It’s never too early to look ahead to the coming Rutgers football season and weigh the positives and negatives. It is a tougher slate of games this season although there are some stretches that could define the entire campaign.
Here is a look at the biggest three-game stretch of the season.
Iowa – Sept 20
@ Minnesota – Sept 27
@ Washington – Oct 11
Setting up this big three-game stretch
Rutgers starts the season with home games against Ohio, Miami-Ohio and Norfolk State. Barring any set of extreme circumstances, the Scarlet Knights should win all three of those games. Each game is at home against a non-power-four opponent. It may also set the stage for some early exits by the starters and a chance to remain healthy coming out of an initial three-game stretch that will not be nearly as physical as what’s to come in Big Ten play.
Hosting Iowa
Rutgers has played with Iowa in the past and had opportunities to come away with a win. In 2023, the Scarlet Knights trailed just 3-0 heading into the fourth quarter. Fast forward to this coming season and Rutgers is equipped with a significantly better offense. That could be what puts Rutgers over the top and this could be the biggest win of the second Greg Schiano era at Rutgers. The Hawkeyes could be coming into Piscataway undefeated and potentially ranked in the Top 25. A win here would do a lot for momentum going into this critical three-game stretch.
On the road to Minnesota
A home win over Minnesota last fall turned Rutgers’ season around. There is no reason to believe Rutgers will be unable to do it again. Each coaching staff knows the other well and this is a favorable matchup for Rutgers. Minnesota does not hold a daunting home-field advantage and this is a game Rutgers could unquestionably win. It is the first road trip of the season for Rutgers and considering the tougher caliber of Big Ten opponents that await, this is a game Rutgers needs for a successful season.
Out west against Washington
Rutgers must travel coast to coast but the Washington game will come after a bye week. Schiano and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca have excellent track records coming out of bye weeks. Rutgers downed Washington last season at home and is more than capable of pulling off back-to-back wins. It will not be an easy task, but if things fall right through the first five games, Rutgers will head out west with a lot of confidence. That could go a long way in wrapping up a very successful three-game stretch.
The results
Rutgers does not need a clean sweep in this three-game set to make it to the postseason. Future games against Purdue, Maryland and Illinois are all ones Rutgers could win. Going 201 against Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue would mean the team needs just one more win to become bowl eligible. That would ease a lot of pressure through the second half of the season, one that begins with a home game against Oregon and concludes with Ohio State and Penn State in consecutive weeks.
Conclusion
Rutgers expects to be 3-0 heading into the biggest three-game stretch of the season. Win the next three games and Rutgers is bowl eligible and probably ranked for the first time since 2009. It would propel Rutgers into a national spotlight heading into game No.7 against Oregon. And even if Rutgers drops the majority of games through the second half of the season, bowl eligibility and a successful run will already be in check. So, when looking ahead to the Rutgers football season, games four through six could ultimately determine the level of success the Scarlet Knights reach in 2025
This content is reposted from the source: https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/article/rutgers-footballs-biggest-three-game-stretch-of-the-2025-season-245733202/
