Where Rutgers football landed in 2025 Big Ten preseason poll

Rutgers defensive back Sage Clawges (27, left) makes a nice play to break up a pass in the end zone intended for Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Vernon Allen III (13) during the first half of the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

In the second season of the Big Ten’s latest (and division-less) iteration, the Scarlet Knights are predicted to finish 13th out of 18 teams in the league’s standings, according to Cleveland.com’s annual preseason poll. The 15th edition of the unofficial poll — which NJ Advance Media voted in — was released Monday ahead of the conference’s media days in Las Vegas this week.

Rutgers landed in a similar position across other unofficial Big Ten preseason predictions: Phil Steele and Athlon also had the Scarlet Knights finishing 13th, the Kings of the North poll had them finishing 15th and Lindy’s predicted a 16th-place finish.

Rutgers tight end Logan Blake (11) and defensive back DK Gilley (25) take the field for the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J. Neither player dressed for the game.

The modest projections come after the Scarlet Knights went 7-6 for a second consecutive season last fall. While it marked another winning record, it fell short of lofty preseason expectations, with multiple national analysts ambitiously labeling head coach Greg Schiano’s program as a dark horse for the College Football Playoff.

Rutgers athletic training staffers tend to Scarlet Knights wide receiver Famah Toure (1) who suffered an apparent knee injury on the first set of downs during the Scarlet-White game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers is not receiving the same level of preseason hype this time around in large part because of the obstacles in front of it.

While the Scarlet Knights had one of the easiest slates in the Big Ten last season, avoiding the top four programs in the league, they will face defending national champion Ohio State, title contenders Penn State and Oregon and an upstart Illinois program coming off a 10-win campaign this season.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) smiles as he walks out of the tunnel behind coach Jeff Fones Scarlet-White Game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

On the flip side, Rutgers will only face four teams projected to finish in the back-half of the Big Ten: Washington (10), Minnesota (11), Maryland (16) and Purdue (18).

Rutgers defensive back Jett Elad (9) and his teammates prepare to take the field for the Scarlet-White Game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J. Elad was awarded a preliminary injunction by a federal judge Friday after he sued the NCAA to block it from enforcing its five-year rule in regards to his lone season of junior college. He is now eligible to play for the Scarlet Knights during the 2025 season.

Here are the full projections from Cleveland.com’s poll for the 2025 season:

1- Penn State (11 first-place votes)

2 - Ohio State (10)

3 - Oregon (2)

Rutgers wide receiver Vernon Allen III (13) makes a nice catch of a perfectly thrown pass by quarterback AJ Surace (not in frame) during the first quarter of the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J. Defending at left is defensive back Sage Clawges

4 - Illinois

5 - Michigan (1)

6 - Indiana

7 - Iowa

8 - Nebraska

9 - USC

10 - Washington

11 - Minnesota

Rutgers white squad, led by coach Joe Susan, emerge from the tunnel beneath threatening skies for the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

12 - Wisconsin

T-13 - Michigan State

T-13 - Rutgers

15 - UCLA

Outgoing Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway (left) poses with Sir Henry, the Scarlet Knights mascot, during halftime of the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

16 - Maryland

Rutgers linebacker Evan Ward (49, left) drags down running back Terrell Mitchell (26) during the first half of the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

17 - Northwestern

18 - Purdue

Rutgers quarterback AJ Surace (10) makes a perfectly thrown pass to wide receiver Vernon Allen III (not in frame) during the first quarter of the Scarlet-White spring game, Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Piscataway, N.J.

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