In the weeks leading up to the Rate Bowl, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said it would take many contributions to make up the defensive game plan to slow down a Kansas State team that was explosive and versatile.

Rutgers football's defense clearly has questions to answer but its offense showed signs of growth and promise.

Rutgers was well on its way to an encouraging end to the 2024 season, a win that would not only finish the campaign on a high note but show plenty of promise for the following fall. But the Scarlet Knights will spend the offseason wondering how they let it slip away — and how they can fix a major issue on one side of the ball.

Rate Bowl was the only postseason matchup between a Big 12 team and a Big Ten team. The Rate Bowl was set up as a showdown of star running backs,

Rutgers football's offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca had to change the way he typically calls games because of the communication problem.

Rutgers football had all the momentum but lost it quickly and never fully recovered in a heartbreaking loss to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl.