What is Rutgers' biggest rival?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The primary, traditional, and most historic football rival for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is Princeton University, stemming from their pioneering 1869 matchup that inaugurated college football history. In modern conference play within the Big Ten, Rutgers shares heated regional rivalries and competitive divisional matchups with programs like Penn State, Maryland, and traditional eastern adversaries, generating passionate fan engagement and intense game-day atmospheres every single season.

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