The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers University in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). Rutgers competes as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Prior to joining the Big Ten, the Scarlet Knights were a member of the American Athletic Conference from 1991 to 2013. Rutgers plays its home games at SHI Stadium, in Piscataway, New Jersey. The team is currently led by head coach Greg Schiano. The Scarlet Knights football team is notable for playing in the first ever college football game in 1869, in which the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeated Princeton Tigers by a score of 6–4.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus. In sports, Rutgers is famously known for being the "Birthplace of College Football", hosting the first ever intercollegiate football game on November 6, 1869, in which Rutgers defeated a team from the College of New Jersey with a score of 6 runs to 4.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team represents Rutgers University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition and competes in the Big Ten Conference. Rutgers made the NCAA Final Four in 1976. Rutgers has appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently appearing in 2022. Rutgers has produced many NBA players, most notably Roy Hinson, John Battle, and James Bailey.
The 2002 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by second-year head coach Greg Schiano and played their home games at Rutgers Stadium. They are a member of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 1–11, 0–7 in Big East play to finish in last place.
The 1998 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third season under head coach Terry Shea, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 5–6 record, were outscored by opponents 376 to 206, and finished in sixth place in the Big East Conference. The team's statistical leaders included Mike McMahon with 2,203 passing yards, Jacki Crooks with 821 rushing yards, and Bill Powell with 730 receiving yards.
The 1997 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Terry Shea, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 0–11 record, were outscored by opponents 496 to 191, and finished in last place in the Big East Conference. The team's statistical leaders included Mike McMahon with 1,259 passing yards, Jacki Crooks with 758 rushing yards, and Walter King with 445 receiving yards.
The 1996 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Terry Shea, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 2–9 record, were outscored by opponents 380 to 143, and finished in seventh place in the Big East Conference. The team's statistical leaders included Mike Stephans with 918 passing yards, Chad Bosch with 523 rushing yards, and Steven Harper with 321 receiving yards.
The 1995 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth and final season under head coach Doug Graber, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 4–7 record, were outscored by opponents 412 to 304, and finished in sixth place in the Big East Conference. The team's statistical leaders included Ray Lucas with 2,180 passing yards, Terrell Willis with 773 rushing yards, and Marco Battaglia with 894 receiving yards.
The 1991 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Doug Graber, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 6–5 record, scored 217 points, allowed 217 points, and finished in sixth place in the Big East Conference. The team's statistical leaders included Tom Tarver with 1,969 passing yards, Antoine Moore with 627 rushing yards, and James Guarantino with 740 receiving yards.
The 1989 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth and final season under head coach Dick Anderson, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 2–7–2 record while competing as an independent and were outscored by their opponents 319 to 245. The team won victories over Boston College (9-7) and Northwestern (38-27). The team's statistical leaders included Scott Erney with 2,536 passing yards, James Cann with 429 rushing yards, and Randy Jackson with 599 receiving yards.
The 1985 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Dick Anderson, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 2–8–1 record while competing as an independent and were outscored by their opponents 266 to 149. The team's statistical leaders included Joe Gagliardi with 1,273 passing yards, Albert Smith with 362 rushing yards and 244 receiving yards.
The 1983 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 11th and final season under head coach Frank R. Burns, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 3–8 record while competing as an independent and were outscored by their opponents 258 to 195. The team's statistical leaders included Jacque LaPrarie with 1,275 passing yards, Albert Smith with 572 rushing yards, and Andrew Baker with 857 receiving yards.
The 1982 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 10th season under head coach Frank R. Burns, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 5–6 record while competing as an independent and were outscored by their opponents 278 to 180. The team's statistical leaders included Jacque LaPrarie with 1,164 passing yards, Albert Smith with 466 rushing yards, and Andrew Baker with 472 receiving yards.
The 1980 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth season under head coach Frank R. Burns, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 7–4 record while competing as an independent and outscored their opponents 279 to 156. The team's statistical leaders included Ed McMichael with 1,761 passing yards, Albert Ray with 778 rushing yards, and Tim Odell with 718 receiving yards.
The 1961 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In their second season under head coach John F. Bateman, the Scarlet Knights compiled a perfect 9–0 record, won the Middle Three Conference championship and outscored their opponents 246 to 102. It was Rutgers's first undefeated season, 92 years after winning the first ever intercollegiate football game in 1869.
The 1978 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth season under head coach Frank R. Burns, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 9–3 record while competing as an independent. The team outscored its opponents 284 to 165 and finished the season with a 34–18 loss to Arizona State in the Garden State Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included Bob Hering with 1,193 passing yards, Glen Kehler with 883 rushing yards, and David Dorn with 535 receiving yards. It was the Scarlet Knights' first major bowl appearance.
The Princeton–Rutgers rivalry is a college rivalry in athletics between the Tigers of Princeton University and Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University – New Brunswick, both of which are located in New Jersey. The rivalry dates back to the first college football game in history in 1869. Although the football series ended in 1980 due to the two schools going in different directions with their football programs, the rivalry has continued in other sports, primarily in men's basketball.
The 2017 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights played their home games at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey and competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Chris Ash. They finished the season 4–8, 3–6 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the East Division.
The 2019 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights played their home games at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey and competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Chris Ash. On September 29, 2019, Ash was fired after 31⁄3 seasons as head coach. He posted an overall record of 8–32 and 3–26 in Big Ten play. Nunzio Campanile was their interim head coach for the remainder of the season. They finished the season 2–10, 0–9 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the East Division.
The 2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by Greg Schiano in the fourth year of his second stint as Rutgers' head coach.
