Rutgers Scarlet Knights is 0-1 on the season, 0-1 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -6.0. Rutgers Scarlet Knights enters the season with a power rating of -6.0, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights head to Boston College next in Week 2. In 2025, Rutgers Scarlet Knights went 5-7 overall, 6-6 against the spread, and 7-5 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Power Rating of -6.0 is 6.0 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Rutgers Scarlet Knights have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 4,095 miles, ranking 116th heaviest in the FBS.
AJ Surace QB, Dylan Lonergan QB, Antwan Raymond RB, KJ Duff WR, Kwabena Asamoah OL, Michael O'Connor OL
Doug Blue-Eli DL
Jai Patel K, Jakob Anderson P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| Week 2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 2-0 |
| Week 3 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 3-0 |
| Week 4 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 4-0 |
| Week 5 | 3-2 | 3-2 | 5-0 |
| Week 7 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 5-1 |
| Week 8 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 6-1 |
| Week 9 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 6-2 |
| Week 10 | 4-5 | 4-5 | 6-3 |
| Week 11 | 5-5 | 5-5 | 6-4 |
| Week 13 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 6-5 |
| Week 14 | 5-7 | 6-6 | 7-5 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -0.5 in the preseason and finished -6.0 after week 2, a move of -5.5 points. High +0.9 (week 1), low -6.0 (week 2).
PreW2
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured home field advantage of +0.2 is regressed to +1.9 before it is applied, a difference of 1.7 points. A single venue's raw result carries a lot of noise, so the applied figure is pulled toward the league pattern. See how much is home field advantage really worth.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Boston College | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| USC | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Howard | 2 | 2-0 | 0-2 |
| Indiana | 8 | 3-5 | 5-3 |
| Maryland | 10 | 4-6 | 4-6 |
| Northwestern | 3 | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Michigan | 8 | 0-8 | 4-3-1 |
| Wisconsin | 4 | 0-4 | 2-2 |
| Nebraska | 4 | 0-4 | 2-2 |
| Penn State | 9 | 0-9 | 4-5 |
| Michigan State | 9 | 3-6 | 4-5 |
Week 04,095 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Massachusetts | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Boston College | 212 mi | 425 mi |
| Week 3 | USC | Home | 425 mi |
| Week 4 | Howard | Home | 425 mi |
| Week 5 | Indiana | Home | 425 mi |
| Week 6 | - | Bye | |
| Week 7 | Maryland | 169 mi | 763 mi |
| Week 8 | Northwestern | 696 mi | 2,155 mi |
| Week 9 | Michigan | Home | 2,155 mi |
| Week 10 | Wisconsin | 791 mi | 3,736 mi |
| Week 11 | Nebraska | Home | 3,736 mi |
| Week 12 | Penn State | 179 mi | 4,095 mi |
| Week 13 | Michigan State | Home | 4,095 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Rutgers enters 2026 without Athan Kaliakmanis, who set program standards over his two seasons as starter. The job is now between AJ Surace, a redshirt sophomore who spent two years as the backup, and Dylan Lonergan, a Boston College transfer who was once a four-star recruit at Alabama. The choice will shape the entire offense, especially with a rebuilt offensive line that lost center Gus Zilinskas and left guard Bryan Felter to graduation. Kwabena Asamoah is the only locked-in starter up front, and new line coach Jim Turner has open competitions at both tackle spots and left guard.
Running back Antwan Raymond and wide receiver KJ Duff are back and form one of the Big Ten's most dangerous duos. Duff is expected to be a top target, but the receiving corps lost Ian Strong to Cal and DT Sheffield to graduation, leaving the spots behind Duff up for grabs among returnees and freshmen. Raymond gives the offense a reliable workhorse, but the lack of proven depth at receiver could force the new quarterback to lean heavily on the run game early.
After a historically poor defensive season, Greg Schiano fired co-coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber and hired Travis Johansen from South Dakota. Johansen brought in several assistants from his lower-level stops, and the unit will have new starters at all three cornerback spots. Doug Blue-Eli returns on the interior after missing last year with injury, and the staff hopes a transfer edge rusher can finally produce a five-sack season, something no Scarlet Knight has done in a decade. The scheme change and personnel turnover make this the biggest unknown on the roster.
The Scarlet Knights have enough talent to reach a bowl for the seventh time in Schiano's second stint, but the margin for error is slim. The schedule opens with a home game against Massachusetts, a team Rutgers is heavily favored to beat, which should provide a chance to build confidence. However, the Big Ten slate will test a defense that was the worst in the conference last year and an offense breaking in a new quarterback and line. An opposing Big Ten assistant noted that Rutgers lacked talent on defense last season, and while the staff changes are a step, the roster still has to prove it can compete at this level. The next few months will show whether the investment in Schiano and his new coordinators can turn the program around.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights is 0-1 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 0% of games.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -6.0, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights's home field advantage rating is 1.9 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 4.5 wins, priced at -145 over and +120 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights travels 4,095 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 116th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 0-1 overall, 0-1 ATS, power rating -6.0 (2026 records).
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