CBS Sports has placed Rutgers football at No.16 in its post‑spring power rankings for the Big Ten, a spot that reflects both the Scarlet Knights’ recent progress and the lingering doubts of analysts.
Balancing Talent and Doubts
The ranking comes as the program prepares to rebuild around a potent offensive core, with returning standouts KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond set to anchor the attack.
Duff, the team’s leading receiver, and Raymond, the top running back, together accounted for more than half of Rutgers’ yards from scrimmage and offensive touchdowns last season, giving the offense a continuity that many rivals lack.
Despite the offensive promise, the rankings highlight a defensive unit that finished 117th nationally in scoring, prompting analyst Cody Nagel to voice concerns about the side of the ball that must improve.
Nagel also assumes that Dylan Longeran will emerge as the starting quarterback next season, even as he battles AJ Surace for the job, noting that Longeran’s supporting cast at Rutgers should be markedly stronger than the one he faced at Boston College.
The quarterback competition adds a layer of intrigue, as the new coaching staff on defense and a series of transfer additions are viewed as potential catalysts for a turnaround.
Rutgers’ ascent in the Big Ten standings is further underscored by the fact that it sits ahead of only Michigan State and Purdue, yet Wisconsin and Maryland — teams the Scarlet Knights have beaten twice in the past two seasons — remain ranked higher.
The mixed outlook reflects a program poised on the cusp of a breakout, where optimism over key returnees must be balanced against the need for defensive revitalization and quarterback clarity.