more of the current coach's players, they went 5-7. Last year they went 4-8. Some of the same pundits are predicating Wisconsin goes 9-3 this year. These Mf'ers are throwing sh*t at the wall hoping something sticks.
Home/away matters and that’s why Shelby predicts 1-2 vs BC, MD and Northwestern and win vs MSU. The other conference opponents are in a different class and beyond Schiano’s ability to beat.
Trivia: what visiting team was Northwestern’s only P4/5 win in the 2021 season ?
Prediction 1. 4-8
Prediction 2. “I’m proud of our players and the future is very bright. As a developmental program the trajectory of competing for championships is just where I expect it to be. There‘s a plan, trust me. Keep Choppin.”
Trivia: what visiting team was Northwestern’s only P4/5 win in the 2021 season ?
Prediction 1. 4-8
Prediction 2. “I’m proud of our players and the future is very bright. As a developmental program the trajectory of competing for championships is just where I expect it to be. There‘s a plan, trust me. Keep Choppin.”
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It’s very difficult to predict now because there is so much personnel change for each team from season to season. Based on the RU schedule, I think the minimum expectation (given we are in year 7 of this rebuild) should be 6-6. Anything less should be considered a failure unless there are devastating injuries to the best players. I think 3 OOC wins and 3 conf wins @ MD, home vs Neb, MSU are achievable. The games @ NW, @ Wisconsin should be close.
I agree, but why would anyone be talking about the Mets ?
Booing seems to be all that's required.
UMass - W: 1-0
@ Boston College - W: 2-0
USC - L: 2-1 (0-1)
Howard: W: 3-1 (0-1)
Indiana: L: 3-2 (0-2)
@ Maryland - W: 4-2 (1-2)
@ Northwestern - L: 4-3 (1-3)
Michigan - L: 4-4 (1-4)
@ Wisconsin - L: 4-5 (1-5)
Nebraska - W: 5-5 (2-5)
@ Penn St - L: 5-6 (2-6)
Michigan St - W: 6-6 (3-6)
I'm having a really hard time trying to predict this team. I too worry about QB and OL play regressing, but conversely, the defense can't possibly be worse. So many truly pivotal games on this schedule that can be season-defining in a vacuum:
@ Boston College - W: 2-0
USC - L: 2-1 (0-1)
Howard: W: 3-1 (0-1)
Indiana: L: 3-2 (0-2)
@ Maryland - W: 4-2 (1-2)
@ Northwestern - L: 4-3 (1-3)
Michigan - L: 4-4 (1-4)
@ Wisconsin - L: 4-5 (1-5)
Nebraska - W: 5-5 (2-5)
@ Penn St - L: 5-6 (2-6)
Michigan St - W: 6-6 (3-6)
I'm having a really hard time trying to predict this team. I too worry about QB and OL play regressing, but conversely, the defense can't possibly be worse. So many truly pivotal games on this schedule that can be season-defining in a vacuum:
- @ Boston College: Red Bandana game on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 - emotions will be high in Chestnut Hill. However, RU has the talent edge and should win.
- USC: RU will be a sizeable underdog, but what a statement this would be. 3:30 game on CBS in front of a big crowd. Can 2.0 finally get that statement win?
- @ Maryland: RU needs to show it's firmly ahead of this program with a win in College Park on their Homecoming. MD could be anywhere from 2-4 to 4-2 heading into this one. Maryland's had a tough week on the injury front. How banged up will they be fresh off their game at OSU?
- @ Northwestern: This will be their second B1G game at in their new building. A game they'll view as an opportunity for a win. Like Maryland, RU needs to show they're ahead of this program.
- @ Wisconsin: RU is 0-6 against Wisconsin all-time, but has played them better on the road. This one is gettable if things break right, Wisconsin could be 3-5 heading into this one.
- Nebraska: Compared to USC, a more realistic shot at a nice win over a brand-program. Probably need this one at home to bowl.
- Michigan St: Hopefully not, but bowl eligibility could very well end up being on the line here. MSU will come in off 3 games at Michigan, then home to Washington and Oregon. They'll likely be done by the time they hit P'way. RU's beaten them the last 2. Can't slip up here.
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UMass - W
@ Boston College - W
USC - L
Howard -W
Indiana -L
@ Maryland - W
@Northwestern -W
Michigan -L
@Wisconsin -W
Nebraska -W
@ Penn State -W ( upset special because I refuse to pick the Nits to win)
Michigan State -W
in my dreams 9-3 ( hopefully >8-4 with a lot of lucky breaks )
Bowl Game- Music City : Rutgers 35 >Tennessee 33
@ Boston College - W
USC - L
Howard -W
Indiana -L
@ Maryland - W
@Northwestern -W
Michigan -L
@Wisconsin -W
Nebraska -W
@ Penn State -W ( upset special because I refuse to pick the Nits to win)
Michigan State -W
in my dreams 9-3 ( hopefully >8-4 with a lot of lucky breaks )
Bowl Game- Music City : Rutgers 35 >Tennessee 33
6-6, we surprise some teams, w/ a completely revamped defense w/ competent coaches and finally a decent D-line/defence thanks to Kelli Zinn's efforts w/ NIL, huge offensive weapons in Duff/Raymond/and an above average quaterback in Surace or Lonergan. Even Nick Saban said we are going to be trouble this year.
6-4-2
(maybe I’m a little old) in what should be a very up and down and strange year.
The defensive line depth (no 1st Rd NFL picks but solid players) may keep some games very close that historically shouldn’t be close and inexperience at QB might be a problem in a couple of other games thought to be very winnable.
(maybe I’m a little old) in what should be a very up and down and strange year. The defensive line depth (no 1st Rd NFL picks but solid players) may keep some games very close that historically shouldn’t be close and inexperience at QB might be a problem in a couple of other games thought to be very winnable.
UMass - Obvious win 1-0
@ Boston College - we better win 2-0
USC - It is a loss 2-1
Howard - Obvious win 3-1
Indiana - Oh man 3-2
@ Maryland - Along with BC...these are the two games that should determine if Greg is here in 2027 or not W - 4-2
@Northwestern - Loss 4-3
Michigan - loss 4-4
@Wisconsin - Should win but doubt we do 4-5
Nebraska - Another one that Greg should find a way to win, but he wont 4-6
@ Penn State - Oh man 4-7
Michigan State - This goes with the BC/Maryland/Wisc group- out of those 4 games we need to win at least 3. W - 5-7
No signature wins once again
@ Boston College - we better win 2-0
USC - It is a loss 2-1
Howard - Obvious win 3-1
Indiana - Oh man 3-2
@ Maryland - Along with BC...these are the two games that should determine if Greg is here in 2027 or not W - 4-2
@Northwestern - Loss 4-3
Michigan - loss 4-4
@Wisconsin - Should win but doubt we do 4-5
Nebraska - Another one that Greg should find a way to win, but he wont 4-6
@ Penn State - Oh man 4-7
Michigan State - This goes with the BC/Maryland/Wisc group- out of those 4 games we need to win at least 3. W - 5-7
No signature wins once again
It’s like a wild dream the blue bloods that will visit Rutgers Stadium this year.
1988
Big Ten Champions: Michigan
Big 8 Champions: Nebraska
Pac 10 Champions: USC
2026
All 3 of these teams will play in Rutgers Stadium!
no blue blood wins this year.
X Michigan
X USC
X Nebraska
X Penn St
X Wisconsin
7 games left to get 6 and a bowl (lol)
@ NW in their new stadium. Never beaten them in Chicagoland. Coming off bowl season. Nope
@ Maryland - maybe bc Lockly is worse coach than Schiano
MSU - maybe bc Pat Fitzgerald after 3 years off is worse coach than Schiano
@ BC no, lightning doesnt strike twice
2-10 possible. 3-9 likely. 4-8 ceiling.
I will say 2-10 until I see us throw a screen pass.
1988
Big Ten Champions: Michigan
Big 8 Champions: Nebraska
Pac 10 Champions: USC
2026
All 3 of these teams will play in Rutgers Stadium!
no blue blood wins this year.
X Michigan
X USC
X Nebraska
X Penn St
X Wisconsin
7 games left to get 6 and a bowl (lol)
@ NW in their new stadium. Never beaten them in Chicagoland. Coming off bowl season. Nope
@ Maryland - maybe bc Lockly is worse coach than Schiano
MSU - maybe bc Pat Fitzgerald after 3 years off is worse coach than Schiano
@ BC no, lightning doesnt strike twice
2-10 possible. 3-9 likely. 4-8 ceiling.
I will say 2-10 until I see us throw a screen pass.
The things we’ve seen before under Schiano:
Win at Home vs UMass
Win at Home vs Howard
Win at Home vs MSU
Win on the road at Maryland
Win on the road at BC
I guess then truly the ceiling is 5 wins. I don’t see anyone on the team or anything from Schiano that indicates this will be a special year where we will do something we’ve never done before, like beating Nebraska or Wisconsin.
Win at Home vs UMass
Win at Home vs Howard
Win at Home vs MSU
Win on the road at Maryland
Win on the road at BC
I guess then truly the ceiling is 5 wins. I don’t see anyone on the team or anything from Schiano that indicates this will be a special year where we will do something we’ve never done before, like beating Nebraska or Wisconsin.
I like mine better, but yours is probably more realistic
At least we agree on Maryland & MSU , that scares me
I like mine better, but yours is probably more realistic
At least we agree on Maryland & MSU , that scares me
Disagree with Northwestern. We will win that one. Can’t see us only winning 2 Conference games. Hence we go 6-6
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