Greg Schiano returns for his 18th season at Rutgers and seventh in his second stint after a 5-7 campaign in 2025. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca returns, and Rutgers enters the season with a quarterback competition.  Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan has been named the starting QB to replace Athan Kaliakmanis, who is now with the Washington Commanders. AJ Surace will push for playing time. Antwan Raymond returns after averaging 103 rushing yards per game last season. Rutgers must replace the receiving production of Ian Strong and DT Sheffield, but leading receiver KJ Duff returns after making 60 catches last season. The offensive line returns Kwabena Asamoah after 12 starts and Tyler Needham after nine, giving Rutgers continuity on the right side while it replaces several starters elsewhere up front.

Travis Johansen arrives from South Dakota as defensive coordinator and inherits a unit that lost nine of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including its top two. Kaj Sanders and Abram Wright are the only returning players from last season’s top eleven. Sanders returns in the secondary after making 12 starts, while Wright returns at linebacker after making seven. Moses Walker also returns at linebacker after starting all four games he appeared in during 2025, while Drake transfer Sean Allison and Rice transfer Ty Morris join the group. Maryland transfer Kevin Humes and South Dakota transfer Mikey Munn join Sanders in a rebuilt defensive backfield.

Eddie Allen returns for his fifth season as special teams coordinator. Jai Patel is back at placekicker, while Jakob Anderson returns at punter. KJ Duff is an option at punt returner, and Ben Black returns in the kickoff-return game. Rutgers enters 2026 with proven production at running back and receiver but considerable uncertainty elsewhere. The Scarlet Knights have a quarterback competition, will replace several offensive-line starters, and return only two of last season’s top eleven tacklers.