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.[ 1] [ 2] The team's statistical leaders included Joe Gagliardi with 1,273 passing yards, Albert Smith with 362 rushing yards and 244 receiving yards.[ 3]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 14 at No. 3 Florida T 28–2871,708 [ 4]
September 21 at Army L 16–20
September 28 No. 9 Penn State L 10–1754,560
October 5 Boston College Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ L 10–2017,456
October 12 at Temple L 13–14
October 19 Pittsburgh Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ L 10–3818,991
October 26 No. 1 (I-AA ) Richmond W 20–1726,552 [ 5]
November 2 at No. 19 Tennessee L 0–4092,188 [ 6]
November 9 at West Virginia L 0–2748,373 [ 7]
November 16 Colgate Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 28–146,500 [ 8]
November 23 Syracuse Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ L 14–3119,685
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
^ "1985 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "Rutgers Yearly Results (1985-1989)" . College Football Data Warehouse . David DeLassus. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "1985 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "Rutgers ties third-ranked Gators, 28–28" . Asbury Park Press . September 15, 1985. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Rutgers tastes triumph at last" . The Record . October 27, 1985. Retrieved November 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tennessee rolls over Rutgers, 40–0" . The Central New Jersey Home News . November 3, 1985. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "West Virginia mauls Rutgers" . Asbury Park Press . November 10, 1985. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Bruns, John (November 17, 1985). "Scarlet Knights Solve Offensive Woes to Capture 28-14 Victory over Colgate" . The Home News . New Brunswick, N.J. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com .