The big picture

Penn State Nittany Lions are 5–4 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 28.9 points for and 19.3 against.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 2–7 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 25.8 points for and 32.4 against.

Form

Penn State Nittany Lions have won two of their last five and most recently beat Washington Huskies 28–25.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Wisconsin Badgers 10–31.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights have lost their last three.

Head to head

These sides have met 11 times on our records since 2014: Penn State Nittany Lions 11, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0.

Last time out (2025, Week 14), Penn State Nittany Lions won 40–36 at SHI Stadium.

Penn State Nittany Lions have won the last 11 against Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Biggest margin between these two: Penn State Nittany Lions by 45 points in 2022 (55–10).

Players to watch

For Penn State Nittany Lions, watch Curtis Jacobs (5 def total tackles a game in 2023) and Abdul Carter (3.2 def total tackles a game in 2023).

For Rutgers Scarlet Knights, watch Dariel Djabome (14 def total tackles a game in 2024) and Desmond Igbinosun (8 def total tackles a game in 2024).

At Beaver Stadium

Penn State Nittany Lions have won 14 of their last 20 at Beaver Stadium.

The deeper numbers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights have never won at Beaver Stadium: 0 from 5 on our records.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights have never beaten Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium (0 from 5).

What the numbers say

On form and history, Penn State Nittany Lions go in as clear favourites.