2024 Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media
The 2024 Rutgers football regular season is officially over. The Scarlet Knights ended with a 7-5 record. On Dec. 8, the bowl games were officially released. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will face the Kansas State Wildcats in the Rate Bowl on Dec. 26.
2024 Rate Bowl Details
The 2024 Rate Bowl will take place on Dec. 26 at 5:30 p.m. EST. The Game will be held at Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona.
2024 Rutgers Football Season
The Scarlet Knights ended the 2024 regular season with a 7-5 record. The team has dealt with injuries, especially on the defense, but they ended the year with a winning record. Standout running back Kyle Monangai ended the season with 1,279 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. He also had 14 receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown. This is all while missing one game.
A big help to the offense this season has been quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. He did not have to be the entire offense, but when he played well, the run game opened up even more and the offense was able to move downfield. Kaliakmanis completed 199 passes for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns, per Sports Reference. He also rushed the ball for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Kaliakmanis announced he will be returning for the 2025 season too.
The Rutgers defense has been a strong unit for the past couple of seasons, but the injuries did play into how the season went. The defense totaled 20 sacks, seven interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and nine forced fumbles, according to ESPN.
2024 Kansas State Wildcats Season
The Kansas State Wildcats ended the season with an 8-4 record in the Big 12. With defensive end Brendan Mott, the Wildcats’ defense stepped up numerous times. Mott ended the season with 8.5 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery, according to ESPN.
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson has passed for 2,517 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights defense will need to prepare for Johnson to use his legs as well. Johnson has Kansas State’s second-most rushing yards at 578 and six touchdowns. Running back DJ Giddens leads the team with 1,343 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
This is a pretty even matchup, but the transfer portal and who chooses to sit out of the game will play a role for both teams. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 26.
