Phil Steele sees possible bowl berth for Rutgers in 2023

Greg Schiano has yet to post a winning record over three seasons in Piscataway. However, Phil Steele believes that Rutgers will be closer to that mark in 2023.

In his preview magazine for the upcoming season, Steele has the Scarlet Knights pushing towards bowl eligibility. He’s preaching for patience when it comes to Schiano’s tenure, especially considering their roster this season, even though that they have a difficult road to reaching that goal this fall.

“Last year, they had just 11 returning starters and I said they figured to be favored in just two or three game. But (they) should win more than that and I expect bowl eligibility in 2023 (give Schiano more time!),” Steele wrote. “Rutgers upset BC and opened 3-0 but had a poor final five games and finished 4-8.”

“They have improve on offense and have a strong defense,” continued Steele. “Despite drawing both Wisconsin and Iowa out of the West (Big Ten’s toughest schedule), four of my nine sets of power ratings call for them to be bowl eligible (including my main one).”

In his trio of seasons back at Rutgers, Schiano has led the program to a 12-22 record. That has led to only one bowl appearance, a loss in the 2021 Gator Bowl to Wake Forest.

The Scarlet Knight’s ’22 campaign got off on the right foot with three wins to open things up. From there, though, they closed at 1-8 in conference play with the worst record in their division in the Big Ten.

Still, Steele sees reasons to be optimistic about Rutgers heading into ’23. If he’s right, the Scarlet Knights could be heading to their second bowl game of the last near decade by the end of the season.

Athlon Sports projects Big Ten’s order of finish in 2023

Athlon Sports projected the Big Ten Conference order of finish for the 2023 season and there’s some familiarity after the last two years.

Michigan and Ohio State are the favorites this year, but just happen to be in the same division of course. That’ll change in 2024 with the addition of USC and UCLA.

But nonetheless, the East is stacked while the West will be wild once again with a more even playing field.

Big Ten projected order of finish, per Athlon Sports

Championship: Michigan over Wisconsin

EAST

1. Michigan (12-1, 8-1)
2. Ohio State (11-1, 8-1)
3. Penn State (10-2, 7-2)
4. Maryland (7-5, 4-5)
5. Michigan State (6-6, 4-5)
6. Rutgers (5-7, 3-6)
7. Indiana (4-8, 2-7)

WEST

1. Wisconsin (9-4, 6-3)
2. Iowa (8-4, 5-4)
3. Minnesota (7-5, 5-4)
4. Illinois (6-6, 4-5)
5. Nebraska (6-6, 3-6)
6. Purdue (5-7, 3-6)
7. Northwestern (3-9, 1-8)

Click HERE to purchase the entire Athlon magazine for the 2023 college football season