Game Versus Kansas Begins Important Stretch For Rutgers Football

Rutgers’ head football coach, Chris Ash, set a clear goal for his Scarlet Knights in 2018 – a bowl game. In order to qualify for a bowl game, Rutgers needs to meet the required six wins. After two games, Rutgers sits at 1-1, and now faces it’s most important stretch of games.

The first two games ended just about how most people would have expected; a comfortable win over Texas State and a blow out loss on the road at Ohio State. What’s next? How about six games Rutgers should look at as winnable.

The stretch starts Saturday when the Scarlet Knights will take the field against Big-12 host Kansas (1-1). To the surprise of many, Rutgers enters this game as a three-point underdog. The Jayhawks have been the butt of many jokes, being called the worst college football program in the nation. This game could prove to be a must win for Ash and Rutgers. Kansas lost to FCS-level Nicholls State to open the season before, going on the road last weekend and beating Central Michigan.

After Kansas, Rutgers will return to play three home games against Buffalo, Indiana, and Illinois. They then travel to Maryland before another home contest against Northwestern.

Considering Rutgers faces an absolute brutal schedule in November (at No. 6 Wisconsin. home vs No. 19 Michigan and No. 11 Penn State, and at No. 25 Michigan State), the next six games will make or break any hopes of a bowl game for the Scarlet Knights. At least one upset over of the the four Top 25 teams they will face in November would go a long way in improving their chances.

Rutgers will likely be significant underdogs in those final four games, so if you consider them losses, the Scarlet Knights would need to go 5-1 in their next six games in order to be 6-6 and qualify for a bowl game. Four of the six are at home, and the Scarlet Knights should remain competitive in all six.

It’s an important stretch for Coach Ash and Rutgers.

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