Christmas came two days early for Rutgers football fans.
Despite a mediocre record of 5-7 that prevented qualification for a traditional bowl bid, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights had the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) among teams that did not win six games or more, which made them a likely choice to fill a bowl opening.
Ultimately, Rutgers did get an offer to fill in for another team. However, to their surprise and delight, the offer was to play a top 25 team in one of college football's higher-tiered bowl games.
The Gator Bowl (currently sponsored by TaxSlayer.com) is the sixth oldest college bowl game, having been played since 1946. Although not as prestigious as the New Year's Six, the Gator Bowl has regularly hosted teams that finished inside, or just outside, the top 25.
This year was originally going to feature two top 25 teams, the Texas A&M Aggies (No. 25) and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (No. 17). However, a COVID-19 breakout, among other issues, left Texas A&M with a limited roster and resulted in them withdrawing from the game.
With the APR rules in effect, Rutgers was given the first offer. It did not take long for the team to accept.
Despite not qualifying in a traditional manner, the 2021 Gator Bowl will be the Scarlet Knights' first bowl game since 2014, their first season in the Big Ten. That was the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl, which saw Rutgers defeat North Carolina, 40-21.
This will be Greg Schiano's first bowl game since his return as Rutgers' head coach, and his seventh overall. He led Rutgers to six bowl games in his first stint, winning five of them.
"This is an exciting time for Rutgers," Schiano said in a news release. "I'm so happy for our players to be able to experience a great bowl game atmosphere. Anytime you can go out and test yourself against the country's top talent, it creates a tremendous opportunity for our players to grow and develop. We are looking forward to having the chance to CHOP one more time in 2021."
"We are so excited to be part of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, the sixth oldest bowl in the country. It's a great moment for our student-athletes and coaching staff," said Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs. "This program has made great strides under the leadership of head coach Greg Schiano and what better way to showcase that than at the Gator Bowl on New Year's Eve. It is an equally exciting time for our Rutgers fans to be part of this marquee game."
What Does Gator Bowl Bid Mean for Rutgers?
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding their entry and their lackluster record, this is a huge step in the right direction for the Rutgers football program. When Schiano agreed to return to coaching the Scarlet Knights, he was tasked with rebuilding the program like he did in his first stint, which saw him lead Rutgers to bowl games in six of his last seven seasons.
However, as successful as Schiano's first tenure was, it was not until his fifth season where Rutgers made the first of those appearances. So far in his second stint, it has taken just two seasons for him to bring the Scarlet Knights back to playing truly meaningful games, with an opportunity to make the Big Ten proud. Even if the team is not particularly strong, the fact that Schiano needed only two seasons to put Rutgers in the position to play in a bowl game, let alone earn an invitation to one, is a huge testament to the winning culture he is bringing back.
Playing in a bowl game was the best-case scenario for Rutgers entering this season, given their progress in rebuilding the program. The fact that Rutgers was able to reach such a goal will make them a far more attractive destination for highly touted high school prospects, especially those from New Jersey. The circumstances of how Rutgers got to play in the Gator Bowl should be considered, but it does not take away from the Scarlet Knights having a bright future ahead of them.
That future can become even brighter, however, if Rutgers can do the seemingly unthinkable and upset Wake Forest. A victory against a top 25 opponent in a bowl game would work even more wonders for the program.
Even Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson expects Rutgers to test his players.
"Our outstanding group of seniors deserves this proper send-off as we compete for a championship next week," Clawson said in a statement via ESPN. "[Rutgers] coach Greg Schiano does a great job and I have tremendous respect for him and his staff. We expect a very tough game against a talented and well-coached team."
Although Rutgers has not fared well against the top 25 opponents they faced during the season, their narrow loss to Michigan (who now ranks second in the country and is playing in the College Football Playoff) does indicate that the Scarlet Knights can play competitive games against a legitimately strong opponent. Wake Forest is a very strong team, having been ranked in the top 25 since week 4 and riding an 8-game winning streak to start the season on their way to a 10-3 record, despite falling to the Pittsburgh Panthers in the ACC Championship.
With a great opponent and a large stage, Rutgers has an opportunity to show the world what they are capable of. Not only could they make the Big Ten proud, but they look to make Rutgers fans, alumni, and students proud.
The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is currently scheduled to be played at 11 AM Eastern time on December 31.
Chop on.
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