The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Maryland-Rutgers

Rutgers10-12Maryland
Regional Program II#91 of 138–Regional Program I#78 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Maryland leads the all-time series 12-10. They've met 22 times since 1920. Rutgers has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Rutgers
Win total
2.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +0
What fans are saying · program direction
One fan argues Rutgers's defense ranks near the bottom nationally in key metrics
Even with those turnovers 35 should be enough to win with a Schiano defense. But we haven't had a good defense in years.
Verified verbatim
Maryland
Win total
3.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -8
What fans are saying · portal roster move
One fan believes next year's roster will be stronger
Mathis, Williams, and Malik stick with us for another year when we get Zion and get a WR in the transfer portal and I can see us being ranked at some point next year.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1920–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeRutgersMarylandevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Rutgers won, gray: Maryland won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Maryland has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Rutgers led 7 and Maryland led 16.

more passmore runRutgersMaryland2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262023Maryland 19.3 ptsMaryland won 42-242004Rutgers 15.9 pts2018Rutgers 12.2 ptsMaryland won 34-7
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Maryland once won 3 in a row. The biggest win was Maryland by 41 in 2019. The biggest crowd, 44,846, was in 2015.

The coaching duels

Greg Schiano vs Mike Locksley4-3
Greg Schiano vs Ralph Friedgen1-1
Kyle Flood vs Randy Edsall1-1
Chris Ash vs D.J. Durkin1-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
49-109
Maryland leads
1st-rounders
3-11
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
RutgersMaryland
1960s0-1
1970s2-15
1980s5-20
1990s2-11
2000s14-26
2010s18-17
2020s8-19

Best picks, either side

1975Randy White Defensive Tackle · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2006Vernon Davis Tight End · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
1977Joe Campbell Defensive End · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
2009Darrius Heyward-Bey Wide Receiver · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
2010Anthony Davis Offensive Tackle · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2005Shawne Merriman Linebacker · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 12#12 overall
1984Pete Koch Defensive Tackle · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 16#16 overall
1984Ron Solt Offensive Guard · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 19#19 overall

Recent meetings

2026Rutgers37-30
2025Rutgers35-20
2024Rutgers31-17Maryland — Maryland routed by 14
2023Maryland42-24
2022Maryland37-0
2021Maryland40-16Rutgers — Rutgers routed by 24
2020Rutgers27-24
2019Maryland48-7
2018Maryland34-7
2017Rutgers31-24
2016Maryland31-13
2015Maryland46-41
2014Rutgers41-38Maryland — decided by 3
2009Rutgers34-13

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Rutgers’s chance to win through that meeting. Rutgers is 2-0 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2022. The bracket marks where.

2026Rutgers 37-30Rutgers won 37-30 at Maryland. Chance to win started at 28%, low 9%, high 97%.Busy
2025Rutgers 35-20Rutgers won 35-20 vs Maryland. Chance to win started at 63%, low 27%, high better than 99%.Busy
2024Rutgers 31-17Rutgers won 31-17 at Maryland. Chance to win started at 39%, low 27%, high better than 99%.
2023Maryland 42-24Rutgers lost 24-42 vs Maryland. Chance to win started at 39%, low under 1%, high 42%.
2022Maryland 37-0Rutgers lost 0-37 at Maryland. Chance to win started at 16%, low under 1%, high 26%.Busy
2021Maryland 40-16Rutgers lost 16-40 vs Maryland. Chance to win started at 48%, low under 1%, high 51%.
2020Rutgers 27-24Rutgers won 27-24 at Maryland. Chance to win started at 49%, low 17%, high better than 99%.
2019Maryland 48-7Rutgers lost 7-48 vs Maryland. Chance to win started at 14%, low under 1%, high 28%.
2018Maryland 34-7Rutgers lost 7-34 at Maryland. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 10%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “This does not feel right”
    A Rutgers fan
  • 2025
    “We had 4 rushing yards vs IU for reference”
    A Maryland fan

This season’s plays, Rutgers and Maryland

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 5 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q1, 7:30 · Maryland tiedDamon Hall Jr. runs 1 yard for a touchdownRutgers at Maryland, week 7Q1, 7:30 · Maryland 7, Rutgers 0Maryland opened the scoringMaryland opened the scoringD.Hall Jr. rush right for 1 yard gain to the RUT00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  2. Q2, 4:18 · Rutgers down 7Dylan Lonergan finds KJ Duff for a 9-yard touchdownRutgers at Maryland, week 7Q2, 4:18 · Rutgers 13, Maryland 14Rutgers answered right backRutgers answered right backD. Lonergan pass to KJ Duff for 9 yds, for a TD (D. Pizzaro kick)Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
  3. Q4, 4:03 · Rutgers up 7Antwan Raymond runs 2 yards for a touchdownRutgers at Maryland, week 7Q4, 4:03 · Rutgers 37, Maryland 23▲2%Rutgers’s chance to win, 90% to 92%▲2%Rutgers’s chance to win, 90% to 92%A.Raymond rush middle for 2 yards gain to the UMD00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  4. Q4, 2:17 · Maryland down 14Malik Washington finds DeJuan Williams for a 10-yard touchdownRutgers at Maryland, week 7Q4, 2:17 · Maryland 30, Rutgers 3795Capped a 95-yard drive95Capped a 95-yard driveCapped a 95-yard driveM.Washington pass complete short middle to D.Williams caught at RUT05, for 10 yards to the RUT00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  5. Q2, 10:46 · Maryland breaks the tieMalik Washington finds Dorian Fleming for a 3-yard touchdownRutgers at Maryland, week 7Q2, 10:46 · Maryland 14, Rutgers 7Maryland took the lead in the second quarterMaryland took the lead in the second quarterM.Washington pass complete short right to D.Fleming caught at RUT00, for 3 yards to the RUT00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX