The 2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach was Greg Schiano and they played their home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights finished the season 8–5, 5–2 in Big East play and won the PapaJohns.com Bowl, 29–23, over NC State.
| 2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football | |
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PapaJohns.com Bowl champion | |
PapaJohns.com Bowl, W 29–23 vs. NC State | |
| Conference | Big East Conference |
| Record | 8–5 (5–2 Big East) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | John McNulty (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Rutgers Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Cincinnati $ | 6 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 5 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 West Virginia | 5 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 5 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecticut | 3 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Florida | 2 | – | 5 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | 1 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | 1 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After losing star halfback Ray Rice to the NFL Draft, Rutgers faced a rebuilding season. Senior Mike Teel was forced to step up his game at quarterback without being able to rely on Rice so frequently. Rutgers started off very slowly, dropping 5 of the first 6 games, including two to Big East rivals West Virginia and Cincinnati. With dreams of a Big East championship now completely eroded, Rutgers now had to recover to try to at least secure a fourth consecutive bowl berth. Starting with a 12–10 win against Connecticut on homecoming weekend, Rutgers never lost another game. The next week, they posted an impressive 54–34 win over #17 Pittsburgh. They won their next four games, finishing the season 7–5 with a solid 5–2 conference record. Rutgers earned a bowl berth in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, and they won a close game against NC State for their third consecutive bowl win.
Schedule
edit| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | 4:00 pm | Fresno State* | ESPN | L 7–24 | 42,508 | |
| September 11 | 7:45 pm | North Carolina* |
| ESPN | L 12–44 | 42,502 |
| September 20 | 3:30 pm | at Navy* | CBSCS | L 21–23 | 37,821 | |
| September 27 | 3:30 pm | Morgan State* |
| SNY | W 38–0 | 42,411 |
| October 4 | 12:00 pm | at West Virginia | SNY | L 17–24 | 59,122 | |
| October 11 | 12:00 pm | at Cincinnati | SNY | L 10–13 | 32,370 | |
| October 18 | 12:00 pm | Connecticut |
| ESPNU | W 12–10 | 42,491 |
| October 25 | 3:30 pm | at No. 17 Pittsburgh | ESPN360 | W 54–34 | 51,161 | |
| November 8 | 12:00 pm | Syracuse |
| ESPNU | W 35–17 | 42,172 |
| November 15 | 12:00 pm | at South Florida | SNY | W 49–16 | 47,216 | |
| November 22 | 12:00 pm | Army* |
| SNY | W 30–3 | 42,212 |
| December 4 | 7:45 pm | Louisville |
| ESPN | W 63–14 | 42,347 |
| December 29 | 3:00 pm | vs. NC State | ESPN | W 29–23 | 38,582 | |
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References
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