Will Rutgers football beat Miami (Ohio) to improve to 2-0? Here’s our prediction
PISCATAWAY − Rutgers football’s season-opening win over Ohio highlighted the strengths the team brought into the 2025 season, but also magnified the areas where the Scarlet Knights need to improve.
And how much they improved in those areas will go a long way toward determining whether they can earn their second win of the season.
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Greg Schiano’s team will look to improve to 2-0 when it hosts Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Sept. 6 at SHI Stadium (3:30 p.m, Peacock).
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The RedHawks advanced to the Mid-American Conference last season, where it lost to Ohio, Rutgers’ first opponent.
“Coach (Chuck) Martin is certainly an experienced coach,” Schiano said. “He’s won a lot of games, he’s won everywhere he’s been. A lot of respect for him and the way he runs his program.”
Miami (Ohio) is two years removed from an 11-3 season, an impressive mark in what’s traditionally been a competitive conference.
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The RedHawks lost a ton of players from last season’s 9-5 team, but they also brought in plenty of talent to replace them via the transfer portal. That includes quarterback Dequan Finn, who spent last season at Baylor after five seasons at Toledo.
Miami underwent a similar overhaul on defense but didn’t add as many transfer additions.
“Defensively, they’re really strong,” Schiano said. “They have a lot of players returning, they’ve played really good defense the last four years. They’ve played top-40 defense and some cases top-20. So really good. They don’t give up easy points, they make you earn everything.”
Aug 28, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver DT Sheffield (0) catches a touchdown pass during the first half against the Ohio Bobcats at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Rutgers vs. Miami (Ohio) prediction
Rutgers’ offense is clearly formidable. It put up 34 points in Week 1 against a solid defense, and that it’s now scored at least 30 points in five straight games going back to last season. Miami (Ohio) has a good defense but the Scarlet Knights should still be able to score against it. The bigger question remains Rutgers’ defense. How much can it improve against another mobile quarterback? That being said, the Scarlet Knights are a Big Ten team with more talent. They should be able to improve to 2-0.
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Rutgers vs. Miami (Ohio) scouting report
Why Rutgers has an advantage: Rutgers has more talent. It starts there. The Scarlet Knights are a Big Ten team, Miami is a MAC team. That’s not to say the RedHawks don’t have talent, but Rutgers’ overall collection of size, speed and talent is greater. That’s the first advantage. The other is that the Scarlet Knights’ offense has a ton of momentum right now, having scored at least 30 points in five straight games going back to last season. That might not be easy to continue against a Miami team that just held Wisconsin to 17 points. The RedHawks are solid. But if Rutgers can control the line of scrimmage, get its running game going with its three-headed monster of Antwan Raymond, CJ Campbell Jr. and Ja’shon Benjamin and open up the field for its elite receivers to make plays, Rutgers is going to have a huge advantage and a big opportunity to score points.
Why Miami (Ohio) has an advantage: As talented as Rutgers might be, if it doesn’t improve defensively the Scarlet Knights are still going to be vulnerable. They gave up 31 points to Ohio in the opener, a high number that sends plenty of fear through Rutgers Nation. And what’s also concerning is the type of quarterback the Scarlet Knights will be facing this weekend. Like Ohio’s Parker Navarro, Miami’s Dequan Finn is another mobile quarterback who can do damage with his legs if he breaks free from the pocket. If Rutgers doesn’t contain him, it could be in trouble. Finn’s mobility will be an advantage for the RedHawks.
Rutgers vs. Miami (Ohio) score prediction
Rutgers 28, Miami (Ohio) 17
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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers vs. Miami (Ohio) prediction: Scarlet Knights win Week 2 game
