2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2006
Rutgers Stadium
(Capacity: 41,500)
Seasons
2006 Big East Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 Louisville $   6 1     12 1  
No. 10 West Virginia   5 2     11 2  
No. 12 Rutgers   5 2     11 2  
South Florida   4 3     9 4  
Cincinnati   4 3     8 5  
Pittsburgh   2 5     6 6  
Connecticut   1 6     4 8  
Syracuse   1 6     4 8  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from
AP Poll

The 2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights campaign was considered by many to be the breakout season for the Rutgers football team. Led by

fullback Brian Leonard, sophomore quarterback Mike Teel, senior defensive captain and two time national defensive player of the week defensive tackle Ramel Meekins, sophomore halfback Ray Rice, sophomore wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, junior defensive tackle Eric Foster, and junior kicker Jeremy Ito, Rutgers finished the season ranked 12th in the Associated Press and Coaches polls
, won eleven of thirteen games, and recorded the first bowl game win in school history.

The team started off the season going undefeated through nine games, including a dramatic win over then-3rd ranked

touchdowns, Rice won Big East Player of the Year honors. He also finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award
.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 23:30 pmat
ABC
W 21–1650,000
September 912:00 pmIllinois*ESPN2W 33–041,036
September 163:30 pmOhio*dagger
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
MSGW 24–741,102
September 232:00 pmHoward*No. 23
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
MSGW 56–735,558
September 298:00 pmat South FloridaNo. 23ESPN2W 22–2032,493
October 141:30 pmat Navy*No. 24CSTVW 34–036,918
October 215:45 pmat PittsburghNo. 19ESPN2W 20–1049,620
October 298:00 pmConnecticutNo. 16
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPNW 24–1343,620
November 97:45 pmNo. 3 LouisvilleNo. 15
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPNW 28–2544,111
November 187:45 pmat CincinnatiNo. 7ESPN2L 11–3027,804
November 2512:00 pmSyracuseNo. 15
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPNUW 38–743,791
December 27:45 pmat No. 15 West VirginiaNo. 13ESPNL 39–41 3OT60,299
December 288:00 pmvs.
Reliant Stadium
  • Houston, TX (Texas Bowl)
  • NFL NetworkW 37–1052,210
    • *Non-conference game
    • daggerHomecoming
    • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
    • All times are in Eastern time

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
    — = Not ranked RV = Received votes
    Week
    PollPre1234567891011121314Final
    AP
    23242419161515715131612
    CoachesRVRVRVRV23232419161514816131712
    HarrisNot released232424191514137151316Not released
    BCSNot released161412136141316Not released

    References