Numbers usually don't lie, but in college football, they sure can be master manipulators. If you just glance at the final record for Greg Schiano’s squad this past year, you’d see a 5-7 finish. You’d see a 2-7 mark in the Big Ten. Honestly, on paper, it looks like a step backward from the bowl-winning momentum of 2023. But when you actually dig into the rutgers football team stats from the 2025 season, the narrative gets a lot more complicated—and a lot more interesting.
This wasn't just a "bad" season. It was a season of extreme statistical drift.
The Scarlet Knights basically traded their identity. For years, Schiano built this program on a "bend-but-don't-break" defense and a rushing attack that was essentially a slow-moving rock slide. In 2025? Everything flipped. The offense started humming at a pace we haven't seen in Piscataway since the Mike Teel era, while a historically stout defense suddenly couldn't stop a nosebleed.
The Offensive Explosion Nobody Expected
Let’s talk about Athan Kaliakmanis. Coming over from Minnesota, there were plenty of skeptics. I’ll be the first to admit I didn't think he had a 3,000-yard season in him. But the kid balled out. He finished the 2025 campaign with 3,124 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. To put that in perspective, Rutgers averaged 266.1 passing yards per game. That’s top-tier production in a conference known for defensive slugfests.
The air attack finally found its wings. KJ Duff emerged as a legitimate star, hauling in 60 catches for 1,084 yards. He averaged a massive 18.1 yards per reception. It felt like every time Kaliakmanis needed a big play, Duff was there to provide it. Ian Strong wasn't far behind either, chipping in 762 yards and five scores.
But here is where the rutgers football team stats get weird.
👉 See also: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
While the passing game soared, the ground game—usually the Rutgers bread and butter—felt a bit different. Antwan Raymond stepped into the shoes of Kyle Monangai (who is currently busy having a monster rookie year for the Chicago Bears, by the way) and performed admirably. Raymond finished with 1,241 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. On the surface, that’s elite. But the team's overall rushing average was 3.6 yards per carry. In the Big Ten, if you aren't clearing four yards a pop, you're constantly fighting behind the chains.
Why the Defense Hit a Wall
If the offense was the engine, the defense was the flat tire. It’s hard to sugarcoat it. Rutgers allowed 31.8 points per game, which ranked them 118th out of 136 teams nationally. Even worse? They gave up 209.9 rushing yards per game.
You just can't win consistently when teams are gashed for nearly seven yards per carry. Opponents averaged 6.8 yards per rush against the Scarlet Knights. That is a staggering number for a Robb Smith-coached unit.
- Points Against: 382 total (31.8 per game)
- Total Defense Rank: 130th nationally (452.5 yards allowed per game)
- Sack Production: Only 11.0 total sacks (T-134th in the country)
The lack of a pass rush was the real killer. Bradley Weaver led the team, but with only 2.5 sacks on the year, the opposing quarterbacks basically had enough time in the pocket to read a Sunday newspaper. Without pressure, even a decent secondary gets shredded. Jett Elad did his best to hold things together with 77 tackles and two interceptions, but he was often left cleaning up messes ten yards downfield.
Crucial Moments and Close Calls
The 2025 schedule was a gauntlet. Rutgers faced a Strength of Schedule (SOS) ranked 22nd in the country. They weren't losing to cupcakes.
✨ Don't miss: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Look at the Iowa game. A 38-28 loss that was a one-score game until late. Or the Washington game, where they fell 38-19 but stayed competitive for three quarters. The real heartbreaker was the season finale against Penn State. A 40-36 loss at SHI Stadium. If Rutgers gets one stop there—just one—they’re bowl-eligible at 6-6.
Instead, they finished 5-7 and missed the postseason. It's a bitter pill to swallow when you realize the offense actually outscored the 2024 bowl team by nearly a touchdown per game.
Special Teams and the "Schiano" Factor
One area that remained rock solid was special teams. Jai Patel is arguably one of the most reliable kickers in the country. He accounted for 76 points, including a crucial 26-yarder that helped seal the win against Ohio early in the season.
The punting unit and return game were also highlights. Kaj Sanders showed some real flashes on punt returns, averaging nearly 23 yards per return. These are the "hidden" rutgers football team stats that usually give Schiano teams an edge. In 2025, they were enough to keep games close, but not enough to overcome the defensive lapses.
What's Next for the Scarlet Knights?
Heading into 2026, the coaching staff is already seeing a shakeup. Pat Flaherty won't be returning as the offensive line coach. This is a big deal. The line gave up too many sacks (9.23% sack rate, 124th in the nation), and if Kaliakmanis is going to continue his development, he needs a clean pocket.
🔗 Read more: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Schiano is also reportedly searching for answers on the defensive side of the ball. You can't have the 130th-ranked total defense and expect to survive in the new-look Big Ten.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking this team, keep your eyes on these three specific metrics over the next few months:
- Transfer Portal Defensive Linemen: Rutgers needs interior size and edge speed. If they don't land at least two high-impact starters here, the 2026 stats will look identical to 2025.
- The Offensive Line Reboot: Watch who replaces Flaherty. The "Spread" scheme Kirk Ciarrocca is running is effective, but it requires more athletic tackles than the old power-run system.
- KJ Duff’s Target Share: Duff is a Sunday player. If Rutgers can find a way to get him 8-10 targets a game instead of 5-6, the offense might actually jump into the top 25 nationally.
The 2025 season was frustrating, sure. But for the first time in a decade, Rutgers actually has a passing game that scares people. Now, they just need to remember how to play defense. If they can marry this new offensive production with the defensive grit that defined the early Schiano years, the 2026 stats will be the ones that actually matter.
For now, the 5-7 record is a reminder that in college football, being "half-good" usually just gets you a seat on the couch in December.
The path forward is clear: fix the defensive front, stabilize the O-line, and let Kaliakmanis cook. If that happens, those Big Ten wins will start showing up in the column that counts.