Big Ten dark horse college football playoff contender? Kirk Herbstreet says look to the Northeast

Trey Luerssen

Big Ten dark horse college football playoff contender? Kirk Herbstreet says look to the Northeast  image

As the season approaches, so do the previews. ESPN lead analyst Kirk Herbstreet has been looking ahead to the upcoming season on the Pat McAfee show. When asked about a dark horse surprise from the Big Ten, the former Ohio State QB pointed to the schedules. 

“Someone is going to come out of that conference that you really didn’t expect. … Whoever has the schedule, the most manageable schedule,” Herbstreet said. 

So who has a favorable schedule with a team good enough to take advantage? Herbstreet says it’s Rutgers. 

"Rutgers has a schedule that is, by Big Ten standards in this new Big Ten world that we live in, they could make a little bit of a run,” he said. 

The Scarlet Knights avoid the Big Ten “big three” in Ohio State, Oregon and Michigan. 

Rutgers 2024 Schedule:

8/29 vs. Howard

9/7 vs. Akron

9/21 @ Virginia Tech

9/27 vs. Washington

10/5 @ Nebraska

10/12 vs. Wisconsin

10/19 vs. UCLA

10/25 @ USC

11/9 vs. Minnesota

11/26 @ Maryland

11/23 vs. Illinois

11/30 @ Michigan State

 

Trey Luerssen