4-0 Rutgers enters AP poll at No. 23 Story Tools: Print Email Blog This Associated Press Posted: 1 hour ago No joke. Rutgers is ranked. The Scarlet Knights, long a college football laughingstock, moved Sunday into The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 30 years. No. 23 Rutgers (4-0), led by tailback Ray Rice, the fourth-leading rusher in the nation, is off to its best start since 1980 after beating Howard 56-7 on Saturday. "I'm not going to downplay it. It is significant considering where we started," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "It shows we're making progress in the right direction." The Scarlet Knights were one of three new teams at the bottom of the new media poll, which was mostly unchanged at the top. Ohio State is still No. 1 with 59 of a possible 65 first-place votes. No. 2 Auburn, No. 3 Southern California and No. 4 West Virginia each received two first-place votes. Auburn had 1,513 points and USC had 1,491. The Tigers lead over the Trojans grew nines points from last week. No. 5 is Florida, followed by Michigan, Texas, Louisville, LSU and Georgia. The only change in the Top 10 was No. 9 LSU flip-flopping with No. 10 Georgia. Throughout the 1990s, the Scarlet Knights were among the worst teams in Division I-A, routinely getting blown out by their Big East rivals. Last year, in Schiano's fifth season at the state university of New Jersey, Rutgers had its first winning year since 1992. The Knights went 7-5 and played in the Insight Bowl, their first bowl game since 1978. The Knights have benefited from an early weak schedule - three I-A opponents with a combined 4-8 record and a I-AA team - but of course it wasn't long ago Rutgers couldn't beat anybody. The Scarlet Knights were 3-20 in Schiano's first two years. They also had a 25-game conference losing streak from 1999-2003. Schiano, a New Jersey native, was 10 years old the last time Rutgers was ranked in 1976. Those Scarlet Knights went 11-0 and reached as high as No. 17 in the country. "I don't think of it in a historical perspective," he said. "You need to win to get into those polls, and the Rutgers program has had some up and down times as we know. I'm glad it's happening now and hope to keep it going." The other new teams in the poll were No. 24 Georgia Tech, which has lost only to Notre Dame in its opener, and No. 25 Missouri (4-0). Missouri is ranked for the first time since the second week of the 2004 season. Virginia Tech is No. 11 followed by Notre Dame, Iowa, Oregon and Tennessee. The next five were Oklahoma, TCU, Clemson, Florida State and California. No. 20 is California with Nebraska No. 21 and Boise State at No. 22.
I was wrong about Rutgers. You all were right. Wanna go double or nothing that they are not in it by the end of the season?
Not in what? Either way, I want no part of any college bets especially involving a team I don't list as my favorite.
i mean lol who have they played: North Carolina, Illionois, Ohio and Howard..thats some stiff competition
The mere fact that Rutgers is ranked at all is an accomplishment for them. They won't stay ranked. At least not this year.
Christ, guys, give them some props. It has been a long time since we've gotten any recognition, and this really shows that we are finally on the way to having a good football program. All the haters just need to give it up. They beat some ok teams. Sure, they're not great teams. But they can only beat who they play. Us alumni have been waiting a long time for this. And, I have been at each of the last 2 games, and the school is having a lot of fun. All I have to say is..... R U RAH RAH R U RAH RAH HOOOO RAH HOOOO RAH RUTGERS RAH UPSTREAM RED TEAM RED TEAM UPSTREAM RAH RAH RUTGERS RAH!
I was born in the 70's and this is the 1st time in my lifetime that my home state school has been ranked. Judging by the way the Big East stacks up they could win 8 games or more. Certainly Navy, USF, Pitt, U Conn and Cuse are winable games. They won't hang with Louisville or West Virginia but it'd be something if those were the only teams they lost to. I remember when they would lose to Temple on a consistent basis and I know they lost to Villanova, Buffalo and New Hamphsire under Shiano so they really have made some strides in the last few years.
As a Rutgers student and fan, I have to say, it's pretty freaking amazing to see the progress this team has made in recent years. People can bash them all they want with the "they haven't played anyone "stuff, but anyone that's seen them play the past few games knows how big of a difference there is from previous years. Great job RU, I'm proud to say that you're my home team.
I know it's a difference...I'm just saying, some people act like they can go undefeated and be a top ten team in the nation...
Just wondering why you are a Miami fan if you go to Rutgers. I would think you'd have a Rutgers avatar and sig.
Well put GH. As a Rutgers fan (not a student though), I just have a bad feeling that Schiano could be coaching for your other favorite team next year considering his history at the U.
The Hurricanes have been my favorite team for a long time, and even though, as a Jersey native and student, I'm a Rutgers fan too, there's no question where my loyalties would lie if Miami and RU ever again met up. I know other people have changed their favorite team based on the college they went to, but I could never do that. DevilJets- I'm not sure that Schiano would leave Rutgers even if Miami offered him the job. He's really in an ideal situation, he's slowly building up the RU program, now that the team is playing well there really isn't that much pressure on him, and he has a nice, long contract. Plus, he's still one of the youngest coaches in the league, maybe after coaching a few more at RU and getting the Knights as far as he possibly can he'll consider bolting for a bigger school, not now though.
Booo, you go to Rutgers you gotta root for Rutgers when they play Miami (especially like that time when RU outplayed them for 3 quarters before getting manhandled in the 4th). You gotta root for Rutgers. You'll see the light eventually. As for Rutgers though, I believe the Big East is making a pretty big impact this season. Is it just me or is the Big East really starting to make its case. Call me crazy but I think they're better than the ACC for sure this year and probably the Big 12 as well.
Being from Jersey I naturally root for Rutgers. Even more. My father grew up with Mike Teel's uncle so my dad goes ballistic anytime theyre on tv or mentioned. I'm really proud and happy for them, in the last few years theyve made leaps and bounds. BUT!!!!! They havent played 1 real team yet. I hate to say that, but its absurdedly true. USF will be a big test for them. Like I said I'm a jersey boy. But I live by USF and USF is almost story to write about. Going from 1-AA to a team slowly building credibility in the Big East in under 10 years. I'm not saying they will definitely win. But USF will be a real test for Rutgers, at least the first this year.
