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

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. 

.@KirkHerbstreit on @PatMcAfeeShow believes #Rutgers is a dark horse to make the College Football Playoff.

“Rutgers has a schedule that by Big Ten standards and this new Big Ten world that we’re in, they can make a little bit of a run.”

👉 https://t.co/HF3zOwYyQR pic.twitter.com/iQQnevE6Re

— Rutgers Scarlet Knights | TheKnightReport.Net (@RutgersRivals) July 30, 2024

“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