Honestly, if you look at the box scores, you might think the Ohio State vs Rutgers matchup is just another Saturday afternoon formality. Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the Buckeyes have basically treated the Scarlet Knights like a mandatory preseason scrimmage that happens in the middle of November. 12 games. 12 wins for Ohio State. The average margin of victory is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 points.
But football is weird.
If you were in the Shoe on November 22, 2025, you saw something that the final 42-9 score doesn't quite capture. Top-ranked Ohio State was 11-0, steamrolling toward a collision with Michigan, yet they looked... human? At least for a half. With star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate sidelined by injuries, the Buckeyes' high-flying offense felt like a luxury car running on a spare tire.
The 2025 Reality Check
Greg Schiano has built a specific kind of "blue-collar" culture at Rutgers. It’s gritty. It’s annoying to play against. They aren’t going to out-talent Ohio State—not in 2025, and probably not in 2026—but they will make you earn every single yard.
Last season, the Scarlet Knights actually held the Buckeyes to a 14-3 lead at halftime. For a team that has been shut out by Ohio State multiple times (58-0 in 2016 and 56-0 in 2017), that 11-point deficit felt like progress. Athan Kaliakmanis and the Rutgers offense put together a 17-play drive that ate up over seven minutes of clock. That’s how you beat a giant. You keep their offense on the sideline and pray for a few breaks.
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Of course, the talent gap eventually won out. Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes' quarterback who has been getting serious Heisman buzz, eventually found his rhythm. He finished with two touchdown passes, including a gorgeous 7-yard dime to Brandon Inniss in the back of the end zone.
Freshman phenom Bo Jackson also happened.
Jackson is a tank. After an early fumble at the goal line, he absolutely punished the Rutgers defense, finishing with 110 yards and two scores. It was a reminder that even when Ohio State is "struggling," they still have three or four future first-round picks waiting to take over the game.
Why Do We Keep Watching?
People love to hate on this game. They say it’s a non-competitive blowout that ruins the Big Ten schedule. They aren't entirely wrong, but they're missing the nuance.
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- The Schiano Factor: Greg Schiano and Ryan Day actually have a massive amount of respect for each other. Schiano served as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer, so the DNA of these two programs is intertwined.
- The "Trap Game" Potential: When you’re Ohio State, every game before "The Game" (Michigan) is a landmine. Rutgers has become the team that tests Ohio State's discipline. If you look past them, you get a 14-3 halftime scare.
- The Development Curve: For Rutgers, this is the measuring stick. In 2014, they lost 56-17. By 2020, they were putting up 27 points. In 2025, they forced Ohio State to play a 98-yard drive just to get breathing room.
Historical Context of Ohio State vs Rutgers
| Season | Score | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | OSU 56, RUT 17 | The first meeting. J.T. Barrett was unstoppable. |
| 2016 | OSU 58, RUT 0 | Total dominance. Rutgers punted on every single drive. |
| 2020 | OSU 49, RUT 27 | Schiano's return. Rutgers showed they weren't going to be bullied easily. |
| 2023 | OSU 35, RUT 16 | A closer game than people remember; Rutgers led in the first half. |
| 2025 | OSU 42, RUT 9 | Bo Jackson's breakout performance while OSU dealt with WR injuries. |
The Tactical Chess Match
When you break down the Ohio State vs Rutgers film, it’s a battle of philosophies. Ryan Day wants to stress you horizontally and vertically with elite speed. Schiano wants to muddy the water.
In the 2025 matchup, Rutgers tried to exploit Ohio State’s injury-depleted receiving corps by stacking the box. It worked for a while! They stuffed the Buckeyes on a 4th-and-1 early. But when you play that aggressively, you leave yourself vulnerable to the screen game and the talent of backs like Jackson and James Peoples.
Caden Curry was the unsung hero of that last meeting. His strip-sack of Kaliakmanis in the third quarter was the "light switch" moment. He nearly scored a defensive touchdown, and that turnover basically broke Rutgers' spirit.
What to Watch for in 2026
Moving forward, the narrative around Ohio State vs Rutgers is shifting. With the expanded Big Ten and the 12-team playoff, every game carries a different weight. Ohio State can't just win; they have to look dominant for the selection committee. Rutgers, on the other hand, is looking for that "program-defining" upset.
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Are they close? Probably not.
But the gap is closing, slowly. Rutgers is landing 4-star recruits who used to automatically head to Columbus or State College. Players like Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff are legitimate Big Ten starters who can hold their own against the Buckeyes' secondary.
If you're a betting person, you're usually looking at the spread. In 2025, Ohio State was a 31.5-point favorite. They covered it, but it took three quarters of grinding to get there. That tells you everything you need to know about the current state of this series. It's not a blowout from the opening kickoff anymore. It's a war of attrition where the deeper team eventually pulls away.
Actions for the Die-Hard Fan
If you're planning to follow the next chapter of this rivalry, keep an eye on the transfer portal. Both teams have used it heavily to plug holes in the trenches.
- Check the Injury Report: As we saw in 2025, Ohio State’s offense changes completely if their "Big Three" receivers aren't 100%.
- Watch the Trenches: The game is won or lost in the first 15 minutes. If Rutgers can prevent Ohio State from scoring on their first two possessions, things get interesting.
- Monitor the Heisman Race: Since this game often falls late in the season, it’s usually a "stat-padding" opportunity for whoever is leading the Buckeyes' offense.
The Ohio State vs Rutgers series might still be a one-sided affair in the win-loss column, but the days of 58-0 shutouts are likely in the rearview mirror. We are entering an era where the Scarlet Knights can at least make the Buckeyes sweat before the fourth quarter begins.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, start tracking the defensive snap counts for Ohio State's front four. Their ability to rotate fresh bodies late in the game is exactly what prevents Rutgers from sustaining those long, clock-killing drives. Also, keep tabs on the development of Julian Sayin's chemistry with the second-string receivers, as depth has proven to be the deciding factor in late-season Big Ten play.