Rutgers has high hopes ahead of opener vs. Howard

Greg Schiano may have his most talented team in years, and between that and a softer schedule than usual, expectations in New Jersey are on the rise.

The veteran Rutgers coach will lead the Scarlet Knights into their season opener Thursday against FCS visitors Howard in Piscataway, N.J.

The Big Ten has expanded to 18 teams, and Rutgers cracked the top half of the league in the preseason media poll, voted ninth. The Scarlet Knights used to share a division with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, three nearly guaranteed losses. Now there are no more divisions, and Rutgers won't face any of those three opponents in 2024.

A program that's usually solid on defense and special teams may pack some more offensive firepower for a change. Former Minnesota starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (1,838 yards, 14 touchdowns in 2023) transferred to Rutgers to team up with his former offensive coordinator, Kirk Ciarrocca. Kaliakmanis won the Scarlet Knights' starting job in spring practice.

Yet the biggest threat is Kyle Monangai, who returns to Rutgers after leading the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,262), including three 150-yard games.

Top linebacker Mohamed Toure tore an ACL during the preseason and will miss the campaign. Schiano said Monday that other players enter the week banged up, without divulging specifics.

"There's an old saying: You don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training," Schiano said. "We've got to make sure we're trained in everything we're doing and then we're ready to play. Whoever's healthy, we've got to go out and play."

Howard finished tied for first in the MEAC in each of the past two seasons, and the Bison were picked second in the conference's preseason poll.

Rutgers is the Bison's only FBS opponent this season, but their nonconference schedule also features rival Hampton, Princeton and Tennessee State before they aim for another league title and a return to the Celebration Bowl, viewed as the HBCU national championship game.

"The schedule is certainly challenging," coach Larry Scott said. "We have some very tough games on the nonconference part of the schedule that will prepare for those five league games. The thing that a schedule like this does is help prepare you for adversity. It puts you in situations where you have to figure things out."

--Field Level Media