Rutgers Uniform Schedule 2026: Every Jersey and When the Scarlet Knights Wear It

Rutgers keeps its base look simple and saves the surprises for the nights that mean something. This is the full Rutgers 2026 uniform schedule: the scarlet home set, the white road set, the white 9/11 tribute helmet that already made its appearance at Boston College, the all-black Blackout set, and a week-by-week outlook for all twelve games. Five games in, the Scarlet Knights have worn three different helmets. We update this page as each combination is confirmed.

The Rutgers 2026 Uniform Sets

Rutgers moved to Nike on July 1, 2025, and the first Nike uniforms stayed close to the look the program has worn since Greg Schiano's first tenure: a scarlet jersey, white pants and the block R on a scarlet helmet, with a slightly brighter shade of scarlet than the old adidas version. The same season brought the all-black Blackout set, which ESPN ranked among the best looks of Week 4 when it debuted against Iowa. We have not seen a new 2026 alternate announced. What we do have is the athletic department's game theme list, and it points straight at the one home date where Rutgers is likely to leave scarlet behind. Big Ten home teams wear color and visitors wear white, which makes the road half of this schedule easy to read.

The Full Rutgers 2026 Uniform Schedule, Week by Week

September 3 vs. UMass. ★ Confirmed from the broadcast: scarlet helmet, scarlet jersey, white pants, the classic Rutgers home look for a Thursday night opener at SHI Stadium. It was not the night anyone in Piscataway planned. UMass won 37-21, and Rutgers did not score in the middle two quarters.

September 11 at Boston College. ★ Confirmed from the broadcast: white helmet, scarlet jersey, scarlet pants. This was the 9/11 tribute set, honoring the 37 Rutgers alumni lost on September 11, 2001. The white helmet carried a stars-and-stripes 37 on the side, an American flag decal, the outline of New Jersey and NEVER FORGET across the back bumper, and NEVER FORGET ran down the leg of the scarlet pants. The white tribute helmet first appeared in 2021. Boston College wore white with red bandana trim for its own tribute, which left the scarlet jersey clear for the visitors. Boston College won 28-21 on the Friday night in Chestnut Hill.

September 19 vs. USC. ★ Confirmed from the broadcast: scarlet jersey and scarlet pants, the monochrome version of the home look, matching the Scarlet Out the athletic department called for New Jersey Day. USC wore the cardinal helmet, white jersey and gold pants listed on the USC 2026 uniform schedule and won 42-35 in a shootout on CBS.

September 25 vs. Howard. ★ Confirmed from the broadcast: scarlet helmet with the white block R, scarlet jersey, white pants, the classic home look, for Sir Henry's Birthday Bash and R Community Day, featuring Eric LeGrand's A Walk to Believe. The helmets carried a BELIEVE bumper on the back. Howard wore a silver helmet, white jersey and navy pants. Rutgers won 58-7 on Big Ten Network for its first win of the season, with Antwan Raymond running for three touchdowns.

October 3 vs. Indiana, 8 p.m. ET on BTN. ★ Confirmed by Rutgers: The Blackout, black helmet and black uniform. The athletic department's Blackout announcement says it plainly: "The team will bring out its black uniforms and helmets." That is the all-black set that debuted in 2025, built for exactly this kind of night: Homecoming and Family Weekend, an 8 p.m. kickoff against the national champions, a black-clad crowd and a pregame light and fireworks show. Rutgers has been promoting the game all week with the Blackout poster below. The broadcast matched it: black helmet with the red R, black jersey, black pants. Indiana wore a white helmet with crimson trim, white jersey and white pants. One calendar note: ESPN files this game under October 4 because its feed runs on UTC. It is a Saturday night game on October 3. Turbo Richard ran for 204 yards, Josh Hoover threw four touchdown passes, and No. 6 Indiana won 47-15 for its 21st straight win. Rutgers is 1-4.

The Blackout poster, via @RFootball

October 10. Bye.

October 17 at Maryland. White expected. Rutgers is the visitor in College Park, with kickoff set for no later than 5 p.m. Eastern. The Maryland 2026 uniform schedule tracks what the Terrapins pull from their closet.

October 24 at Northwestern. White expected. A Big Ten road trip to Evanston, with the kickoff time still to be announced.

October 31 vs. Michigan. Scarlet expected. Halloween On the Banks, with Michigan in white. See the Michigan 2026 uniform schedule for the visitors.

November 7 at Wisconsin. White expected. Rutgers in white at Camp Randall against a Wisconsin team in red, as we have it on the Wisconsin 2026 uniform schedule.

November 14 vs. Nebraska. Scarlet expected. This is Military Appreciation day at SHI Stadium, so it is a date to watch for a patch or helmet decal. Nebraska is in white on the Nebraska 2026 uniform schedule.

November 21 at Penn State. White expected. The last road game of the season, at Beaver Stadium, against a Penn State team that wears navy at home. The Penn State 2026 uniform schedule has the Nittany Lions side.

November 28 vs. Michigan State. Scarlet expected. Holiday Fest and Senior Day close the regular season in Piscataway, with the Spartans in white on the Michigan State 2026 uniform schedule.

The Bottom Line

Rutgers has already used three helmets in five games, and the tribute set at Boston College is the best-looking thing the Scarlet Knights have worn this season, even in a loss. The Blackout homecoming against Indiana brought out the black helmets and black uniforms as promised. From here, the Rutgers uniform schedule reads cleanly: scarlet for the three remaining home dates and white for all four remaining road trips, with Military Appreciation against Nebraska the date to watch for a patch or decal. The grid above has every date, and we add the stars as each uniform is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What jersey is Rutgers wearing this week?

Rutgers wore the Blackout set against Indiana on Saturday, October 3: black helmet with the red R, black jersey and black pants, confirmed from the broadcast. No. 6 Indiana won 47-15, and Rutgers is 1-4. The week before, the Scarlet Knights wore the scarlet helmet, scarlet jersey and white pants in a 58-7 win over Howard. Rutgers is off on October 10, then visits Maryland on October 17, where white is expected. The week-by-week grid above lists every game with the expected set.

What are Rutgers's football uniforms for 2026?

A scarlet home jersey, a white road jersey and an all-black alternate, all made by Nike. The helmets are the scarlet shell with the block R, a black shell, and the white 9/11 tribute shell. Rutgers pairs its jerseys with white, scarlet or black pants.

What did Rutgers wear against Boston College?

The 9/11 tribute uniform: a white helmet with a stars-and-stripes 37, an American flag decal and NEVER FORGET on the bumper, plus a scarlet jersey and scarlet pants with NEVER FORGET down the leg. It honored the 37 Rutgers alumni lost on September 11, 2001. Boston College won 28-21.

Why did Rutgers wear black against Indiana?

Rutgers named its October 3 homecoming game against Indiana The Blackout and said in its announcement that the team would bring out its black uniforms and helmets, the all-black set that debuted in 2025. The broadcast matched it: black helmet with the red R, black jersey and black pants, with fans asked to wear black too. Indiana won 47-15.

Does Rutgers have a new alternate uniform in 2026?

Not that has been announced. The black Blackout set that debuted in 2025 and the white 9/11 tribute helmet are the alternates in use. If Rutgers reveals something new, we will add it here.

How many games does Rutgers play in 2026?

Twelve regular season games: seven at SHI Stadium, five on the road, and one bye on October 10. The home schedule includes USC, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Michigan State. The full schedule with expected uniforms is in the grid above.