Big Ten Football: Week 3 Power Rankings

6. Rutgers (8)

Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Last Week: 13-10 loss to Penn State

Welcome to the Big Ten, Scarlet Knights!

Rutgers started a daunting Big Ten schedule with a close loss to the Nittany Lions.

Led by a swarming defense and an intense home environment, the New Jersey Knights led for most of the game, but failed to hold on in the final stanza.

After a go-ahead Penn State touchdown, Rutgers had to rely on quarterback Gary Nova to get them back into the game. he then threw his fifth pick of the ball game to seal the Nittany Lion victory.

Despite the loss, Rutgers has to feel like it belongs in the Big Ten conference.

The sanctions that impacted Penn State’s program are well noted, but Rutgers still went toe-to-toe with one of the conference’s best squads.

The key to the season is if the Scarlet Knights’ depth can hold up through the long conference season.

Rutgers can’t overlook a pesky Navy team that nearly knocked off Ohio State during the season’s opening weekend, either.

The game against the Midshipmen will be interesting as the run-based Navy offense will supply a completely different look than the Scarlet Knights’ other premier non-conference team, pass-happy Washington State.

A tilt against the Middies should better prepare them for a run-heavy Big Ten schedule.

This Week: at Navy (Sept 20. – 2:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)

My Prediction: Rutgers 34-21