BREAKING: Rutgers have shocking plan for veteran coach Schiano
Welcome to “Can’t Wait For Saturday,” your daily dose of college football insights from Bob Asmussen, a veteran Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter, and Heisman state representative. Bob will be sharing his thoughts on the sport he loves every day.
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The Big Ten football season is rapidly approaching. Illinois and Minnesota will kick off the season on August 29, with the rest of the league starting that weekend.
Leading up to May 29, I’ll continue my countdown of the 2024 Big Ten race. Feel free to disagree.
10. Rutgers
What’s to like?
Surprisingly, Greg Schiano’s second stint at Rutgers is paying off. Returning to a bowl game and winning in 2023 was a significant achievement for the Scarlet Knights. The defense, which was one of the most formidable in the country, has eight returning starters. Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis will take over as the starting quarterback, bringing his Big Ten experience. The home game against the Gophers on November 9 should be intriguing. Plus, Rutgers’ schedule doesn’t include Ohio State, Oregon, or Michigan.
Reasons to worry
The offense struggled significantly last season, and it’s uncertain if it will improve with a new quarterback. The team faces tough away games at Virginia Tech and Nebraska in the first month. Schiano has raised expectations, but any missteps could attract criticism.
Stay tuned for No. 9 Washington on Tuesday.