Rutgers Football Schedule Breakdown: Can the Scarlet Knights get to six wins?

The biggest question each year is — can Rutgers get to six wins and qualify for a bowl game?

Head coach Greg Schiano accomplished this goal twice in recent years but fell short at 5-7 in 2025. The ultimate goal for the fall will to improve by at least one game and play in bowl season.

When looking at the schedule, there are some clear games that stick out as most important on the schedule.

2026 Rutgers Schedule Breakdown

Most Important Games

9/11 at Boston College

The goal was to pick one game that was the most important but when looking at the schedule, it was hard to decide to let’s make it two. It begins with Boston College. This is a place where Rutgers went in 2022 and won its season opener. This year, it is game two against a BC team that finished 2-10 last year. Do we really know what the Eagles are going to be this season? Rutgers will be coming off a UMass game to open and this is a chance to start 2-0 heading into Big Ten play. This is a massive game on the way to a potential six wins.

10/17 at Maryland

Has this turned into the most important game each year? For fans, it might have especially since it usually takes place in the final week of the year. Now, it has moved to the middle of October but it remains as important as ever. Rutgers will not have many chances to win conference road games. This is one against a Maryland team that lost its final eight games last season, including 35-20 to the Scarlet Knights. This is not an easy schedule for Rutgers and these two games are essential to make a jump.

Must-wins: vs. 9/3 UMass, 9/26 vs. Howard

This goes without saying. Rutgers always schedules the light non-conference games early. The schedule might look a little different this year but these are two wins on the way to six.

Very well could be, but will it?: 9/19 vs. USC, 10/24 at Northwestern, 11/14 vs. Nebraska, 11/28 vs. Michigan State

These games carry different weight. USC could have been in the section above but the time of year provides an interesting opportunity for Rutgers. It will have a win, potentially two, under its belt heading into the Big Ten opener, which will be played earlier than usual. A 42-20 loss in 2024 is the only meeting with the Trojans but this one will be at SHI Stadium early in the year. Anything could happen.