Rutgers vs. Maryland: Kickoff Time, TV Channel and Game Details

Rutgers travels to SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland, on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff against the Terrapins, with the game broadcast live on Big Ten Network.

Both programs enter Week 7 of the college football season searching for momentum after difficult stretches. The Scarlet Knights arrive rested following a bye week, while Maryland attempts to defend its home turf in a matchup between two Big Ten teams facing intense scrutiny over their coaching staffs’ futures.

Vegas Insider lists Rutgers as a 4.5-point underdog. Road underdogs in intra-conference play frequently cover that margin when the host program is dealing with its own instability, a dynamic both fan bases know well given the parallel pressures surrounding head coaches Greg Schiano and Mike Locksley.

Schiano holds a 13-8 record coming off bye weeks during his current tenure. That preparation window carries additional weight this year because Rutgers last played defending national champion Indiana on Oct. 3 at SHI Stadium. Quarterbacks Dylan Lonergan and AJ Surace both warmed up for that contest, leaving uncertainty around who will take the first snap in College Park if lingering health concerns affect Lonergan’s availability.

The Scarlet Knights have won their last two meetings against Maryland and clinched bowl eligibility on this same field during the 2024 season. Those recent road results contrast sharply with the broader history of the rivalry, which only gained annual conference significance after both schools joined the Big Ten together in 2014. Prior to realignment, the programs met sporadically, making the recent Rutgers dominance a distinctly modern development.

Offensively, Rutgers relies heavily on running back Antwan Raymond to establish tempo, alongside wide receiver KJ Duff in the passing game. Ball security remains the primary concern for whichever quarterback takes the field, particularly against a Maryland defense that has struggled to generate consistent pressure but capitalizes on turnovers.

Neither team ranks favorably in Big Ten defensive metrics this season, pointing toward a game decided by execution rather than schematic superiority. Both programs face potential offseason leadership changes if results do not improve, elevating a mid-October conference game into an immediate referendum on roster stability and player buy-in.

Maryland plays its home games at SECU Stadium, which operated under the name Maryland Stadium until a naming rights agreement with the credit union took effect. The venue sits directly on the university’s flagship campus, giving the Terrapins a geographic recruiting advantage in the densely populated Washington, D.C., metropolitan corridor that Rutgers attempts to counter with its New Jersey footprint.

Streaming access for the broadcast is available through Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. Tickets for the game are listed on StubHub.

Rutgers concluded its final full practice week before departing for College Park on Thursday, with Schiano expected to announce his starting quarterback during pregame warmups.