1976 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1976 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football Independent 17 17 11–0 Frank R. Burns 4th Bob Naso 9th Rutgers StadiumGiants Stadium The 1976 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team was an American football team that represented Rutgers University as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their fourth season under head coach Frank R. Burns, the Scarlet Knights compiled a perfect 11–0 record while competing as an independent, outscored their opponents 287 to 81, and were ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll. The Rutgers players decided to decline playing in the inaugural Independence Bowl against McNeese State in Shreveport, Louisiana.https://www.nytimes.com/1976/11/26/archives/unbeaten-rutgers-wins179-rutgers-tops-colgate-179-finishes-season.html Unbeaten Rutgers Wins, 17–9 The New York Times November 26, 1976 Including the 1975 season, Rutgers won 18 consecutive games starting on October 18, 1975. In 2023, the 1976 team was inducted as a group into the Rutgers Hall of Fame.Undefeated 1976 Rutgers football team, student manager to be honored Paul Franklin Home News Tribune September 29, 2023 1A, 2A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-1976-ru/166103203/ Newspapers.com The team led the nation in both total defense (179.2 yards per game) and rushing defense (83.9 yards per game) and tied with Michigan in scoring defense (7.4 points per game). The nucleus of the team consisted of players recruited by Burns in his early years as head coach:Rutgers' winningest coach was 'epitome of integrity' Star-Ledger July 15, 2012 1, 9 (sports) Senior co-captain and defensive end Nate Toran tallied 17 quarterback sacks and received the Homer Hazel Trophy as the team's most valuable player award.Toran wins Most Valuable Player, Touchdown Club Trophy awards The Home News December 1, 1976 33 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-toran-w/166100845/ Newspapers.com Senior wide receiver Mark Twitty led the team with 514 receiving yardsl1976 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 12, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rutgers/1976.html He also set a Rutgers career record with 1,272 receiving yards. Senior Henry Jenkins led the nation with an average of 15 yards per punt return and set a Rutgers record with 449 punt return yards. Junior quarterback Bert Kosup completed 69 passes for 1,098 yards. Junior halfbacks Mark Lassiter and Mike Fisher led the team in scoring with 18 touchdowns (108 points) each. Junior linebacker Jim Hughes led the team with 113 tackles. Sophomore halfback Glen Kehler led the team with 764 rushing yards and an average of 5.1 yars per carry. The team played its home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Schedule 1976 AP Eastern y y y September 11 at Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD W 13–3 17,501 Middies Drop Opener, 13-3, to Rutgers James H. Jackson September 12, 1976 B1 The Sunday Sun Baltimore, Md. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71821383/1976-rutgers-navy/ September 18 at Bucknell Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA W 19-7 8,500 Rutgers Beats Bucknell for Ninth Straight Victory Ken O'Brien September 19, 1976 B1 The Home News Sunday New Brunswick, N.J. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71822128/1976-bucknell-rutgers/ September 25 at Princeton Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ (rivalry) W 17-0 29,500 Rutgers Tops Princeton; Knights Triumph by 17-0 Gordon S. Jr. White September 26, 1976 S1, S7 The New York Times New York, N.Y. October 2 Cornell Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 21-14 16,000 Brown, Rutgers Remain Undefeated Parton Keese October 3, 1976 S1, S8 The New York Times New York, N.Y. October 9 Connecticut<hc> Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 38-0 8,500 Rutgers Manhandles UConn, 38-0 Handing Huskies 5th Loss in Row George Smith October 10, 1976 3C The Hartford Courant Hartford, Conn. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71825766/1976-rutgers-uconn/ October 16 at Lehigh Taylor Stadium Bethlehem, PA W 28-21 15,000 Rutgers' Streak Survives a Scare by Lehigh, 28-21 Ron Drogo October 17, 1976 C1 The Sunday Record Hackensack, N.J. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71826800/1976-lehigh-rutgers/ October 23 vs Columbia Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ W 47-0 42,328 Lassiter's 3 Scores Propel Scarlet, 47-0 The Sunday Register October 24, 1976 C2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44222973/lassiters_3_scores_propel_scarlet_470/ Newspapers.com October 30 UMass Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 24-7 20,100–20,400 Blocked Punt Sparks Rutgers to Victory over UMass, 24-7 Larry Whiteside October 31, 1976 79 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71828074/1976-rutgers-umass/ Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report https://stats.ncaa.org/team/400/stats/13330 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 24, 2022 November 6 Louisville Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 34-0 16,000 Rutgers 'Best Ever' Is Bomb for U of L Lou Younkin November 7, 1976 C1 The Courier-Journal & Times Louisville, Ky. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71831644/1976-rutgers-louisville/ November 13 at Tulane Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA W 29-20 28,872 Rutgers Rallies, 29-20; Streak at 17 Marty McLaughlin November 14, 1976 128 Sunday News New York, N.Y. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71832830/1976-rutgers-tulane/ November 25 vs Colgate 17 Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ W 17-9 33,405 Rutgers Wins 18 in Row Allen Lewis The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. November 26, 1976 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44223205/rutgers_wins_18_in_row/ Newspapers.com References Rutgers Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Rutgers Scarlet Knights football